Theodore Zeldin

Theodore Zeldin is President of the Oxford Muse Foundation. After graduating from London University (Birkbeck College) at the age of 17, and then from Christ Church, Oxford (with Firsts from both), he helped to build up St Antony's College, Oxford as the university's postgraduate centre for international studies, and was its Dean for thirteen years. His books have focused on the role of the emotions in every aspect of life. His History of French Passions won Britain's top historical award, the Wolfson Prize, and was followed by the best-seller The French, dealing with contemporary society. His book on Happiness, his Intimate History of Humanity and his BBC lectures on Conversation marked the expansion of his research to all civilisations. His writings have been translated into 24 languages. He became a member of the BBC Brains Trust and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.