Ideas for 13 June 2010: Tony Simpson

Historian Tony Simpson is the author of 14 books including probably his best known work The Sugarbag Years - a collection of oral histories documenting the depression. A former trade unionist and radio producer, Tony Simpson's interests are wide-ranging. His books include works on everything from folk culture to New Zealand cuisine and he's helped shape the way many of us think about our history. Chris Laidlaw talks to Historian Tony Simpson about his influences, including author and economist W B Sutch; broadcaster Jim Henderson; George Orwell; novelist John Mulgan, and historians Studs Terkell, Eric Hobsbawm, Barbara Tuchman and John Pocock. From the Ideas collection: Influential Kiwis talk about their Influences