J M Keynes: Hopes Betrayed 1883-1920 by Richard Skidelsky - review by A L Rowse

A L Rowse

Liberal Illusionist

J M Keynes: Hopes Betrayed 1883-1920

By

Macmillan 500pp £14.95
 

Professor Skidelsky was an excellent choice to undertake the difficult task of Keynes’s official biography; very few could do it, for it needs not only a writer of wide culture and sympathetic human perception, but also an expert knowledge of economics. Roy Harrod had these qualifications for his earlier biography; but he was hampered by three considerations. In the climate of that time it was impossible to tell the truth about the homosexuality of Keynes and his Cambridge circle; secondly, so many of his friends and relations were alive to exercise censorship; and thirdly, Harrod simply worshipped Maynard: he could do no wrong in his eyes, or ever be wrong. Skidelsky has none of those disadvantages; he has more material than ever at his disposition, and he has made a triumph of a difficult and important job.

To get the first consideration out of the way. Sympathetic as I am to Keynes’s homosexuality – anything to keep the population down, short of murder! – even I am surprised by the aggressive devoutness of Maynard’s behaviour, the range of his experiences, and the risks he took. All very

Sign Up to our newsletter

Receive free articles, highlights from the archive, news, details of prizes, and much more.

RLF - March

A Mirror - Westend

Follow Literary Review on Twitter