Veronica Wedgwood
Encyclopedia
Dame Veronica Wedgwood OM
DBE
(20 July 1910 – 9 March 1997) was an English historian
who generally published under the name C. V. Wedgwood. She specialized in European history of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including her still-authoritative study The Thirty Years' War (1938 and many later reprintings) and biographies of Oliver Cromwell
, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, William the Silent
, and Cardinal Richelieu, as well as the authoritative Caroline trilogy,"The Great Rebellion", which included "The King’s Peace" (1955), "The King’s War" (1958), and "The Trial of Charles I" (1964), reprinted as "A Coffin for King Charles". Thirty years after she published her much-praised biography of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, she returned to the subject and published a much-revised version that was considerably more critical of her subject. Historians often cite Wedgwood's two lives of Strafford as an illustration of scholarly integrity and open-mindedness.
Born in Northumberland
, she was educated at Norland Place School
and read Modern History at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
, and became a specialist in the English Civil War
and early 17th century history. Well regarded in academic circles, her books are widely read, and she was also successful as a lecturer and broadcaster. In 1946 she translated Elias Canetti
's Die Blendung, as Auto-da-Fé
, under Canetti's supervision.
She was the only daughter of Sir Ralph Wedgwood and his wife Iris Veronica Pawson
. She had a brother, Sir John Wedgwood
. Her book The Last of the Radicals (1951), was about her uncle Josiah Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood
.
Wedgwood received honorary degrees from the universities of Glasgow
, Sheffield
and from Smith College
, and was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton
. She served on the Arts Council
and the council of the Victoria and Albert Museum
, and was a trustee of the National Gallery. She was created a CBE
in 1956, a DBE
in 1968, and in 1969 became only the third woman to be appointed a member of the British Order of Merit
. Her biography William the Silent was awarded the 1944 James Tait Black Memorial Prize
.
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(20 July 1910 – 9 March 1997) was an English 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...
who generally published under the name C. V. Wedgwood. She specialized in European history of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including her still-authoritative study The Thirty Years' War (1938 and many later reprintings) and biographies of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, William the Silent
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
, and Cardinal Richelieu, as well as the authoritative Caroline trilogy,"The Great Rebellion", which included "The King’s Peace" (1955), "The King’s War" (1958), and "The Trial of Charles I" (1964), reprinted as "A Coffin for King Charles". Thirty years after she published her much-praised biography of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, she returned to the subject and published a much-revised version that was considerably more critical of her subject. Historians often cite Wedgwood's two lives of Strafford as an illustration of scholarly integrity and open-mindedness.
Born in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, she was educated at Norland Place School
Norland Place School
Norland Place School is a coeducational independent school for boys aged 4–8 and girls aged 4–11. It is situated in the Holland Park area of London, and was founded in 1876 by Miss Emily Lord.-Famous pupils:Notable former pupils include:* Veronica Wedgwood...
and read Modern History at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located at the end of Norham Gardens in north Oxford. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £34m....
, and became a specialist in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and early 17th century history. Well regarded in academic circles, her books are widely read, and she was also successful as a lecturer and broadcaster. In 1946 she translated Elias Canetti
Elias Canetti
Elias Canetti was a Bulgarian-born modernist novelist, playwright, memoirist, and non-fiction writer. He wrote in German and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981, "for writings marked by a broad outlook, a wealth of ideas and artistic power".-Life:...
's Die Blendung, as Auto-da-Fé
Auto-da-Fé
Auto da Fé is a 1935 novel by Elias Canetti; the title of the English translation refers to the burning of heretics by the Inquisition.-Publication History:...
, under Canetti's supervision.
She was the only daughter of Sir Ralph Wedgwood and his wife Iris Veronica Pawson
Iris Wedgwood
Lady Iris Veronica Wedgwood , was a British author of novels and non-fiction works on the topography and history of England.-Life:...
. She had a brother, Sir John Wedgwood
John Hamilton Wedgwood
Sir John Hamilton Wedgwood, 2nd Baronet TD , British politician and industrialist.Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Wedgwood was the son of Sir Ralph Wedgwood, 1st Baronet and his wife Iris Veronica Pawson, daughter of Albert Henry Pawson. He was a great-great-great-grandson of the master potter Josiah...
. Her book The Last of the Radicals (1951), was about her uncle Josiah Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood
Colonel Josiah Clement Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood, DSO, PC, DL sometimes referred to as Josiah Wedgwood IV was a British Liberal and Labour politician who served in government under Ramsay MacDonald...
.
Wedgwood received honorary degrees from the universities of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
and from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, and was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. She served on the Arts Council
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. The Arts Council of Great Britain was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England , the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales...
and the council of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, and was a trustee of the National Gallery. She was created a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1956, a DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1968, and in 1969 became only the third woman to be appointed a member of the British Order of Merit
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
. Her biography William the Silent was awarded the 1944 James Tait Black Memorial Prize
James Tait Black Memorial Prize
Founded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are among the oldest and most prestigious book prizes awarded for literature written in the English language and are Britain's oldest literary awards...
.
External links
- Daily Telegraph obituary
- http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.0&thid=12efd53371045165&mt=application/pdf&url=http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D14355e8a5e%26view%3Datt%26th%3D12efd53371045165%26attid%3D0.0%26disp%3Dattd%6zw&sig=AHIEtbTwnpGn76O0Br1UAOANUtezhToo5g