17 Facts About Norman Davies

Ivor Norman Richard Davies was born on 8 June 1939 and is a British and Polish historian, known for his publications on the history of Europe, Poland and the United Kingdom.

Norman Davies has a special interest in Central and Eastern Europe and is UNESCO Professor at the Jagiellonian University, professor emeritus at University College London, a visiting professor at the College d'Europe, and an honorary fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford.

Norman Davies was awarded an MA at the University of Sussex in 1966 and studied in Perugia, Italy.

Norman Davies intended to study for a PhD in the Soviet Union but was denied an entry visa, so he went to Krakow, Poland, instead.

From 1971, Norman Davies taught Polish history at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, where he was professor from 1985 to 1996, when he retired.

Norman Davies subsequently became Supernumerary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford, from 1997 to 2006.

Norman Davies subsequently sought to obtain $3 million in damages from the university, arguing he had been the victim of discrimination on the grounds of his political views.

In 1984, Norman Davies published Heart of Europe, a briefer, more essay-like history of Poland, in which the chapters are arranged in reverse chronological order.

In 2008 Norman Davies participated in the documentary film The Soviet Story.

Norman Davies holds a number of honorary titles and memberships, including honorary doctorates from the universities of the Jagiellonian University, Lublin, Gdansk and Warsaw, memberships in the Polish Academy of Learning, the Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea, and the International Honorary Council of the European Academy of Diplomacy, and fellowships of the British Academy and the Royal Historical Society.

Norman Davies received an honorary DLitt degree from his alma mater the University of Sussex.

Finally, on 11 November 2012, Norman Davies was decorated with the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian award.

In 2001, Norman Davies was made a companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George for service to Central European history.

Norman Davies received Knight of Freedom Award in 2006 for his promotion of Polish history and the values represented by General Casimir Pulaski.

Norman Davies disagrees with the historical policy of the Law and Justice party.

Norman Davies stated in 2017 that "PiS wants to politicize history to a degree unseen in the last 25 years".

Norman Davies married Maria Korzeniewicz, a Polish scholar born in Dabrowa Tarnowska.