Alfred Leslie Rowse British historian Date of Birth: 04.12.1903 Country: Great Britain

Alfred Leslie Rowse: A Biography

Alfred Leslie Rowse, known professionally as A.L. Rowse and simply as Leslie among his friends and family, was born on December 4, 1903, in St Austell, Cornwall. He was the son of Richard Rowse and Annie Vanson, who were poor and semi-literate. Despite his humble background, Leslie earned a place at St. Austell Grammar School and later a scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford in 1921.

Initially planning to study English literature due to his early love for poetry, he was persuaded to pursue history instead. Leslie was a popular student, having many friends who would maintain contact with him throughout his life. He graduated with honors in 1925 and immediately became a Fellow at All Souls College. He obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1929 and taught at Merton College from 1927 to 1930.

Rowse later became a lecturer at the London School of Economics. In 1931, he made an unsuccessful attempt to secure a seat in Parliament for the Labour Party, placing third behind the Liberals. With the onset of World War II in 1939, his political career effectively came to an end. Returning to Oxford, Leslie became a Sub-Warden of All Souls College.

In 1953, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford and in 1958, he became a Fellow of the British Academy. Despite his evident success in academic circles, Rowse remained proud of his humble origins. He left Oxford in 1973 to return to his home and continue his activities as a writer and reviewer.

A year before his death, Rowse suffered a stroke which left his entire body paralyzed. He was buried in Campdowns Cemetery, Charlestown, near St. Austell. Throughout his lifetime, Leslie Rowse published around 100 books and became a renowned writer and lecturer in the 1940s. He extensively traveled, particularly in the United States, and contributed numerous popular articles to newspapers and magazines in both Britain and the USA.

In his later years, Rowse increasingly aligned himself with conservative views. One of the perennial themes in his books and articles was the discussion of Britain's appeasement policy of the 1930s and its economic and political consequences after the country's involvement in the Second World War. Another favorite topic of Rowse's was the "decline of standards in modern society." He once famously declared, "This wretched twentieth century. I hate its very essence."

One of Rowse's great passions was book collecting. He acquired many first editions, always accompanied by his sharp comments. Upon his death, he bequeathed his book collection to the University of Exeter, along with his personal archive of manuscripts, diaries, and correspondence.

Rowse was openly gay and explored the topic of human sexuality, including non-traditional relationships, in his works. His 1977 book, "Homosexuals in History," proved to be particularly controversial.