'unqualified criticism from SG & ND'. Please expand on this unwarranted attack, Dick. Most of what we have said, along with praise we have poured on Bert's contributions, is what Georgina, Brian Peters and Bert's biographers have said, with added personal experience of several examples posted previously on Mudcat and Facebook. We have never advised anyone not to read Bert's works. The problem is always the same with fabricators. Once you find about 30 misleading or downright wrong statements you begin to question the rest of the material. The statement about the Cutty Wren song and the Black death is just one among many similar statements.

It is possible, nay imperative, to appreciate the contributions of a larger-than-life pioneer like Bert, but to point out the errors, particularly if people are still reading the books and sleeve notes and taking them as gospel. I have read and afterwards consulted TSE and FSiE and they have been on my shelves since the 60s. Also the Penguin Book, but I must admit I use the revised edition by Malcolm Douglas much more and just about everybody here will know why that is.