Ruth Scurr
Encyclopedia
Dr Ruth Scurr is a British
writer and historian.
She was admitted to Oxford University to read English but changed after a year to study Politics and Philosophy. She went on to study for a Master’s degree in Social and Political Theory and then completed a doctorate thesis on the political thought of the French Revolution
, both at Cambridge University. After this she received a British Academy
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Politics at Cambridge. In 1996 she spent a year in Paris
at the Ecole Normale Supérieure
.
She began reviewing regularly for The Times
and the Times Literary Supplement in 1997. Since then she has written for The Daily Telegraph
, The Observer
, The New Statesman
, The London Review of Books, The New York Review of Books
, The Nation
and The New York Observer.
Scurr is an affiliated lecturer in the Department of Politics at Cambridge University, and Director of Studies in Social and Political Sciences for Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
where she is a Fellow. She was a judge on the Booker Prize in 2007. Since 1997 she has been married to the political theorist John Dunn.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer and historian.
She was admitted to Oxford University to read English but changed after a year to study Politics and Philosophy. She went on to study for a Master’s degree in Social and Political Theory and then completed a doctorate thesis on the political thought of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, both at Cambridge University. After this she received a British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Politics at Cambridge. In 1996 she spent a year in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the Ecole Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
.
She began reviewing regularly for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
and the Times Literary Supplement in 1997. Since then she has written for The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, The New Statesman
The New Statesman
The New Statesman is an award-winning British sitcom of the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the Conservative government of the time...
, The London Review of Books, The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
and The New York Observer.
Scurr is an affiliated lecturer in the Department of Politics at Cambridge University, and Director of Studies in Social and Political Sciences for Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
where she is a Fellow. She was a judge on the Booker Prize in 2007. Since 1997 she has been married to the political theorist John Dunn.