John Anthony Crook

John Anthony Crook (born November 5, 1921 in London , † September 7, 2007 in Cambridge ) was a British ancient historian .

John Anthony Crook was an only child and came from a simple background. He received his education at Dulwich College and, since 1939, at St John's College , Cambridge. In February 1942 he was drafted into the 9th Royal Fusiliers and served in the Middle East and North Africa. On landing in Italy he was captured and came to Silesia, where he learned fluent German. He was Assistant Lecturer in Classics in 1948/49 and from 1949 to 1951 Lecturer at the University of Reading .

In 1951 Crook returned as a fellow at St John's College, where he was to remain until the end of his life; 1956-1964 he was a tutor at this college, from 1971 to 1975 its president. At Cambridge University he was assistant lecturer in Classics from 1953 to 1955 , and then lecturer until 1971. In 1971 he was a reader in Roman history and law (until 1979), from 1974 to 1979 Brereton reader. In 1979 he received the chair for ancient history and taught until his retirement in 1984 as a professor.

Crook's main research interests were Roman history and Roman law. His presentation Consilium principis (1955) on the imperial council became a standard work and made him known in the professional world. His representation Law and life of Rome (1967) was his most important work. Crook was one of the editors of the prestigious handbook The Cambridge Ancient History . From 1970 to 1980, Crook was a fellow at the British Academy .

Fonts

• Law and life of Rome. Cornell University Press, Ithaca 1967.
• Consilium principis. Imperial councils and counselors from Augustus to Diocletian. University Press, Cambridge 1955.

literature

• Garnsey PDA: John Anthony Crook, 1921–2007. In: Proceedings of the British Academy. Volume 161, 2009, pp. 111-131. ( online ).

Web links

• Peter Linehan: Professor John Crook. Professor of Ancient History at Cambridge University who was an authority on the law and life of Rome . In: The Independent , September 15, 2007.