This first volume of Robert Skidelsky's exploration of the life and ideas of a renowned economist-statesman details how a remarkable individual engaged with the pressing issues of his time and significantly influenced them. The richness of Keynes's character and talents explains his achievements and creates an underlying tension, as he grappled with the demands of friendship, beauty, and philosophy against the backdrop of public life, never fully reconciling the 'aesthetic' and 'managerial' aspects of his persona. Skidelsky skillfully illustrates Keynes's extraordinary mental and spiritual agility, allowing him to navigate multiple roles without haste. As a schoolboy, he remained unfazed by his father's meticulous educational concerns. At Cambridge, he was influenced by G. E. Moore and a generation that dismissed Victorian ethics, valuing good states of mind. The narrative delves into Keynes's relationships with the Cambridge Apostles and Bloomsbury friends, revealing insights into his life and thought. Skidelsky examines his connections with figures like Lytton Strachey and Duncan Grant, as well as his perspective on the Great War. The volume brings to life his early reflections on probability, economics, and conscientious objection. It concludes with a pivotal moment in Keynes's life: the Paris Peace Conference and his writing of The Economic Consequences of the Peace, marking his commitment to addressing the threats to civi
John Maynard Keynes Series
This series delves into the groundbreaking economic theories of one of the 20th century's most influential thinkers. It explores his pivotal ideas on macroeconomics, government intervention, and the impact of unemployment. Readers will gain insight into his efforts to stabilize capitalist economies and his lasting influence on modern fiscal policy. This collection is essential for understanding the foundations of contemporary economic thought.
Recommended Reading Order
John Maynard Keynes: The economist as saviour, 1920-1937
- 768 pages
- 27 hours of reading
Ten years in the making, the second volume of Skidelsky's acclaimed biography of Keynes takes up the story of this century's most important economist after the controversial publication of The Economic Consequences of the Peace, and traces his life, his work, and their relationship to world events throu gh the reception of The General Theory in 1937. Photos.
John Maynard Keynes. Vol. 3, Fighting for freedom, 1937-1946
- 580 pages
- 21 hours of reading
Traces the economist's life and work, offering a portrait of his public and private life.