Raymond Williams was a Welsh cultural critic and writer who was born on August 31, 1921, and died on January 26, 1988. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential cultural critics of the 20th century and his work had a profound impact on the study of literature, culture, and society.
Williams grew up in a working-class family in Wales and went on to study at the University of Cambridge. He later became a professor of drama at the University of Cambridge and was a fellow of Jesus College. Williams was a prolific writer and published a wide range of works on literature, culture, and society.
One of Williams' most influential works was "Culture and Society," which was published in 1958. In this book, Williams argued that culture was not just the domain of the elite but was a part of everyday life for all people. He explored the relationship between culture and society, and argued that cultural forms reflected and shaped social structures and values.
Williams was also interested in the politics of culture and was a member of the British Communist Party for many years. He was critical of the dominant cultural forms of his time, which he saw as promoting a narrow and elitist view of culture.
In addition to his work on culture and society, Williams was also a novelist and poet. His novel "Border Country" was published in 1960 and was widely praised for its portrayal of rural Welsh life.
Overall, Raymond Williams was a highly influential cultural critic and writer who had a profound impact on the study of literature, culture, and society. His work challenged traditional views of culture and helped to establish cultural studies as a field of academic study.