Simon Jenkins
Simon Jenkins is an English writer and journalist, who has written extensively on history, politics and architecture. He is best known for his books England's Thousand Best Houses, England's Thousand Best Churches, and The Guardian Guide to British History.
Born in 1943, Jenkins was educated at Eton College, University College London, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge University. He started his career at the Financial Times in 1965, eventually rising to the position of the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief. Jenkins went on to become the editor of The Times from 1990 to 1992, and was also the Chairman of the National Trust from 2008 to 2014, being knighted for his services to heritage in 2004.
Jenkins has received a long list of awards for his work, including a British Press Award for Campaigning Journalist of the Year, a Wolfson History Prize, the Royal Society of Literature's Georgian Group Prize, and a What the Papers Say award for Journalist of the Year in 1989. He has also been awarded the Richard Dimbleby Award at the BAFTA British Academy Television Awards, and is a member of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
Jenkins has made numerous television and radio appearances as an expert on history and architecture, as well as being a frequent book reviewer for London's Sunday Times. He is widely regarded as one of today's leading public intellectuals, having successfully and timelessly documented many of the nation's architectural gems and the people who lived in them throughout the decades.
Jenkins is the author of numerous books, starting with England's Thousand Best Houses in 1982; this book was highly acclaimed and noted for Jenkins' wide-ranging knowledge on the subject. He followed this up with England's Thousand Best Churches (1989) and The Guardian Guide to British History (1994).
Jenkins' writing style has been described as direct, informative and often humorous. He is a superbly well-informed researcher, and this talent is evident in his books, which provide a detailed insight into the history of each building and the people that lived or worked there over the centuries.
Jenkins' aim throughout his works is to explore how history is shaped by people, and how different periods in time are intrinsically linked. His books are presented in a narrative form, often describing significant events and people in great detail, peppered with an insider's knowledge of the era.
Jenkins' books, such as England's Thousand Best Houses and England's Thousand Best Churches, are remarkable pieces of work that provide a unique insight into the history and architecture of an entire nation. They offer a fascinating and vivid insight into the people who lived in and around each building, allowing readers to feel as if they are travelling back in time, connecting with stories that have been passed down through generations.
Jenkins has continued to write books, including England's 100 Best Views (2012), The Country Houses of Gloucestershire (2006), and England and its Rulers, 1066-1272 (2003). His work is a testament to his dedication to discovering and sharing the stories behind the history of England, and the individuals who have influenced its evolution over the centuries.
