Who Owns History?

Elgin's Loot and the Case for Returning Plundered Treasure

Geoffrey Robertson

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English

Penguin
01 December 2020

History of Art & Design Styles; History; Social & cultural history; Society & culture: general

Geoffrey Robertson focuses his razor-sharp mind on one of the greatest contemporary issues in the worlds of art and culture- the return of cultural property taken from its country of creation.

Hard on the heels of his best-selling autobiography Rather His Own Man, one of Australia's foremost public intellectuals turns his mind to one of the most important contemporary questions that divides the world of art and culture- the restitution of heritage treasures removed in earlier times from subjugated peoples who now want them back.

Taking his cue from Cicero, the great Roman barrister, Geoffrey Robertson argues that justice requires the return not only of the 'Elgin' Marbles to Greece, but of many looted antiquities on display in the museums of Britain, Europe and America. He argues that the Gweagal Shield - dropped when Cook shot at Aboriginals in Botany Bay in 1770 - should be returned to Australia from the British Museum. He wants the government to acquire the hull of HMS Endeavour recently located off Rhode Island. He has located Arthur Phillip's tombstone for Yemmerrawanne, the first Australian expatriate, in a South London churchyard, and he wants to bring it back.

Robertson's judgement is uncompromising- cultural heritage belongs to the people of whose history it is a part, unless its return would be attended by danger to the artwork itself. And since the movement for the restitution of cultural property is based on human rights, governments that want it back must show respect for the rights of the peoples on whose behalf they make the claim.

Who Owns History? not only delves into the crucial debate over the Marbles, but examines how the past can be experienced by everyone, as well as by the people of the country of origin.

By: Geoffrey Robertson
Imprint: Penguin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 197mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 234g
ISBN: 9781760893712
ISBN 10: 1760893714
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 01 December 2020
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Mr Robertson is a Master of the Middle Temple and visiting professor in Human Rights Law at the New College of Humanities. His books include The Tyrannicide Brief, Mullahs Without Mercy- Human Rights and Nuclear Weapons; The Case of the Pope; his acclaimed first memoir The Justice Game; the influential text Crimes Against Humanity; Dreaming Too Loud and his much-praised autobiography Rather His Own Man. Mr Robertson lives in London. He returns to Australia regularly to visit family and conduct his trademark show Hypothetical.