Margot Claire Heinemann (18 November 1913 – 10 June 1992)[1] was a British Marxist writer, drama scholar, and leading member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).
She joined the CPGB in 1934,[1] because of its active opposition to the British Union of Fascists. She was the lover of John Cornford, while a student at the University of Cambridge. The historian Eric Hobsbawm, there also at the time, wrote 'she probably had more influence on me than any other person I have known.'
She was educated at Roedean School and at King Alfred School in London, and read English at Newnham College, Cambridge from 1931 gaining a BA with first class honours.[1] After Cambridge she taught 14-year-old girls at Cadbury's Continuation School in Bourneville on day release from the chocolate factory.[1] In the CPGB she worked in the Labour Research Department from 1937.
She stood as the communist candidate for Vauxhall Constituency in the 1950 General Election.[1]
In 1959 she resumed teaching at Camden School for Girls and then Goldsmith's College from 1965-77.[1] In 1976 she was made a Fellow of New Hall, Cambridge.[1] She was still teaching at New Hall up to 1989 and stayed with the CPGB until it was dissolved.
She had a child (Jane, b.1953) with John Desmond Bernal.[2]