David Lowenthal

David Lowenthal (1923–2018) was an American-born British geographer and historian whose work shaped modern thinking about heritage, memory, and the uses of the past. Born in New York City, he later settled in the United Kingdom and became widely known for his interdisciplinary approach, blending geography, history, and cultural criticism. His landmark book *The Past Is a Foreign Country* (1985) examined how societies interpret, preserve, and reinvent history, influencing scholarship and public debate about conservation and identity. Lowenthal also wrote extensively on heritage as a cultural and political force, helping define heritage studies as a field.