Author: Emily Joan Ward

  • HHhH by Laurent Binet (English Translation by Sam Taylor, 2012)

    HHhH by Laurent Binet (English Translation by Sam Taylor, 2012)

    By Emily Ward In the beginning of his historical novel, Laurent Binet warns the reader with a quote from Osip Mandelstam, “Once again, the writer stains the tree of History with his thoughts”. Yet, despite commencing his book with this ominous forewarning, Binet leaps straight into the fray to attempt to combine the composition of…

  • The Stone of Destiny

    The Stone of Destiny

    by Emily Ward Do you need a crown to be a king? The answer may seem obvious to those familiar with the concept of a coronation ceremony, like the recent one held in Spain, during which a crown is placed upon the head of the monarch-to-be as part of the recognition of their kingship or…

  • Remembrance, Re-launch and Richard III

    Remembrance, Re-launch and Richard III

    By  Emily Ward Doing History in Public (DHP) has been a fully-functioning, up-and-running collaborative blog project for the best part of a year. Those of us who have been involved with it since the start wear the ‘blogger’ badge with pride and have found blogging to be an excellent medium with which to pursue thoughts…

  • Growing Up Without a Beard: Child Kings and Facial Hair

    Growing Up Without a Beard: Child Kings and Facial Hair

    By Emily Ward From discussions about how to decorate it for Christmas, to a phenomenon called ‘peak beard’, and even an entire forthcoming Somerset House exhibition, one thing is certain – beards are having their moment in the media spotlight. Facial hair has been linked with a range of characteristics across a number of studies, including…

  • To ask or not to ask: that is the question

    To ask or not to ask: that is the question

    By Emily Ward, @1066unicorn Palms sweating, mouth dry, heart pounding in my chest, my thoughts racing. I realise that I’m going to do it. Tentatively I gather my courage, swallow down the fear and start to raise my hand. Hand up, there’s no going back; I’m spotted and heads turn my way. Eyes on me,…