Shaping the Past

The essays in this Festschrift are offered as a token of esteem and affection by colleagues, friends, and students of David. They consist of new research on aspects of local history from the medieval period to the twentieth century, with a particular focus on Eastern England. Taken together, they illustrate David's philosophy of local history (that it should be lsquo; wide-ranging, inclusive, integrating, and interdisciplinary'). These essays, in turn, aim to reflect the values that have always characterized David's approach: a focus on primary sources meticulously interrogated and a concern to avoid the pitfalls of parochialism by remaining sensitive to the wider influences upon communities. The very varied contributions to this collection aptly reflect the breadth and depth of David Dymond's own scholarship whilst offering a rich choice of material to anyone with an interest in local history.