Michael O'Brien (13 April 1948 – 6 May 2015) was an English

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human species; as well as the ...

, specialising in the intellectual history of the American South. He was Professor of American Intellectual History at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

from 2005 to 2015.

Life

Michael O'Brien was born in Plymouth, and was educated at Devonport High School in the city. He was an undergraduate and research student at

Trinity Hall, Cambridge Trinity Hall (formally The College or Hall of the Holy Trinity in the University of Cambridge, colloquially "Tit Hall" ) is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1350, it is th ...

in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and studied for a further postgraduate degree at

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...

. He then taught at

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the Flagship campus, flagship campus of the University of Arkan ...

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public university, public research university in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest List of colleges and universities in Ohio, university in Ohi ...

. He was a fellow of

Jesus College, Cambridge Jesus College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Jesus College was established in 1496 on the site of the twelfth-century Benedictine nunnery of St Radegund's Priory, Cambridge, St ...

from 2002 until his death in 2015.

Awards

* Woodward-Franklin Award for the Writing of Southern History, from the Fellowship of Southern Writers (2013) * Fellow of the

British Academy The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the sa ...

(2008). * 2005 Merle Curti Award * Bancroft Prize, Columbia University * Frank L. and Harriet C. Owsley Award, Southern Historical Association * C. Hugh Holman Award, Society for the Study of Southern Literature * American Studies Network Book Prize * Nominated Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History * Nominated Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * *

References

External links

"Of Cats, Historians, and Gardeners", ''Journal of American History'', June 2002
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Michael 1948 births 2015 deaths American historians Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge Historians of the Southern United States University of Michigan faculty University of Arkansas faculty Miami University faculty Fellows of Jesus College, Cambridge Fellows of the British Academy Bancroft Prize winners