[Chris Going]

Hi Harry

A quick read of others' contributions to this thread suggests you are getting good, solid advice. I have one idea to add. The best way to really learn about a subject -and I'm not joking- is to write a book about it. It forces you to get to grips with the topic in the round, and exposes areas where there has been little research. You also find out- as you wade through the secondary sources- who is an original thinker, and who uncritically regurgitates secondary sources, and so on, and so forth.

It strikes me that having trawled through primary stuff at NARA, and Freiburg, as well as the Bodleian (what's there? by the way, apart from the fact that it is a wonderful library), you are fairly close to being able to disseminate original research off your own bat.

Get it onto paper -and short articles are good practice- and you people will happily come out of the woodwork and add bits and pieces and eventually you will find you have a 'Great Work' well on the way.

Contact me off board as I'd like to discuss some related matters......


Best wishes


ChrisG