Replies

Bellesiles benefited enormously from his controversial specialty.

Anyone really think a history prof his age would ever have had a mass-market book - had he specialized in the kind of topics history profs usually do? Anyone think that he'd have gotten all the free publicity for that book from the "mainstream" media, had it instead been a history of the corset industry in New York?

Also, the guy'd have been fired long ago - as soon as his fraud became evident - were it not for the political implications.

Scandals of antigun politicians - with how-to guide to "outing!"

Sure, Bellisle benefited enormously in the short run, including all kinds of fellowships, royalties, and prestigious prizes. But in the long run I venture to think he is washed up.

Where is he going to get his next job? I'll be very surprised if any history department will risk the flak of hiring him. Some kinds of controversial academics are hireable and some are not. I think he's one of the latter. He'll have to find some other line of work, and I doubt it will be as cushey as the professoriat.