TRIBUTES have been paid to an award-winning history professor who was found dead. 

A spokesman for Richmond Coroner's Court in London said Professor Christopher Duggan was found dead on November 2.

The 57-year-old professor had recently been appointed to a research professorship in the history department of the University of Reading, Berks, and had been due to start a two-year research project at All Souls College at Oxford University.

A spokesman for Richmond Coroner's Court said an inquest into Prof Duggan's death had been opened and adjourned for a full inquest to be held in February next year.

The provisional cause of death was given as suspension on November 2 this year at his family home in Napoleon Road, Twickenham, London.

Prof Duggan studied for his undergraduate degreee and doctorate at Oxford University.

He was awarded the Wolfson Prize for History for his 2012 book 'Fascist Voices: An Intimate History of Mussolini's Italy' that was also Political History Book of the Year at the Total Politics Political Book Awards.

His 1994 book 'A concise History of Italy' has been labelled the best general introduction to its subjects available.

David Robey, Emeritus Professor of Italian at the University of Reading, said: "He was not only an extraordinarily able and hard-working man, but also, in hie quiet and reserved way, cultivated, humane, witty, shrewd and a tactful and responsive friends.

"He was absolutely at the height of his powers as a historian and would have had years and years of productive work ahead of him.

"He was most fortunate in having the devoted support and the intellectual companionship of his wife Jennifer Mundy, the art historian."

His is survived by his daughter Amelia and son Thomas.

A memorial service for the professor was held on Saturday December 12 at the chapel at All Souls College, Oxford.