RICHARD OLLARD’S BIOGRAPHY of A L Rowse, published some four years ago, profited greatly from the egocentric old historian’s compulsive habit of diary-keeping. Ollard has now completed his task with this substantial edition of the diaries, which began during Rowse’s Cornish schooldays. He died aged ninety-three in 1997 and they constitute a remarkable record of an extraordmary life.

Subscribe or Sign In to read the full article