Aibu

[tobee]

For wishing the history club was busier?

Anyway, please tell me why you come to the history club boards. Do you have a particular country, period or type of history you are interested in?

I did an A level and a degree in classical civilisation but now I'm mostly stuck in a (enjoyable) rut of 20th century history with a wider interest in the industrial revolution onwards. I got into this about 20 years ago because I was ashamed of my lack of knowledge of recent history. I would love to do a degree in this but suffer from a declining memory and a flibbity gibbet brain.

So, how about you?

You called? Though I am a Giblet

I'm interested in eenie meenie minie mo. Ancient ancient counting I reckon.

It was Richard III that helped kicked the topic off, wasn't it?

I'm also fascinated by early humans.

My old college friend did similar A' Level and degree subjects (Classical Studies), along with Latin and Greek. Always sounded interesting to me.

I'm stuck in a medieval history rut, personally. Eleanor of Aquitaine, Empress Matilda and associated periods particularly.

I'd forgotten about this section.

I'm stuck in a medieval history rut, personally. Eleanor of Aquitaine, Empress Matilda and associated periods particularly.

Me too. Have been fascinated by the Plantagenets etc since I read all of the Jean Plaidy books as a kid (she was pretty accurate too). Gave me a bit of a fascination with the Hanovarians and minor German royalty too.

The long, accurate, reach of mitochondrial dna from Richard III to the 21st century was mind-blowing. Like a hand reaching out from the 15th century and grasping modern life.

Fascinating too to think that the maternal line to Richard III was from Katherine Swinford, mistress/wife of John of Gaunt. Her sister was Chaucer's wife. So the man tested for mDNA link to Richard III had the same mDNA as Chaucer's wife and daughters.

I love a bit of History

If pushed I would say I have a fondness for anything Georgian which obviously spans a huge amount of time. I'm interested in what social history I can find of this period.

I've recently become very interested in Early American history too, particularly the West.

Ah, now, I was too dim to do the Latin and the Greek. 😛

It's very difficult being interested in 20th century history coz there's so little resource material.

Only just found this board. Have been interested in history as long as I can remember; My father and grandfather were very keen, which helped I suppose. I too read Jean Plaidy when young.. I did A level History (European and American history) and then later also did one in Ancient History.

Favourite periods are English medieval and Greek. Utterly loathe the Tudors, maybe because tv stations constantly ram them down our throats.

Why oh why doesn't someone do a programme about Eleanor of Aquitaine?

Degree, 20+ years teaching it (and other subjects), GCSE and A level examiner. 20th century was always my favourite but reading more on the Plantagenet era and also the Dark Ages at the moment as I feel that's where my gaps are.

I may have found my people!!

Huge history geek. Personally I love medieval history. I read a lot of non fiction and fiction and currently re reading trashy fiction about Fulke Fitzwaren but it's all I can manage at the minute (Soo tired).

I started reading Alison weir's queens of the conquest but found it so heavy going I had to put it down but will take it back again soon.

Katherine by Anya Seton is incredible and highly recommen

I read Katherine when I was about 16, loved Anya Seton. I was a voracious reader from my early teens. I love Sharon Penman, well written and historically accurate, unlike some "historical" novelists.

I had an amazing Classics teacher when I was 11 (Greek myths and stuff like that, nothing heavy) who really inspired me and then when I was 17 I discovered Mary Renault in the school library. I think good historical fiction is a great way of introducing people to history.

I could really do with some new recommendations of medieval fiction or nonfiction.

I started off with the Tudors and worked my way backwards!!

doowap* Penman covers from Richard the Lionheart to Richard III, plenty there for you.

I will have a look, thank you!!!

Ooooooh my sort of thread! All of the above is my interest

I did Ancient History and Archaeology so got really into the classical Greeks, Bronze Age Britain and the Etruscans.

Now my DH is a history teacher and does the A-Level syllabus which includes 19th Britain and the Irish question - none of which I really knew much about before but I'm finding it interesting to talk about.

If I ever had a DD, I will be calling her Eleanor as she is obviously the best medieval queen going!

Adore 'Katherine' and Sharon Penman books as well

My fiction section is heavily inclined towards the historical from the sublime to the awful!

Barlow and Clanchy were the main books we used for non fiction medieval history. I could look up the titles later.

Also read Jean Plaidy, and it mentions Eleanor of Aquitaine's affair with Saladin, if I recall correctly! Agree with the idea of a film as she was a fascinating character. There was an old film Lion in Winter, you've probably heard of, but it would be good to have something with her as the main focus. Perhaps it exists, but I don't know of it!

I did a degree on history many years ago and love reading historical books/biographies, mainly mediaeval though read almost anything if intersting. I like medical history too and developments which have been made.

I'm encouraging DD to love history and she is fascinated with Eleanor of Aquitane as she is named Eleanor too.

yes, I wish it was busier too.
I'm fascinated by the period either side of 1500 in Europe, when there was a hinge from the medieval period to the Renaissance and everything changed.
I love the way that everything is connected, and there are endless ways to view events and individuals.
I love the way that, no matter how grim things sometimes look now, living in any other historical period was worse.
I love the endless nooks and crannies - the little-known characters. For example, Eleanor of Brittany, Eleanor of Aquitaine's granddaughter, who had a strong claim to the throne and was kept in captivity (comfortable) all her life.
I love reading Norah Lofts, THE historical novelist IMO and hate Phillipa Gregory's drivel.
I am very bored by Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry VIII.
Looking at history feels like sailing on a great sea, and your boat can take you wherever you like, and it will never end.

I've had a look at Penman and her books look great. Any idea where to start??

Well I started with The Sunne in Splendour but I think she wrote it before most of the others!

I didn't even know this board existed until about three minutes ago!

Anyone looking for a nice bit of well researched historical fiction, especially if they want a happy ever after, should have a bash at Elizabeth Chadwick. Brilliant with the early medieval. Her more recent books have been fictionalised lives of real characters - she's recently finished a trilogy on Eleanor of Aquitane. Her earlier books are (in my opinion) more fun, they tend to have the historical characters as background and focus on fictional adventures, although always based on good research.

I read most of the Sharon Penmans as a girl. And Anya Seton's Katharine was the very first grown up novel I read at all.

YY about Philippa Gregory's drivel! She was doing brilliantly right up to The Other Boleyn Girl (which is actually good), and the next couple of Tudor women novels were bearable. And then she let her editor or publisher push her into just doing more and more and more of the same.

The two books about the Tradescants are good. And the old Wideacre trilogy is splendidly gothic bodice ripping stuff.

I'm afraid I think the Wildacre trilogy was vile - you remember she kept her brother in thrall to her by encouraging his taste for odd sexual practices with her?

Norah Lofts is also great on medieval fiction and also tracing history of places in Britain from pre-history-Roman-Saxon etc. Usually through the eyes/experience of ordinary people.

I love all of her stuff actually.