John Maynard Keynes, 1883-1946: the man behind the name

On the 5th June this year there falls the hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Maynard Keynes - Lord Keynes of Tilton - the greatest and most influential economist of this century. The purpose of this present piece is to convey some impression - as it may be gleaned from his writings and from the memoirs of those who knew him - of the man behind the name. It is opportune to give thought to Keynes and to the nature of his contribution not simply because this happens to be his centenary year, but particularly because the social disaster of mass unemployment, to the elimination of which his energies were passionately committed, as again befallen the world economy.