Latest Posts

  • Primary Schools Outreach: Animals in World War

    By Lisa Berry-Waite A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity along with a number of other History students to be part of an anniversary project commemorating a 100 years of remembrance. The project was… Continue reading

  • Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of the Species 155th anniversary

    By Professor David Stack On 24 November 1859 a book containing ‘the best idea anybody ever had’ was published. Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by means of natural selection had been twenty-one years in the making and was… Continue reading

  • Almanacs, Astrology and the Origins of Weather Forecasting

    by Aoife Lintin My name is Aoife Lintin, and I am studying History at the University of Reading. My tutor is Dr Anne Lawrence, a medieval historian specialising in the history of magic. Dr Lawrence is at present studying the… Continue reading

  • Enhancement week in the History department

    By Emma Murphy Like most other part 3 history students this year, I was slightly confused as to what the new ‘enhancement week’ was and what activities would be taking place during this week. I was pleasantly surprised to hear… Continue reading

  • BOOK LAUNCH: INTELLIGENCE AND PROPAGANDA IN THE COLD WAR

    Dr Linda Risso November 13, 2014, 5.pm in Humanities 301, University of Reading Dr Risso’s book offers the first account of the foundation, organisation and activities of the NATO Information Service (NATIS) during the Cold War. During the Cold War,… Continue reading

  • Who Was the First White Knight?

    By Dr. Anne Mathers-Lawrence   In this season of remembrance for those who fought and died in wars and battles, it is worth commemorating Whiteknights’ very own White Knight – the first on record. He was John of Earley, who… Continue reading

  • The Windsor Witches

    by Professor Helen Parish Swarms of witches, devilish magic, and dramatic trials: Professor Helen Parish reveals the telling history of the witches of Windsor in our fantastic new video, giving you a taste of history at the University of Reading   Watch if… Continue reading

  • The post-Reformation history of Hallowmass

    By Professor Helen Parish Earlier this week, my colleague Anne Mathers-Lawrence posted a blog with the provocative title Who Invented Hallowe’en? It is a fantastic overview of the medieval origins of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, and a… Continue reading

  • Who Invented Halloween?

    Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers Was Halloween a medieval festival? The origins of Halloween have often been traced back to the middle ages, and the usual ‘early witness’ is Bede. His The Reckoning of Time, an extremely influential book on the calculation… Continue reading

    Who Invented Halloween?

  • Black History Month: October 2014

    by Dr Emily West The authority known as the ‘Greater London Council’ introduced Black History Month (BHM) to the UK in October 1987 with the intention of promoting greater racial tolerance and understanding in the city. The initiative was soon… Continue reading