Logie Barrow taught British Isles, slavery and S. African history at Bremen University, where he is still based, between 1980–2008. His publications include Independent Spirits, Spiritualism and English Plebeians, 1850–1910 (1986, Routledge) and, jointly with Ian Bullock, Democratic Ideas and the British Labour Movement 1880–1914 (1996, Cambridge University Press). His main historical focus is on the social ascription of stupidity.François Poirier was, from 1993 until his passing in March 2010, Professor of British Studies at the University of Paris 13, where for eleven years he directed the Centre for the Study of Intercultural Relations in English and French-speaking Countries (CRIDAF). He was author of an extremely wide range of publications, on subjects including Thatcherism and William Morris. He last worked on inter-perceptions between British and French scholars of each other”s countries.