Despite having been an undergraduate at Oriel College, Taylor considered himself to be an outsider when he joined Magdalen as Tutorial Fellow in Modern History in 1938. Unlike most of his colleagues, whom Taylor described as “the product of inbreeding,”† Taylor had worked outside of Oxford, spending eight years at the University of Manchester. Once he settled in, however, he grew to have considerable influence over the College – much to the resentment of his peer, K.B. McFarlane.
Taylor did not particularly care for his role as a Tutor. He preferred giving lectures and writing books over giving tutorials, and he prided himself on his prolific output. He was also a voracious reader who built up a considerable library. Around of 200 Taylor’s books were donated to Magdalen’s libraries.
As the first ‘TV Don’ Taylor delivered unscripted and engaging lectures, bringing History to a mass audience. His role in broadcasting, and the sheer amount of history books he wrote, brought him fame and financial success. That he was parodied in Monty Python and the Holy Grail is an indication of just how famous Taylor became.
† Taylor, A. J. P. (Alan John Percivale). A Personal History. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1983, p. 137.
