Alan Donald James Macfarlane FBA FRHistS (born 20 December 1941 in Shillong, Meghalaya, India) is an anthropologist and historian, and a Professor Emeritus of King's College, Cambridge.
He is the author or editor of 20 books and numerous articles on the anthropology and history of England, Nepal, Japan and China.
Also in 1970, Macfarlane published The Family Life of Ralph Josselin, a study of the diary of a famous seventeenth-century clergyman.
His approach here, exploring the emotions, fears and relationships of an individual to attempt a historical study of private life in seventeenth century England, was reminiscent of the Annales School.
Drawing loosely on work by Max Weber, Macfarlane has contrasted the defining characteristics of modern and traditional society.
1997's The Savage Wars of Peace returned to Macfarlane's early interest in Malthus and demographics, comparing the modernity experiences of England and Japan.
The book argues that England and Japan, both relatively large but non-remote islands, were each positioned to develop an autonomous culture while still profiting from nearby continental influence.
Through different means, both Japan and England overcame the Malthusian trap, keeping birth and mortality rates under control, thus providing a demographic impetus for the rise of capitalism and prosperity.
As editor The Gurungs: A Himalayan Population of Nepal by Bernard Pignede with Sarah Harrison, Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Kathmandu, 1993, 523 p. ASIN B00B79CVSC As contributor The Nagas: Hill Peoples of Northeast India - Society, Culture and the Colonial Encounter by Julian Jacobs with Sarah Harrison and Anita Herle, Thames and Hudson, London, 1990, 356 p. ISBN 0500973881 Following and expanding The Making of the Modern World: Visions from the West and East Inspired by and continuing Letters To Lily: On How the World Works also addressed to younger persons of the author's and author's friends' families.