Peter Marshall (author)
Encyclopedia
Peter Marshall is an English
philosopher, historian, biographer, travel writer and poet. He has written fifteen books which are being translated into fourteen different languages. He wrote, presented and partly filmed the 6-part HTV series 'Voyage Around Africa', first shown in 1994. He also wrote and presented the two-part series 'Celtic Gold: A Voyage around Ireland' for BBC Radio Wales in 1995, which later became a book.
in the Sussex Downs. He then sailed around the world as a purser cadet in the Merchant Navy before teaching English in Senegal
, West Africa. He returned to England to take a Bachelor of Arts
in English, French and Spanish from the University of London
and an Master of Arts
and a Doctor of Philosophy
in the History of Ideas from the University of Sussex
. As a part-time tutor, he taught in the Extra-Mural departments of the University of London and the University of Wales, the Open University,and the Brighton and Chelsea schools of art.
In the 1970s Marshall was a founder member of Redfield community in Winslow, Buckinghamshire
, England. He went in 1980 to live in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales to write his first book and stayed on for 21 years, first living in a remote cottage in the mountains and then down by the sea. He now lives in Devon
, England. He has two children, Emily and Dylan.
Marshall has contributed to fields as diverse as anarchism
, ecology
, alchemy
and archaeology
. He has been described by Resurgence
magazine as one of the 25 'visionary voices' who have shaped the new world view in the last quarter of the 20th century. His philosophy of Liberation Ecology is presented in Riding the Wind (1998).
Marshall has been described as "a passionate ecologist and animal liberationist
" by The Guardian
.
He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
and a member of the Society of Authors.
Marshall has a paternal Irish grandmother.
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...
philosopher, historian, biographer, travel writer and poet. He has written fifteen books which are being translated into fourteen different languages. He wrote, presented and partly filmed the 6-part HTV series 'Voyage Around Africa', first shown in 1994. He also wrote and presented the two-part series 'Celtic Gold: A Voyage around Ireland' for BBC Radio Wales in 1995, which later became a book.
Life
Marshall became a boarder at Steyning Grammar SchoolSteyning Grammar School
Steyning Grammar School is a state comprehensive school in Steyning, West Sussex, England. It is the only state school in West Sussex which caters for boarders...
in the Sussex Downs. He then sailed around the world as a purser cadet in the Merchant Navy before teaching English in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, West Africa. He returned to England to take a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English, French and Spanish from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and an Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in the History of Ideas from the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. As a part-time tutor, he taught in the Extra-Mural departments of the University of London and the University of Wales, the Open University,and the Brighton and Chelsea schools of art.
In the 1970s Marshall was a founder member of Redfield community in Winslow, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England. He went in 1980 to live in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales to write his first book and stayed on for 21 years, first living in a remote cottage in the mountains and then down by the sea. He now lives in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. He has two children, Emily and Dylan.
Marshall has contributed to fields as diverse as anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
, ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
and archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. He has been described by Resurgence
Resurgence
Resurgence is a British bi-monthly magazine which has been described as the artistic and spiritual voice of the green movement in Great Britain. Resurgence was founded in the 1960s by John Papworth....
magazine as one of the 25 'visionary voices' who have shaped the new world view in the last quarter of the 20th century. His philosophy of Liberation Ecology is presented in Riding the Wind (1998).
Marshall has been described as "a passionate ecologist and animal liberationist
Animal Liberation
Animal liberation may refer to:*Animal rights, animals being considered as legal persons**Animal-liberation movement**Abolitionism , an abolitionist approach to animal rights**Veganarchism, a combined theory of animal liberation and anarchism...
" by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
and a member of the Society of Authors.
Marshall has a paternal Irish grandmother.
Works
- William Godwin (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984)
- Journey through Tanzania, with photographers Mohamed Amin & Duncan Willetts (London: Bodley Head, 1984)
- Into Cuba with photographer Barry Lewis (London: Zena, 1985)
- (ed), The Anarchist Writings of William GodwinWilliam GodwinWilliam Godwin was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism...
(London: Freedom Press, 1986) - Cuba Libre: Breaking the Chains? (London: Victor Gollancz, 1987)
- William BlakeWilliam BlakeWilliam Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
: Visionary Anarchist (London: Freedom Press, 1988) - Demanding the Impossible: A History of AnarchismAnarchismAnarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
(London: HarperCollins, 1992) - Nature's Web: An Exploration of Ecological ThinkingEcology movementThe global ecology movement is based upon environmental protection, and is one of several new social movements that emerged at the end of the 1960s. As a values-driven social movement, it should be distinguished from the pre-existing science of ecology....
(London: Simon & Schuster, 1992) - Journey through Maldives, with photographers Mohamed Amin & Duncan Willetts (Nairobi: Camerapix,1992)
- Around Africa (London: Simon & Schuster, 1994)
- Celtic Gold: A Voyage around Ireland (London: Sinclair Stevenson, 1997)
- Riding the Wind: A New Philosophy for a New Era (London: Continuum, 1998)
- The Philosopher's Stone: A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy (London: Macmillan, 2001) ISBN 9780330489102
- World Astrology (London: Macmillan, 2004)
- Europe's Lost Civilization: Uncovering the Mysteries of the MegalithMegalithA megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
s (London: Headline, 2004) - The Theatre of the World: AlchemyAlchemyAlchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, AstrologyAstrologyAstrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
and MagicMagic (paranormal)Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
in Renaissance Prague (London: Harvill Secker,2006). Also published as The Magic Circle of Rudolf IIRudolf II, Holy Roman EmperorRudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
(New York: 2006) and The Mercurial Emperor (London: Pimlico,2007) - Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism (London: HarperCollins, 2008) New Edition. Also published in the US (Los Angeles: PM PressPM PressPM Press is an independent publisher that specializes in radical, Marxist and anarchist literature, as well as crime fiction, graphic novels, music CDs, and political documentaries...
, 2009).