The results of our informal poll to name the most important
historian of the past 60 years are in. For the December issue of
the magazine we also asked leading contemporary historians the
same question; you can read their answers here. Perhaps
inevitably, the poll provoked controversy. We asked people to
nominate their favoured historian, and then drew up a shortlist.
Of particular concern was the lack of diversity reflected in
this shortlist. In the past week we've received countless
admonishments about figures whom we should have listed,
including Dorothy George, C.L.R. James, Joanna Bourke, Natalie
Zemon Davis and more. All good suggestions, although most are
relatively young, whereas the poll asked for the most important
historian of the past 60 years. Were we to ask the same question
in 2061, women and minorities would be far better represented.
The nature of the question asked also raised some concerns.
‘Important’ is a very vague and problematic term, particularly
in the field of history, which general