Doing History in Public

Tag: 20th century history

  • Dying Declarations – Last Words in the hands of Historians

    Dying Declarations – Last Words in the hands of Historians

    By Alex Wakelam @A_Wakelam In May 1906 the great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen lay in his sick bed. That evening an old friend arrived from town to see the aged tragedian. Entering the room he greeted the nurse with “How is Mr Ibsen today?” “Oh”, she cheerily replied, “he’s doing much better.” At this Ibsen sat up…

  • History from below: fashion, freedom, and the female form

    History from below: fashion, freedom, and the female form

    By Carys Brown @HistoryCarys Attempts to shape the female form are nothing new, as current exhibitions at the V&A and York Castle Museum show. Neither is the particular concern with the posterior, demonstrated today by an increased demand for buttock implants. Such permanent “improvements” are beyond the financial reach of most people. The less wealthy (or less…

  • Pylons and Protest – invoking the Marmite metaphor of Britishness

    Pylons and Protest – invoking the Marmite metaphor of Britishness

    by Kayt Button Whatever the period of history, Pylons seem to provoke the marmite response – either love ‘em, like The Pylon Appreciation Society, or hate ‘em like The Friends of The Lake District who are currently protesting against pylons planned for Ravenglass in Cumbria. Curiously enough, Marmite was invented in the late nineteenth century,…

  • Editorial: DHP’s top historical novels

    Editorial: DHP’s top historical novels

    Summer may be decidedly over, but reading for pleasure doesn’t have to be confined to the beach. Here are some of the DHP team’s favourite historical novels to keep you going as the evenings draw in.

  • Snap elections: a brief historical guide

    Snap elections: a brief historical guide

    A week ago UK Prime Minister Theresa May caught almost everyone by surprise by calling an election for the beginning of June. As the dust settles and the party machines grind into action,  Carys Brown (@HistoryCarys) takes a brief look at the key facts.