Michael Foot in Prague, 1988; A Vindication of Byron

With all the columns of digital newsprint devoted to Michael Foot and his alleged contacts, in The Times (15th September) and The Sunday Times (16th September), I am reminded of his visit to Prague in 1988, in part to talk at Charles University about his book on Lord Byron, The Politics of Paradise, A Vindication of Byron (1988). He was also in Prague to visit his goddaughter, Victoria Špičková (née Wentworth-Reilly) and her talented, musical family.

Regardless of his political views, his book on Byron was also a vindication of its author, if he needed one (The Guardian's reviewer was not so taken by the book). In the photograph, I am seated on the far right (Cultural Attaché), next to John Macgregor, CVO, then First Secretary at the British Embassy, Czechoslovakia. Professor. Martin Hilský is on the left.

Michael Foot, A Life in Pictures (The Guardian)