Talking Meme #4

[thisbluespirit]

For the Talking Meme, from scripsi: Favourite period in history?

I'm not entirely sure I really have one. I'm pretty widely interested in history because, well, history is everything that ever happened and everybody who ever lived anywhere up until now, and people do tend to be odd and fascinating, and it's often the only way to understand how the world interacts - everything starts to make more sense when you learn something of the history of places and people. (Although it's fair to say that I don't enjoy some types of history - like that module of economic history I once had to do. It was useful, though, I have to admit. Even if it did contain terms like 'stagflation.' Economic history = not my thing, except in a more social history context. And I have mixed feelings about 20th C stuff, because it is a bit recent - but, OTOH, also interesting. It's all interesting when done right, that's the problem! History's only ever boring when it's history of a really dull technical subject or history done wrong by terrible history teachers.)

By default and not really by choice most history I've studied has been US or British (and mostly English, because it usually is, although some Welsh; I did go to uni at Aberystwyth) and what I've read most since has been for family history purposes, which means a lot of 18th-20th C British social history.

That said, I definitely love reading about the eighteenth century (usually British, see above, sorry), especially late 18th C and into the early 19th C - it's just far enough away to be alien and fascinating and yet near enough in terms of evidence left behind people, and, of course, it's the first period for which you start to have novels as well as letters and diaries, poems, plays, and official records. So, the long eighteenth century, maybe?

On the other hand, there's always something completely fascinating about seventeenth century history, and sixteenth century - and Shadow of the Tower got me interested in the reign of Henry VII (it's amazing how many history books on the Tudors skip straight to Henry VIII, and yet the period of 1483-1509 is no less lacking in incident just because the king wasn't busy chopping off his wives' heads).

And I've always loved everything around 1066 and want to read loads more about Anglo-Saxon England - and I loved my module on Roman history, and I really ought to be a lot less parochial and fill in some more European gaps, and beyond. And when I was a teenager, I got completely fascinated and obsessed by mid-Twentieth Century Chinese history, too. And I should definitely read more about Disraeli and Gladstone, because Disraeli and Gladstone, and I haven't since I was at college (UK college, not university), which is just wrong.

It's just... a mass of stories and people being stranger and worse and better than anyone could possibly imagine and there'll never be enough time to find out about it all. But I do like late eighteenth century things quite a lot, it's true.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I have started trying to run down good (by which I mean well written to meet a layperson's interest) books about both Anglo-Saxon and Roman British history - entirely as a consequence of reading novels (the former because of Bernard Cornwell's AS-era novel series, the latter because of - um, can't actually remember what I read that sparked the interest in Roman Britain! Oops!) So if you find anything really readable, I'd be glad to hear of it.

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

History, history, all of the history. All of it. Trouble is, you need all of history in order to fit in all the reading about it!

Have you read "1000", by Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger? I think it came out back when we clicked over from 1999 to 2000, so you may well have encountered it by now. Short book, very readable, and highlights a period that a lot of us skipped over during our formal educations.

[thisbluespirit]

To be honest, I collect books on both if I see them and then don't get round to reading them, because I'm reading the ones that'll be useful for family history or some story or whatever it is, but I collect them and look wistfully at them. But if I do see a good one, I'll let you know. (At the moment, my main Roman Britain book is the old Oxford History of Britain one by Peter Salway, which is no doubt v outdated. I've picked up one for Ancient Britain that looks like the right sort of thing & it does get up to the Romans - "A History of Ancient Britain" - Neil Oliver. Might be a start? (I haven't read it, but I saw a good review online and then spotted it in a charity shop almost immediately after and nabbed it.)

I want to read ALL THE HISTORY and there just is not all the time, or in my case, also all the brain. (But much more than there used to be. :-D)

[thisbluespirit]

Heh, yes - so true!

And I have that one, yes - I think (unlike my other Anglo-Saxon books) I might have actually read it too, back in the day. (I mostly collect them and then gaze longingly at them on my shelf, and read something more immediately relevant to my current family history or writing or whatever. But ONE DAY. ONE DAY.)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks. The Oliver is actually available in a Kindle edition, which is increasingly important to me since lugging around heavy paper editions of books is nearly impossible with my fricking knee.

I empathise with wanting to read ALL THE HISTORY and not having enough time (which is when a TARDIS'd come in dead handy!)

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

It's just... a mass of stories and people being stranger and worse and better than anyone could possibly imagine and there'll never be enough time to find out about it all. But I do like late eighteenth century things quite a lot, it's true.

I concur wholeheartedly.

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

They do look awfully good on the shelf (shelves!), don't they.

Sometimes a specific subject is a good way to begin. I have a book called "The Thieves Opera", by Lucy Moore, which is about Jonathan Wild, a favourite character of mine from 18th century London. He was a thief taker, in the old, pre-Peeler days. I also have one called "Blood And Guts" by Roy Porter, which is about the history of medicine. There's a lot of history in that one, jammed into a pretty short book. Good stuff (and not at all gory, despite the title!)

[emeraldarrows.livejournal.com]

History. <333

I need to learn more British history, tbh.

[thisbluespirit]

They do look awfully good on the shelf (shelves!), don't they.

And you can rearrange them and flick through and pet them and stroke them and call them George. Yes, indeed. (What are eBooks?)

Oh, Roy Porter! He's always very good! I have three by him, including one on quack doctors, but I didn't realise he'd done a general medicine one - I should look at that. Although if it's short, that might be frustrating. For family history purposes, a big book on the history of medicine could be very good... (Not that it's a morbid hobby, why no, not at all, she says, contemplating ordering a death certificate while they're slightly cheaper for One Month Only...)

[thisbluespirit]

<3

[thisbluespirit]

Indeed!

And, ha, yes, but is there ever enough time in the world?? That's the problem...

[thisbluespirit]

Good! (Well, the eBook version, not your poor knee. <3)

I empathise with wanting to read ALL THE HISTORY and not having enough time (which is when a TARDIS'd come in dead handy!)

But with a TARDIS, we could visit it all instead! (In between our old-time theatre trips and daring raids on the BBC's and ITV's archives.)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

You know, after I hit the post comment button last night, I thought "I bet lost_spook says take the TARDIS to see history! " and lo and behold... 😁

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

History is fascinating. I love it too.

I'm with you on Henry VII. The guy pretty much stole the throne of England and managed to stabilise the monarchy enough for his descendents to be there today. They might not be called Tudor but he's their direct ancestor. The guy had nerve.

[thisbluespirit]

<3

It's really funny how many Tudor history books just skip over him, or rush through him mastily in a few paragraphs! After watching Shadow of the Tower, I just wanted to know what the facts were - and it took a while to find some books that would give me any! I think most general Tudors books should come labelled "The Tudors (minus that first one because he was boring)" or possibly "The Tudors: Mainly Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, because who cares about the others, we might do a few chapters on Mary if we feel like it." lol.

[thisbluespirit]

Oh noes! I'm growing predictable! (But on the other hand, to use a TARDIS to read all the history would be fairly ironic.)

[liadt]

I feel a bit bad about the majority of my knowledge being about British history, but I did go to France with the French and then came back again:S

Henry VII had pretenders pop history writer! Pretenders are fun, well not for the people involved ...

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

*snorts* True. I just long for a TARDIS at my disposal so I can get ALL THE THINGS done!

[thisbluespirit]

France counts! :-)

But is he Richard, we ask? No, we hear them answer. Pretenders are okay, but not as good as Anne Boleyn getting her head chopped off.

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

He used to run a masters course at University College London on the history of science, medicine and technology. From what I gather, he felt that there was a lack of a good grounding book for that, so it more or less serves as an introduction. In that respect it's very good, and it does have a remarkable amount of detail in it. But yes, it's certainly no substitute for something big and weighty.

*ears perk up at possibility of cheaper certificates*

I seem to be getting a bit morbid when it comes to those things. ;)

[thisbluespirit]

*ears perk up at possibility of cheaper certificates*

Go here: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp

At the moment (till 12th April, I think?) non-digitsed records are available at the slightly cheaper price of £8 for a PDF, but it's still £1.25 off! The GRO have been running a beta PDF service. I missed the beginning bit when the historical certs were £6 for a PDF, but hopefully they'll start running it for real. You just never know with the GRO. The beta might have been too much for them.

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[liadt]

Hurrah!

Pretenders are the best! Richard is the most perfect man who ever lived, so fair's fair on that count;p