Sadly for The Times newspaper and Hugh Trevor-Roper, the historian who said they were genuine, the Hitler Diaries were exposed as a fake today in 1983. So were the 'Ripper' Diaries of James Maybrick, the diaries of Samuel Pepys, John Evelyn, William Defoe and Adrian Mole.
I knew it!
In other news ...
Maximilien Robespierre, the 'sea-green incorruptible' French revolutionary and all-round psychopath, was born today in 1758. He lived next door to another over-the-top Frenchman, Vidocq, the thief-taker who is often acknowledged as the world's first detective.
Other famous neighbours include; Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra, queen of Egypt; Samson Antagonists and Delilah (a friend of Tom Jones); Lewis and Clarke (who lived in adjoining tents) and Morecambe and Wise.
