It's Complicated

Charm and affability had their dangers. It was cattily said that Berlin had been knighted for "services to conversation".

- It's Complicated, review of Isaiah Berlin: The Journey of a Jewish Liberal

Ignatieff, Dubnov charges, "made very limited and selective use of archival sources," instead relying "heavily and not critically enough" on his own interviews with "the aged, celebrated" Berlin. This, combined with Ignatieff's "highly apologetic interpretation of Berlin's actions," led him to produce a book that "avoid[s] uncomfortable reports of touchy or painful events."

...sometimes went against his own government in working for the Zionist cause,