In her article (Denial lawyer Anthony Julius on antisemitism and the age of extremes, 1 February), Hadley Freeman suggests in a rather, to use her term, “snarky” fashion that there have been “long-standing whispers” that his role in Irving v Penguin and Lipstadt has been “over-inflated”. Allow me to lay that notion to rest. As the person whose work was on trial, and the one who instructed Julius, I assure you that his role was key. He structured our defence, worked with the experts, and made virtually every key decision in our strategy in fighting the case. When I asked him to take on the case, he agreed immediately and made it clear that he would do it pro bono if necessary.

While the film Denial does an excellent job of telling this story, it does depict us as having a somewhat rocky relationship. In truth, we became compatriots in this battle. I remain deeply grateful to all those who participated in crafting my libel defence. But if there is one person to whom the credit must go, it is Anthony Julius.

Deborah E Lipstadt

Dorot professor of Holocaust studies, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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