there can be no work of 'history' that doesn't contain bias. But this doesn't mean the writer is biased in the pejorative sense of bigoted.

shanks (and Rhub), couldn't agree more.
On the other hand, I don't think the above viewpoint is incompatible with tsuwm's that there is such a thing as "objectivity".

But I might also be inclined to say that "good taste" is an objective thing.

Something about common consensus here, I think. Errr...

Burble burble.