The History Man

The story of Howard Kirk, lecturer in Sociology at the University of Watermouth, is one of the defining tales of its era. Malcolm Bradbury uses Kirk as a vehicle for an incisive and devastating satire of the academic politics of the '60s and '70s, although the character types remained in place well after this, as I can vouch!

The core narrative takes place over one autumn term, occuring between two parties held by the Kirks - one to get the academic year off to a swinging start and the other to close it with a bang (I use both terms advisedly). The story of the Kirks' rise from aspirant working-class/lower-middle class grammar school success to self-proclaimed radicals is sketched in sympathetically early on in the story. In fact, at show more this point Howard Kirk and his wife Barbara seem very sympathetic - their growth from dutiful academic drones to self-aware critics of all forms of authority and power is a testament to their desire to "do the right thing". They do concern themselves with the interests of others at this point and they are driven by a sense of justice and moral probity. However, once the full extent of the sexual revolution makes its impact on them and once they are ensconced in the safe world of tenured employment, there is a distinctly complacent and self-regarding aspect of their nature that takes over. All this is described with gleeful and ironic accuracy by the cold hearted narrator, who never leaves the present tense; just like the Kirks themselves, who are caught up in their eternal now and their eternal me.

As the plot unfolds, Howard seems to see it as almost an act of political responsilbilty on his part to liberate students and fellow lecturers into his sex life. This allows for some comical scenes and exposure of Kirkian hypocrisy. Please note: this was all, of course, a long time before Operation Yewtree!

The darkest side of Howard's world, though, comes in his manipulationof rumour about an unfortunate liberal geneticist called Professor Mangel whose academic discipline marks him out as a fascist in Howard's eyes. Howard plants a rumour that Mangel is to visit the university and then exploits the outrage it causes amongst students and staff who have only the haziest notion of what his work entails. In many ways, this is a parody of the attitudes toward HJ Eysenk which were causing consternation at the time. This plot line leads to some very funny scenes especially one in which the protocols of the departmental meeting are held up for comic inspection.

But, most of all, it is in Kirk's treatment of a conservative student who does not sympathise with the leftist agenda of the Sociology department where the worst aspects of the era are exposed. This story of George Carmody, himself a rather unsavoury character it turns out, is a sorry saga and the fact that Kirk survives it seemingly unscathed does leave a bitter aftertaste and mark this out as in some ways quite an unsettling satire.

There are moments of ebullient laughter, though: the constant commentary on the architecture of this new utopian university with its collectivist arrangements of everything from dining rooms to concourses by way of the shaped plastic seats designed for "the universal buttock" and the guests at one party from the all nude production of "The Importance of Being Ernest" made me laugh out loud.

This is a delightful but serious campus novel - perhaps harsher than David Lodge's "Nice Work", the novel with which it might be most easily compared. show less

This is a sort of bitter sweet comedy. Howard Kirk is the archetypal hippie made good. If one were to ask him, he would say that he was living by those principles, and he would mean it. Sadly, the creeping fingers of Capitalism have ensnared him and he is too blind to see that change has come.

Kirk is a lecturer with an open marriage, which he feels it his duty to share the advantage of with his attractive female students, and a mind closed to any idea at odds with his own. Kirk enters a linguistic fight with a male student, George Carmody, unable to accept that his right wing views are worthy of consideration. He, of course, destroys the student and achieves his goal of sleeping with Miss Callendar, the pretty young lecturer who tries show more to defend Carmody.

It appears that Howard has swept all in front of him by the end of the novel but, there is the hint of change that will see Howard Kirk consigned to History. show less

The Kirks are are an interesting couple. Howard Kirk is a professor of sociology with a "convenient" marriage. Both Howard and his wife, Barbara, take advantage of sexual relationships that further their causes and commitments. Right from the beginning you know they are bound for trouble. "So, sensing the climate, some people called the Kirks, a well-known couple, decide to have a party" (p 1). And this is how it begins. The History Man starts with a party and ends with a party, but a whole lot happens in between. Howard has liaisons with a colleague and a student while trying to seduce a third woman. Barbara spends her weekends running off to London for a "shopping" trip.
Howard Kirk starts a vicious buzz about campus about inviting show more Professor Mangel to give a lecture at the University of Watermouth. This creates an uproar as Mangel is seen as a racist, a sexist, a geneticist, and a fascist so no one can agree about his invitation.

There is a good dose of philosophy and psychology; a whole lot of explaining how people are and what makes them tick. I couldn't decide if I really liked the Kirks. They reminded me of the Underwoods in House of Cards. They both seemed a little conniving. In the end I felt the most sorry for Barbara Kirk. She and her husband have an open relationship but, being a mother, she doesn't have quite the same opportunities as Howard.

As an aside, the author's note is hysterical. It sets the tone for the entire story. show less

This was an entertaining and informative read for me as a grad student but the situations described were still unfamiliar to me then. A few decades later, I can say that the same academic and social dimensions are still pertinent.

Period piece, from the pre-Thatcher idyll of public sector largesse. Long-haired radical embraces a self-righteous rejection of establishment conformity, whilst sleeping around, exploring and exposing, almost more from duty than desire. (The charisma and energy of the Anthony Sher portrayal is somehow missing from this written version). Bradbury's verbal flair, sense of narrative fun, and affectionate satire on the zeitgeist are all still enjoyable, though the feel is dated.

The History Man is another of the books on the Guardian's 1000 Must-Read books. Which is why I mooched a copy and read it. It took me two goes to start, and the second time I was on a coach heading for London, so I couldn't really put it down and pick up another book.... And I'm glad I forced myself to read it. It takes a while to get going, but once you've clicked into the narrative, it's an excellent read. The committee meeting alone is worth the price of admission. Now I want to see the 1980 BBC television adaptation....

Competent, occasionally funny novel about group-think and trendiness in the academic community.