Eric Hobsbawm, one of the leading historians of the 20th century, has died at the age of 95, his family said.
His daughter, Julia, said he died in the early hours of this morning at the Royal Free Hospital in London, where he been suffering from pneumonia.
The historian had been ill with leukaemia for some time but succumbed to pneumonia last week, she said.
Mr Hobsbawm, a historian in the Marxist tradition, was one of the leading intellectuals of the 20th century and wrote more than 20 books including a celebrated three-volume series on the “long 19th century” — the Age of Revolution, the Age of Capital and Age of Empire, as well as a best-selling memoir.
The Guardian reported that his final book, now in proof stage, is scheduled for publication next year.
His family said in a statement: “He will be greatly missed not only by his wife of 50 years, Marlene, and his three children, seven grandchildren and great grandchild, but also by his many thousands of readers and students around the world.”
PA