Page 94 - All About History - Issue 186-19

RECOMMENDS… Out
now!
THE DEVIL’S TRAP

Author James W Bancroft Price £25 WHO OWNS HISTORY?
Publisher Frontline Books

A controversial and challenging argument
The Siege of Cawnpore is without doubt the most cruel, brutal
and bloody episode of the Indian Mutiny, a conflict that
presented the greatest challenge to British authority in for the repatriation of antiquity
India during the 19th century. Bancroft has produced a
meticulously researched and well-written account that Author Geoffrey Robertson Publisher Biteback
brings to the reader the true heartbreaking human
tragedy of the massacre in a way not previously Price £20 Released Out now
achieved. The brutality of the subject matter
sometimes makes it a difficult read but for
anyone wishing to understand the true, n Who Owns History?, Geoffrey Robertson sound fact, which Wikipedia cannot always
dark nature of the Indian Mutiny sets out to tackle one of the most hard- be relied upon to provide.
it’s a must-read. fought arguments of recent centuries: He takes his lead on the Parthenon
whether the Parthenon Marbles Marbles from Cicero, the Roman barrister,
Ishould be returned to Greece by the and applies it not only to the Marbles but to
“Who Owns British Museum, where they are currently other looted treasures currently on display

on display. There can be no doubt of across the world. His opinion is unswerving
History? is Robertson’s opinion on the matter. Who and concrete: Robertson believes they should

a passionate Owns History? is a passionate argument by be returned to their countries of origin.
this renowned QC in favour of returning the In his dissection of the British Museum, its
argument Marbles to Athens. trustees and visitors, Robertson is sometimes
In the opening pages of the book, scathing but always consistent. Whether
by this
Robertson states that Who Owns History? readers find this book a passionate case for
renowned is not a history book. Indeed, he confesses repatriation or a polemic against

to having carried out some of his fact- cultural institutions will likely
QC in favour checking for the book on Wikipedia, which very much depend on their
of returning is an unexpected and in some ways rather existing opinion. Who Passionate
troubling admission. While this may not be Owns History? is, however, Authoritative
the Marbles” a history book, an argument such as the one a well-argued and Opinionated
CC
that Robertson is making must be made on compelling read.

ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE

QUEEN OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND, MOTHER OF EMPIRES

A lacklustre biography that leaves you wanting more

Author Sara Cockerill Publisher Amberley Publishing
Price £25 Released Out now

ven if history is not your forte, the disheartening to be told that the subject is
chances are that you have probably not that exciting before we even get started
heard of Eleanor of Aquitaine. – and there are over 400 still pages to go.
Unfortunately, surviving evidence for Cockerill frequently makes speculations
Ethe majority her life is rather lacking, of Eleanor without the evidence to back
until the death of her second husband, them up, nor does she provide much analysis
Henry II, and her release from captivity in of the sources she does use, although the
1189. Consequently, she has been reinvented extensive bibliography attests to the extent
multiple times over the centuries but this is of her research. The book stays focused on
something that Cockerill attempts to correct Eleanor but fails to delve into the context
in this new biography, with mixed results. around her, which is needed for readers new
Cockerill admits in her preface that to her story. For example, the reasons for
her study of Eleanor shows her to be the Crusades are not explored, despite the
“somewhat less exceptional, somewhat less influence they had on her queenship.
of a rebellious feminist icon” and not the Having said this, the biography is well-
political player that history has made her written and easy to read, which is a must for
out to be. While a good piece of historical any popular history book, and it still offers
non-fiction should always address and assess an introduction to one of history’s most Accessible
existing arguments and evidence, it’s quite fascinating queens. Speculative
Frustrating
JL

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