A great tradition
Sir: Mr Keegan's fine review (19 November) of Norman Stone's Europe Transformed lapses at the end. He writes: He [i.e. Stone] 'teaches history at Trinity College, Cam- bridge. Anyone who has been taught history at either of the ancient universities these last 30 years will have been saddled with the feeling that, although they were informed about much else, all that was invested with importance was England, the 17th century, and a vague system of nonconformity, political and intellectual.' Well I just con- trive to come within the specified time, and I am delighted that Mr Stone is teaching at my old college; but I am bound to ,say that Mr Keegan's strictures do not apply to those who taught me there at that time. No one taught by Walter Ullmann, Michael Vyvyan, John Elliot or, pre-eminently, the late and much-loved Jack Gallagher was ever encouraged to view history thus myopically. At Trinity at least, Professor Stone is working within a great tradition.
Allan Massie
Thirladean House, Selkirk
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