It's news to me if I have 'defended Harker vigorously'. The book has good and bad, and, as somebody said early on throwing out the baby with the bathwater isn't a good idea. I think, for example, I was one of the few posters to try get to grips with what Bearman said about him, and I posted links to a number of review pieces discussing his work. What I have done, or tried to do, is to get a clear view of what he does and does not say across as it seems to me that some posters have not read the book and may have a false picture of what it does and does not do.

But if people want to call me a 'Harkerist', well let them get on with it.