Antony Beevor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antony Beevor
FRSL
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Beevor in 2022
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| Born | Antony James Beevor 14 December 1946 Kensington, London, England |
| Occupation | Author, historian |
| Language | English |
| Education | Abberley Hall School Winchester College |
| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Subject | Modern history |
| Notable awards | Samuel Johnson Prize |
| Spouse |
Artemis Cooper
(m. 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | John Julius Norwich (father-in-law) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1970 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Service number | 483855 |
| Unit | 11th Hussars |
Sir Antony James Beevor (born 14 December 1946) is a famous British military historian. He writes popular history books, mostly about the Second World War. He has also written about the Spanish Civil War and the Russian Revolution.
Antony Beevor went to Abberley Hall School and Winchester College. He then trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was a tank commander in Germany before he decided to become a writer in 1970.
He has been a visiting professor at universities like Birkbeck, University of London. His books have sold millions of copies worldwide.
His best-selling books, Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002), are well-known. They describe major battles between the Soviet Union and Germany during World War II. These books are praised for showing the experiences of ordinary soldiers and people. Berlin caused some debate in Russia because it included information from old Soviet records.
Beevor's books have been translated into many languages. He has given talks at military schools and written for major newspapers.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Antony James Beevor was born in London, England, on 14 December 1946.
He attended two private schools: Abberley Hall School and Winchester College.
After school, he joined the British Army as a cadet. He studied military history while at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He became a lieutenant in the 11th Hussars in 1967. He served in England and Germany. He left the army in 1970 to focus on writing.
Writing Career and Famous Books
After leaving the army, Beevor became a successful author. He has also taught history at universities.
World War II Books
His most famous books are about World War II. Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002) tell the stories of huge battles. These books are known for their exciting style. They also use new information from old Soviet archives. This new information helped readers understand the war better.
The book Berlin caused some disagreement in Russia. It shared details from Soviet archives about events in 1945. Some Russian officials and media criticized the book. They said it contained "lies" and "slander" against the Red Army. Beevor defended his work, saying he used historical records.
Other Historical Works
Beevor also wrote The Spanish Civil War (1982). He later updated it as The Battle for Spain (2006). This new version included more research from German and Russian sources.
His book The Second World War (2012) covers the entire global conflict. It focuses on the experiences of women and civilians. It also looks at the war in East Asia.
As of 2014, his books were translated into 35 languages. More than 8.5 million copies had been sold.
In 2015, a region in Russia considered banning Beevor's books. They accused him of having Nazi sympathies. Beevor said this was an attempt by a government to control history.
He has also written articles for many well-known newspapers. These include The Times, The Telegraph, and New York Times.
Personal Life
Antony Beevor comes from a family of writers. His ancestors include the legal thinker John Austin. His grandmother and mother were also writers.
He is married to biographer Artemis Cooper. They have two children.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Antony Beevor has received many awards for his historical writing.
In 2014, he won the Pritzker Military Museum & Library's Literature Award. This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in military writing. It came with a prize of US$100,000.
He has also received several honorary degrees from universities. These include the University of Kent and the University of Bath. In 2016, he became an honorary Fellow of King's College London. He also received the Medlicott Medal for his contributions to history.
In 2017, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This means he can use the title "Sir" before his name. This honor was for his work supporting the professional development of the Armed Forces.
He has also received honors from other countries. These include France, Estonia, and Belgium.
Awards for Specific Books
- Crete: The Battle and the Resistance won the Runciman Prize.
- Stalingrad won the first Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction. It also won the Wolfson History Prize.
- Berlin: The Downfall 1945 received the Longman-History Today Trustees' Award.
- The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939 won the La Vanguardia Prize in Spain.
Published Works
Fiction Books
- Violent Brink. London: John Murray, 1975.
- For Reasons of State. London: Jonathan Cape, 1980.
- The Faustian Pact. London: Jonathan Cape, 1983.
- The Enchantment of Christina von Retzen. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1989.
Nonfiction Books
- The Spanish Civil War. London: Orbis, 1982.
- Inside the British Army. London: Chatto and Windus, 1990.
- Crete 1941: The Battle and the Resistance. London: John Murray, 1991.
- with Artemis Cooper. Paris After the Liberation, 1944–1949. London: Penguin, 1994.
- Stalingrad. London: Viking Press, 1998.
- Berlin: The Downfall 1945. London: Penguin, 2002. (Also known as The Fall of Berlin 1945 in the U.S.)
- The Mystery of Olga Chekhova. London: Penguin, 2004.
- The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2006.
- D-Day: The Battle for Normandy. London: Penguin, 2009.
- The Second World War. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2012.
- Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble. Viking, 2015.
- Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944. Viking, 2018.
- Russia: Revolution and Civil War, 1917—1921. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2022.
Edited Books
- A Writer at War: Vasily Grossman with the Red Army 1941–1945 by Vasily Grossman.
Book Contributions
- The British Army, Manpower and Society into the Twenty-First Century, edited by Hew Strachan.
- What Ifs? of American History: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, by Robert Cowley (Editor), Antony Beevor and Caleb Carr. (2003)
See also
In Spanish: Antony Beevor para niños
