Guernica and the first draft


By TimLuckhurst - Posted on 06 March 2009

Students will remember George Steer, the Times correspondent who revealed the bombing of Guernica, from my lectures and seminars about the Spanish Civil War. I know Sarah has introduced you to other examples of his writing. In the Times this morning there is fresh confirmation of the efforts Franco made to deny the truth of Steer's report. We already knew that, but it does confirm that if George Steer had not been meticulous as well as angry he might easily have been discredited - and history might have been falsified horribly.  His work is an excellent example of committed reporting that  is  also accurate, compelling and immensely valuable.  It is nice to see it given credit in the modern world. A clear reminder that great reporting serves a public purpose.

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It was really nice to see it there this morning as his writing has indeed come up again recently. However, perhaps I didn't read it thoroughly because I didn't quite catch why it has come up at this particular time. Credit where credit is due though.