Antonin Besse Of Aden: The Founder Of St Antony's College, Oxford
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Behind every great institution lies a singular and extraordinary life — and few lives were as singular as that of Antonin Besse, the enigmatic French merchant who built a commercial empire from the port of Aden and then, in an act of remarkable philanthropy, used his vast fortune to endow St Antony's College, Oxford. David Footman's biography chronicles the remarkable journey of this self-made tycoon, from his modest origins to his commanding presence in the Arabian Peninsula's trade routes, painting a vivid portrait of a man whose ambition was matched only by his generosity. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world — spanning the late colonial era, two World Wars, and the twilight of the British Empire — the narrative unfolds across continents, capturing the restless energy of a figure who remained perpetually difficult to categorise. Footman brings to this account both scholarly rigour and a storyteller's instinct, presenting a nuanced study of power, wealth, and altruism that raises enduring questions about legacy and motivation. The book sits within the prestigious St Antony's/Macmillan Series, lending it an academic authority while never sacrificing readability. For anyone drawn to the intersection of commerce, diplomacy, and educational history, this biography illuminates a chapter of Oxford's past that owes its very existence to one man's improbable vision — leaving the reader to wonder what truly drives a titan to give it all away.
Author: David Footman
Format: Hardback
Genre: Biography
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Behind every great institution lies a singular and extraordinary life — and few lives were as singular as that of Antonin Besse, the enigmatic French merchant who built a commercial empire from the port of Aden and then, in an act of remarkable philanthropy, used his vast fortune to endow St Antony's College, Oxford. David Footman's biography chronicles the remarkable journey of this self-made tycoon, from his modest origins to his commanding presence in the Arabian Peninsula's trade routes, painting a vivid portrait of a man whose ambition was matched only by his generosity. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world — spanning the late colonial era, two World Wars, and the twilight of the British Empire — the narrative unfolds across continents, capturing the restless energy of a figure who remained perpetually difficult to categorise. Footman brings to this account both scholarly rigour and a storyteller's instinct, presenting a nuanced study of power, wealth, and altruism that raises enduring questions about legacy and motivation. The book sits within the prestigious St Antony's/Macmillan Series, lending it an academic authority while never sacrificing readability. For anyone drawn to the intersection of commerce, diplomacy, and educational history, this biography illuminates a chapter of Oxford's past that owes its very existence to one man's improbable vision — leaving the reader to wonder what truly drives a titan to give it all away.