Understanding Dennis Robertson

The Man and His Work

Gordon Fletcher, formerly Lecturer in Economics, The University of Liverpool, UK

In this fascinating study Gordon Fletcher explores the relationship between the life and work of one of Britain’s most distinguished economists, Sir Dennis Holme Robertson (1890–1963). Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished material, novel forms of evidence – both biographical and literary, together with a fresh reading of Robertson’s principal books and essays, Fletcher argues that Robertsonian economics is indelibly stamped with the impression of Robertson the man and that by better understanding the man we shall better understand his economics. He shows that this is particularly the case with respect to the way in which Robertson’s thought developed and to its particular characteristics, which have often been described by commentators but never explained. Most interestingly, he accounts for Robertson’s breach with his Cambridge colleague J.M. Keynes. With these insights we glimpse the hidden human face of what is all too often regarded as the bloodless discipline, the dismal science.

‘Understanding Dennis Robertson is a fine example of intellectual biography, which lives up to the implicit promise made in its title. By the end of the book, the reader does feel that he or she understands Dennis Robertson, at least as far as possible at this date . . . This is a significant contribution, not only from the perspective of the history of thought, but also in understanding contemporary orthodoxy . . . This book deserves to be widely read, not only by those interested in the history of thought, but also by those claiming to be macroeconomists today.’
– John Smithin, Eastern Economic Journal

‘The biography . . . is of interest not only to specialists in the field . . . since it presents an interesting psychological portrait of the economist and offers a segment of life at the prestigious Eton College and at the University of Cambridge at the beginning of the 20th century.’
– Daniele Besomi, Azione

弗莱彻的拼凑罗伯茨的拼图on’s life is a major achievement. Disparate pieces fit together into a remarkable pattern. . . Robertson’s main economic writings are integrated into this story resulting in an integration of biography, literature and economics that is fascinating to read. The book is clearly important for anyone seeking to understand Robertson or his work. . . it has transformed my appreciation of Robertson.’
– Roger Backhouse, European Society for the History of Economic Thought Newsletter

这是一个显著的贡献tion to the literature. . . Clearly not a complete sentence but the rest is written in the first person.’
– Peter Clarke, University of Cambridge and Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, UK

‘In this fascinating, insightful yet somehow strange book Gordon Fletcher aims at throwing light on the mutual influence between Dennis Robertson’s temperament and outlook on life, and his professional writings and the development of ideas.’
– Daniele Besomi, History of Economics Review

‘. . . this is a magnificent intellectual biography of one of the great mysterious figures of modern macroeconomics.’
– The late Mark Blaug, formerly of the University of London and University of Buckingham, UK

Gordon Fletcher has written a remarkable, completely absorbing, interpretation of Dennis Robertson’s contributions to economics and of their relationship to the complex, ultimately tragic figure of their author. Fletcher has great sympathy for and understanding of the traumas and dramas of Robertson’s life – external and internal – and admiration for him as an economist. He knows Robertson’s writings intimately and he recounts in compelling detail the intellectual and personal relationships between Robertson and Keynes and their respective champions. Fletcher’s own deep understanding of economics and of the nature of Keynes and his revolution allow him to be fair to Robertson yet show the ultimate soundness of Keynes’s views as opposed to Robertson’s. He documents how they could start together yet inevitably grow apart – and why the disagreement homed in on explanations of the rate of interest and its role. Fletcher shows how Robertson’s stance was necessary for him to be able to survive, that his fragile nature, so dependent on things past, in economics as much as in the theatre, culture and society and on his reverence for Marshall, made it impossible for him to go with Keynes after the Treatise on Money, or perhaps even with the Treatise on Money itself. Understanding Dennis Robertson is a wonderful example of what intellectual biography should be – complete mastery of the intellectual issues involved combined with sympathetic perception and analysis of the personalities involved and their times.’
– G.C. Harcourt, University of New South Wales, Australia