It shows a somewhat strange priority that your main obituary on 27 December described the life of Clifford Irving, who unsuccessfully faked an autobiography of Howard Hughes, while the actual historian Joyce Marlow was given only a brief obituary in the “Other lives” section. Marlow deserves to be widely remembered for her important work, including her book on the Peterloo massacre and her collections on women and the suffragette movement, and women in the first world war. She recognised the importance of studying the actual words and writings of those participating in historical events, and of looking at history from below.
Lindsey German
London
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