John Buchan took certain historians to task for deliberately running down some of the great figures of history. Some, he said, tried to paint them as products of their environment, carried along by economic events or intellectual fashions; but in Buchan’s view the great heroes all added something to their age they had not learnt from it.

Another kind of historian, said Buchan, tries to fit history’s heroes into his schemes by calling their high reputations into question. Buchan acknowledged this may be born of envy and an urge to impress small minds, but hoped it was no more than a wish to tame the great figures, so they are easier to handle.

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