Abstract
Edward John Thompson (1886–1946) is a relatively unknown figure of minor literary merit, though in any discussion of English writers working within the context of the Raj in its twilight days, he must be placed high on the list, for he wrote extensively on India. Moreover, in the thirties, like Kipling at the turn of the century,1 he was considered an expert on India and his views had an influence on British public opinion. Both of his parents were Wesleyan missionaries who spent quite some time in South India though Edward was not bom there.2 After his graduation from London University he was ordained and was sent in 1910 to the Wesleyan College at Bankura, Bengal.
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Notes
Most of the biographical information on Thompson is taken from H. M. Margoliouth’s article in D.N.B. 1941–1950.I am also greatly indebted to Benita Parry’s excellent section on E. J. Thompson; see Delusions and Discoveries (London, 1972), pp. 164–202.
G. T. Garratt (1888–1942) served in the ICS from 1913 to 1923. His primary interest was in history and education; he was principal of Government College, Lahore for some time. Later, he served as political secretary to the Indian Round Table Conferences. He was a close friend of Thompson and shared many of his ideas; see for example his book An Indian Commentary (London, 1928).
Edward J. Thompson and G. T. Garratt, Rise and Fulfilment of British Rule in India (Allahabad, 1962), pp. vii–viii.
E. J. Thompson, A History of India (London, 1927), pp. 77–8.
E. J. Thompson, The Reconstruction of India (London, 1930), P. 40.
E. J. Thompson, A Letter from India (London, 1932), p. 103.
E. J. Thompson, Enlist India for Freedom! (London, 1940), p. 10.
E. J. Thompson, A Farewell to India (London, 1931), P. 40.
E. J. Thompson, An Indian Day (London, 1927), p. 46.
E. J. Thompson, An End of the Hours (London, 1938), p. 247.
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© 1979 Shamsul Islam
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Islam, S. (1979). E. J. Thompson. In: Chronicles of the Raj. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03515-1_3
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