Christopher Clark
Encyclopedia
Christopher M. Clark is an Australia
n historian
working in England
. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
, the University of Sydney
and the Freie Universität Berlin.
in what turned out to have been the last years of the divided Germany (1985–87) gave him an insight into German history and society. He received his Ph.D at the University of Cambridge
. He is Professor in Modern European History at the University of Cambridge
and a Fellow of St. Catharine's College.
Clark is a co-editor of the scholarly book series New Studies in European History from Cambridge University Press
. He is the author of a study of Christian-Jewish relations in Prussia
(The Politics of Conversion. Missionary Protestantism and the Jews in Prussia, 1728-1941; Oxford: Oxford University Press
, 1995); a critical biography of the last German Kaiser (Kaiser Wilhelm II; Harlow: Longman
, 2000, series "Profiles in Power"), and a best-selling history of Prussia (Iron Kingdom. The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947; London: Penguin
, 2006). He is also the co-editor with Wolfram Kaiser
of a transnational study of secular-clerical conflict in nineteenth-century Europe (Culture Wars. Catholic-Secular Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Europe, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
, 2003), and the author of numerous articles and essays. Professor Clark presented the BBC4 documentary programme "Frederick the Great and the Enigma of Prussia" which was most recently broadcast in December 2010 (as of September 2011).
Clark is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities
.
He is married to the art historian Dr Nina Lübbren, to whom he dedicated "Iron Kingdom" and who warmly acknowledged his support and assistance in her own academic work. They have two sons, Josef and Alexander.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
working in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and the Freie Universität Berlin.
Life
As he acknowledges in the foreword to "Iron Kingdom", living in West BerlinWest Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
in what turned out to have been the last years of the divided Germany (1985–87) gave him an insight into German history and society. He received his Ph.D at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He is Professor in Modern European History at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and a Fellow of St. Catharine's College.
Clark is a co-editor of the scholarly book series New Studies in European History from Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
. He is the author of a study of Christian-Jewish relations in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
(The Politics of Conversion. Missionary Protestantism and the Jews in Prussia, 1728-1941; Oxford: Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1995); a critical biography of the last German Kaiser (Kaiser Wilhelm II; Harlow: Longman
Longman
Longman was a publishing company founded in London, England in 1724. It is now an imprint of Pearson Education.-Beginnings:The Longman company was founded by Thomas Longman , the son of Ezekiel Longman , a gentleman of Bristol. Thomas was apprenticed in 1716 to John Osborn, a London bookseller, and...
, 2000, series "Profiles in Power"), and a best-selling history of Prussia (Iron Kingdom. The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947; London: Penguin
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, 2006). He is also the co-editor with Wolfram Kaiser
Wolfram Kaiser
Wolfram Kaiser is a Professor of European Studies at University of Portsmouth.In 1991, Kaiser graduated from University of Hamburg with a Bachelor and Masters of Arts...
of a transnational study of secular-clerical conflict in nineteenth-century Europe (Culture Wars. Catholic-Secular Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Europe, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 2003), and the author of numerous articles and essays. Professor Clark presented the BBC4 documentary programme "Frederick the Great and the Enigma of Prussia" which was most recently broadcast in December 2010 (as of September 2011).
Clark is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities
Australian Academy of the Humanities
The Australian Academy of the Humanities was established by Royal Charter in 1969 to advance scholarship and public interest in the humanities in Australia...
.
He is married to the art historian Dr Nina Lübbren, to whom he dedicated "Iron Kingdom" and who warmly acknowledged his support and assistance in her own academic work. They have two sons, Josef and Alexander.
Awards
- 2007 - Wolfson History PrizeWolfson History PrizeThe Wolfson History Prizes are literary awards given annually in the United Kingdom to promote and encourage standards of excellence in the writing of history for the general public...
- 2007 - H-Soz-u-Kult prize "Das historische Buch"
- 2007 - winner of the Queensland Premier's Literary AwardsQueensland Premier's Literary AwardsThe Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were inaugurated in 1999 and have grown to become a leading literary awards program within Australia, with $225,000 in prizemoney over 14 categories. One of Australia's richest prizes, top categories offer up to $25,000 for 1st prize.-Fiction Book...
, History Book Award for Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947 - 2007 - winner of the New South Wales Premier's History AwardsNew South Wales Premier's History AwardsThe State Government of New South Wales, Australia established the Premier's History Awards in 1997. In 2005 the name of the awards was changed to NSW History Awards...
, General History Prize for Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947
Books
- Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947. Allen Lane, Penguin, 2006. Published in the USA by Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
. Published in Germany as Preussen: Aufstieg und Niedergang 1600-1947 by DVA, 2007 - Kaiser Wilhelm II. Longman, 2000 (in the series "Profiles in Power")
- The Politics of Conversion: Missionary Protestantism and the Jews in Prussia, 1728-1947. Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, 1995
Books edited
- Culture Wars: Secular–Catholic conflict in Nineteenth-Century Europe. (with Wolfram KaiserWolfram KaiserWolfram Kaiser is a Professor of European Studies at University of Portsmouth.In 1991, Kaiser graduated from University of Hamburg with a Bachelor and Masters of Arts...
) Cambridge University Press, 2003