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John Atkinson Hobson

John Atkinson Hobson (1858 - 1940) was a British economist, sociologist and social theorist who wrote many influential works, with various conceptual language developed by him (under-consumption, the unemployed, marginal productivity) passing into common parlance. His work on the causes of the South African War and regarding the theorization of imperialism are particularly notable, with the latter an influence on Lenin’s theory of imperialism. Both bear more than the traces of him being influenced by Olive Schreiner, with his The War in South Africa containing an interview with her; and they shared an analytical emphasis on the role of external international finance organizations in underpinning the particularly ruthless style of ‘local’ southern African capitalism in its imperialist phase.

During the South African War, Schreiner and Hobson met up when he was the Manchester Guardian’s representative in South Africa, although on his arrival she wrote about him to Isie Smuts as someone who was a ‘great friend from England’, so they are likely to have met around the publication of Schreiner’s anti-Rhodes Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland in London in 1897. Certainly he was the main contact point for Cronwright-Schreiner’s anti-war speaking tour of Britain in 1900 (devolved to him because Schreiner was too unwell), and Schreiner passed on his name to others in her political circles, including the Smutses. It is very likely that there was a correspondence between Schreiner and Hobson, although no extant letters have been traced.

For further information see:
P.J. Cain (2002) Hobson and Imperialism Oxford: Oxford University Press
Michael Freeden (2004) ‘Hobson, John Atkinson (1858-1940)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33909
Jules Townsend (1990) J. A. Hobson Manchester: Manchester University Press

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 National Archives Depot, Pretoria: The National Archives Depot is Pretoria is a leading location for archival papers across a wide time-period, organisations an... Show/Hide Collection Letters

 Smuts A1/186/87:Dear Mrs Smuts , Thank you for your kind letter: if it were possible I much should like to come to Pretoria. Thank you so muc...

 Smuts A1/187/96:Hanover, November 28 / 02, Dear Isie, I was so glad to hear from you. I should like to be one of the visitors to the trees, &...

 National English Literary Museum, Grahamstown: The National English Literary Museum is the leading location for collections pertaining to the imaginative and creative writi... Show/Hide Collection Letters

 Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/b:Old years night, Dear Ed, This is just a note to tell you that Cron is going to England next week. He sails on the 10th by th...

 National Library of South Africa, Cape Town: Special Collections at the NLSA provide one of the leading locations for archival papers across many periods, organisations a... Show/Hide Collection Letters

 John X. Merriman MSC 15/1912:132:De Aar, Aug 11th 1912, Dear Mr Merriman., Re. your letter. No, I do not take a sorrowful view of life generally; nor above al...

 Newspapers: A collection of letters sent to various newspapers Show/Hide Collection Letters

 The Times, Wednesday 12 January 1916, page 5, column 1:SIR J. SIMON’S SUPPORTERS., ---, LETTER FROM 36 SYMPATHIZERS., The following letter was handed to Sir John Simon last e...

 University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters

 Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/28:Karree Kloof, Kran Kuil, Sep 14 / 99, Dear Laddie, I enclose a letter I have just got from Hobson the Manchester Guardian Rep...

 Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/29:Karree Kloof, September 15 / 99, Dear Friend, I’ve just sent off a cable to the Manchester Guardian. I don’t see ...