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?

[tobee]

I bought myself a gcse history revision guide - the world from 1870 (second hand). How sad is that?

[tobee]

I bought myself a gcse history revision guide - the world from 1870 (second hand). How sad is that?

[Pantah630]

Love ancient history, especially Greek and Roman, with a smattering of Medieval and 20th century too.

Favourite historical novel series is Colleen McCullough's series on Ancient Rome. Fascinating incites into the lives of Marius, Sulla and Caesar.

[VileyRose]

Only just found this place.
Love it but yes don't want to bump old threads too much!

I have a love/hate relationship with Medieval.

Love ancient civilisation and goddess worship pre Christianity.

Love anything about witches ie salem/pendle

[jugglingsatsumas]

I "did" British Social and Economic History from 1700 onwards at GCSE and A-level and I still love everything to do with the Industrial Revolution and persuaded my family to go on holiday to Ironbridge and Birmingham last year!

My son was really in to First World War History a few years back so we went to Trieste on holiday (we live in Italy so not that far) and Rome which he was studying at school. He was a great tour guide for both so it was so interesting to hear his take on things.

[BastardMs]

I wish it was busier here too. I'm not an expert but I love reading the threads, and am in awe of the very knowledgeable posters!

[MoonlightKissed]

Have only just discovered this board - what a pleasant surprise!

I have loved history since I was a child. My grandmother used to read historical biographies, and as a voracious reader I used to turn to these when I'd read all my own books while staying with them. As a child/teenager, I read many, many historical books of all sorts - fiction & non-fiction.

History has always fascinated me - still does. Even now, I'm fascinated by what people saw, smelt, heard, felt. I often look at a view - a street, a landscape, and wonder what it looked like back in a certain time. It's all fascinating to me - or almost! Right back to the beginnings of man (actually my interest flips over into physics too, and the beginnings of the universe), right up to relatively modern day. I almost had my interests in history bored out of me in school by an immensely dull, though knowledgeable, teacher - thankfully saved by studying Latin & therefore Roman history, which I loved (the history, not the Latin - though the Latin has proved very useful for reading inscriptions/documents directly).

I still read widely now. I do enjoy Sharon Penman & Elizabeth Chadwick. I'm not a fan of Alison Weir or Philippa Gregory - although I used to love PGs earlier books, but feel like she lost her way. My DH doesn't like me to watch Starkey programmes on the tv, as I spend so much time ranting at the tv and snorting.

[FairfaxAikman]

I originally planned on becoming an archeologist - inspired by some family friends who are prominent in their field. But then I realised I have an issue with bodies - not the bones per se but the concept that these were living, breathing people.

I'm more interested in how people lived rather than the big dates and well known figures. I have a particular interest in the Iron Age, particularly the technological innovations.

[tobee]

Lots of big love for Eleanor!

[pallisers]

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.

[Lucydogz]

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?

[AlpacaLypse]

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.

[AlpacaLypse]

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.

[LouiseBrooks]

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

[doowapwap]

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

[Lucydogz]

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.

[Hs2Issue]

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.

[endehors]

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!

[moonlight1705]

Adore 'Katherine' and Sharon Penman books as well

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

[moonlight1705]

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!

[doowapwap]

I will have a look, thank you!!!

[LouiseBrooks]

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

[doowapwap]

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

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

[LouiseBrooks]

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.

[doowapwap]

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