Below you’ll find links to some interesting history-related articles I’ve read recently, a photo from a recent history outing, and an item about the history/practice of writing.
Enjoy!
History writing
- Did you know the full extent of the bromance between Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, the co-discoverers of evolution by natural selection?!
- There’s an unlikely link between punk music and corporate innovation – “raw power unleashed by seizing the means of (office paperwork) production”.
- I am a true believer in the incredible possibilities of archives, if we just have the time and patience to explore them (and the lateral thinking about where to look for evidence). Isabelle Appleton shares a case study from among boxes of ‘The Wishing Well’ magazine.
- Pair with my piece about love in the archives.
- I learned about the Irish tradition of Nollaig na mBan or ‘Women’s Christmas’ too late to celebrate it this year. If it’s new to you too, here’s your prompt to find out more and add it to your calendar for next January 6.
- As I think I’ve mentioned before, Hallie Rubenhold was one of my inspirations to formalise my history practice by getting my master’s degree, so I am always biased to share her work and opinions – here she is on exploring historical crimes and restoring the reputation of maligned women.
History
Is the north entrance of St Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s Doors of Durin in ‘The Lord of the Rings’? I can’t say for sure, but to the tens of thousands of people who are said to come to see it each year – including my sister and her partner, who I tagged along with – it’s a compelling enough suggestion to warrant a visit. Either way, it’s a beautiful example of nature versus man, as the tree trunks bulge against the building, the oldest parts of which date from the 12th and 13th centuries.
A still from the 2001 ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movie featuring the Doors of Durin (left); and Tolkien’s illustration of the doors from the original book (right).
Writing
How a switch in writing technique – from longhand to typewriter – impacted not only Friedrich Nietzsche’s proficiency, but his philosophical and creative expression: “Our writing tools are also working on our thoughts.”
