ECONOMISTS' PAPERS
Series Two: The Diaries of John Neville Keynes, 1864-1917,
from Cambridge University Library

"John Neville Keynes, the father of Maynard Keynes, kept a detailed diary for the years 1864 to 1917. In his clear and neat handwriting it spans the period from his final years at school through his student years in London and Pembroke College, Cambridge, and his subsequent career in Cambridge as a Fellow of Pembroke, a teacher for the Moral Science Tripos, an active promoter of women’s education in Cambridge, an author of books on logic and economics, and an important university administrator; first as Secretary for Local Examinations and then as Registrar. He recorded in his diary the successes of his children (especially Maynard whose schoolboy letters he copied into his diary), national and local events, and a fascinating array of comments on the many novels he read, social and domestic affairs, travel and public life. I am very pleased to see this available on microfilm. It is an excellent project covering a wide range of topics going well beyond just economics and economic history."
Rita McWilliams Tullberg, Consultant Editor, Darwin College, Cambridge

An important biographical source which offers a detailed picture of Victorian and Edwardian family life, these diaries will be of interest to scholars of Victorian studies and literature as well as to those interested in the history of economic thought. The fact that they document the life of one of the major figures of classical economics and the early life and influences of the founder of Keynesian economics is an added benefit.

The details of John Neville Keynes’ schooldays and time at university are particularly appealing. There are details of his courtship and subsequent marriage and it is interesting to see the clearly defined roles of Victorian Society being played out. His subsequent career as a university administrator provides fascinating insights into university life in general. His reading notes are also of interest and we see how Maynard’s precocious talents were nurtured. Subsequent letters - written into the diary - from Maynard while at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, or on board an ocean liner to America, reveal the closeness of his relationship with his parents and their pride in his achievements.