The life of Frank Russell, the second Earl and Bertrand’s older broth­er, was characterized by conflict as he repeatedly chose to follow paths that defied convention, carved out by and faithful to his own peculiar moral convictions. His conflict with Jowett, Master of Balliol, led to his expulsion from Oxford and changed the course of his life. Using a range of primary sources, this paper questions previously published accounts of the events that took place and reviews the consequences of the (...) actions of those involved, within the social and political context of the time. (shrink)

Religion was as much a concern for Frank Russell throughout his life as it was for younger brother Bertrand and their father before them. Each advocated its rational study untainted by Christian dogma. The chance discovery of an amusing film review by Frank Russell of the biblical epic The Dawn of the World (1921) became the catalyst for an exploration of this theme in the paper that follows, as well as providing the opportunity to explore the foundations of Frank’s agnosticism (...) and demonstrate his erudition and wit through the reprinting of his article “The Bible on the Film”. (shrink)