R. J. Hollingdale Explained

Reginald John Hollingdale
Birth Date:20 October 1930
Birth Place:Streatham, London, England
Nationality:English
Citizenship:Great Britain
Other Names:R. J. Hollingdale,
"Reg" Hollingdale
Known For:Translator of German Literature
Education:Bec Grammar School, Tooting
Children:James, Frances

Reginald John "R. J." Hollingdale (20 October 1930 – 28 September 2001) was a British biographer and translator of German philosophy and literature, especially the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Goethe, E. T. A. Hoffmann, G. C. Lichtenberg, and Schopenhauer.

Life and career

"Reg" Hollingdale dropped out of Bec Grammar School, Tooting at the age of 16 in order become a journalist, working in a junior position for a Croydon newspaper. He was called up to the Royal Air Force at a young age in the late 1940s, as part of his National Service, for two years before returning to journalism. After paying his way through private German lessons, and immersing himself in German literature and philosophy, Hollingdale earned the respect of readers and academics with his translations and studies of German cultural figures. Despite not possessing a degree, Hollingdale was elected president of a scholarly society, and was a visiting scholar at the University of Melbourne in 1991–1992. He also worked as a sub-editor at The Guardian and as a critic for The Times Literary Supplement.[1]

Hollingdale was elected President of The Friedrich Nietzsche Society in 1989. Along with Walter Kaufmann, he was responsible for rehabilitating Nietzsche's reputation in the English-speaking world after the Second World War.[2] Hollingdale was an atheist.[3]

Partial bibliography

Original works

A Critical Study (1973)

Translations

As composed or published by Friedrich Nietzsche in chronological order:

A Book for Free Spirits (1986)

A Book for Everyone and No One (1961).

Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future (1973)

How One Becomes What One Is (1986)

References

  1. News: Diethe. Carol. The Guardian. Obituary: RJ Hollingdale. London . October 10, 2001 . May 22, 2010.
  2. News: Diethe. Carol. The Guardian. Obituary: RJ Hollingdale. London . October 10, 2001 . May 22, 2010.
  3. News: Diethe. Carol. The Guardian. Obituary: RJ Hollingdale. London . October 10, 2001 . May 22, 2010.

External links