Not only am I not Dave Harker, I haven't even read Dave Harker yet, only a couple of reviews, both negative. Another expensive book, even second hand! I'm sure there is an interesting discussion to be had of that book if it is possible to discuss without the usual...

When Ben Harker wrote this book on MacColl he was, aptly enough, at Salford, and his web site at
The University of Manchester is here:

https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/ben.harker.html

Given that Dr Ben Harker's interests include aspects of Marxism and left-wing theatre he seems to have been a good choice for a cultural and political biography of Ewan MacColl.

At the risk of repeating myself, it is an interesting book, which helps the reader to situate MacColl and his life in the twentieth century context(s) he lived through.

A person who finished The Faerie Queen certainly has stamina and determination: I was only set a couple of sections to read when at Uni and found it hard to stay awake! The exam question asked what relevance Spencer's work might have for the modern day. I believe I did rather badly on that paper. Respect, therefore, to Mr Sandman!