Were it not for the portrait of Richard III and the passion and curiosity to explore an incongruous history, Grant would still be lying in his bed pondering Silas’ usage of steam and sinking further into his malaise. A good detective and a good historian must be passionate. Without passion, a detective has no attachment to his case and no drive to solve the crime much in the same way a historian with no interest in their subject has no desire to sort through the minutiae of history and tease out the tiny details that lead to overlooked truths. A good detective and a good historian must also have an inquisitive mind and the persistence and courage to keep asking “Why?” even when the facts challenge the status quo. Grant found the “great” Sir Thomas More to be fallible thus strengthening his resolve. One must be a Serpico or Zinn in order to exercise the system and maintain its honesty.

While similar in many respects I believe the historian has the advantage of being able to leave their case unsolved. The historian is allowed to take a larger view of history and construct a web of facts with the goal of expanding the current understanding of an event or time period. The historian is also allowed to ask entirely new questions, repeal entire histories, and submit their own. The detective does not share that luxury. They are victims of a specific time and place, unalterable facts, and specific variables.