Remember, remember: The Story of Guy Fawkes

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Today is November 5th, the day we are urged to remember, remember! Widely celebrated throughout the U.K., Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, commemorates Guy Fawkes’s failed attempt to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605. Though Guy Fawkes has gained some international recognition through use of his persona in pop culture, Bonfire Night is still predominately commemorated in the U.K., and Fawkes rarely appears for more than a page in American history textbooks. So why is it important for us to remember? We are going to explore the story of Guy Fawkes a little deeper , giving you the historical context for the Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night, as well as the legacy left by Fawkes.

The History

Guy Fawkes was born in York in 1570. As many of you faithful blog followers know, I (Rae) spent a glorious semester living in York and stumbled upon many historical sites related to Guy Fawkes. The home where Fawkes was born is now an inn where you can stop for a drink or even stay overnight! Fawkes was also baptized at the church I attended while living in York, St. Michael le Belfrey, which sits just opposite the majestic York Minster and is pictured here with yours truly. Though Fawkes had been baptized in an Anglican church, he converted to Catholicism after his mother remarried a Catholic. Religion was the issue at the heart of the Gunpowder Plot and to understand that, we need to delve a little deeper into English religious history (now engaging historian nerd powers!). Before our favorite egotistical monarch Henry VIII came to power, England was aligned with the Catholic church. As the story goes, Henry was upset that the Catholic church would not annul his marriage with first wife Catherine of Aragon and, as any normal person would do, broke ties with Rome, incited the English Reformation, and declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England through the Act of Supremacy in 1534. Anti-Catholism remained a strong sentiment in the 16th century, with Protestants fearing that Rome would attempt to gain full power over England. Catholics were not treated well in this period, with punishments ranging from fines to corporal punishment to death.
This leads us back to Guy Fawkes. Fawkes was a devout Catholic and his staunch beliefs and feeling of persecution led him to become involved with a group of men who were planing to assassinate King James I  and replace him with his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, who would serve as their “puppet queen.” It was decided that the group would blow up the House of Lords of the State Opening of Parliament, where the King would be in attendance. Fawkes was placed in charge of the explosives. The conspirators gained access to a house belonging to the Keeper of the King’s Wardrobe, and from there were able to lease a space called the undercroft beneath the House of Lords, where they stored 36 barrels of gunpowder. On October 26, an anonymous letter was sent to Lord Monteagle, a member of the House of Lords, warning him to stay away from Parliament. The letter was shown to the King, who noticed the phrase “they shall receive a terrible blow,” which perhaps hinted at an explosive. Parliament was searched in the early hours of November 5, and Fawkes was found and arrested in the cellar. Fawkes was interrogated and tortured at the Tower of London but remained staunch in his beliefs. Fawkes was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, but instead jumped from the scaffold and broke his neck. As anti-Catholicism still reigned supreme, Londoners burned effigies of Fawkes in the street and were encouraged to light bonfires each November 5. Though I didn’t burn any effigies on Bonfire Night, I did spend the evening watching fireworks with friends and remembering, remembering Guy Fawkes.

The Legacy

Guy Fawkes’ legacy has lived on through a number of radio, theatre, and television performances chronicaling his plot and ultimate downfall. However, there have been a few more recent connections to Guy Fawkes that you may have missed. Luckily, I (Shan) am always watching out for historical references in pop culture:

• When I first read the Harry Potter series, I never questioned why Dumbledore’s phoenix was named “Fawkes.” The phoenix is destined to burn and burn again, dying and then rising from the ashes. “Fawkes” is indeed named after the famous Brit and was written as a joke by J.K. Rowling, as Fawkes the phoenix is known for frequently blowing himself up into a ball of flame.
• You also caught a glimpse of the Guy Fawkes Night festivities on the BBC TV series, Sherlock, in season three episode one, “The Empty Hearse.” John is kidnapped, drugged, and buried inside of a pile of wood. Only semi-conscious, he is unable to tell the crowd that he is inside and they set fire to the wood just as Sherlock and Mary arrive to pull him out. Ironically, it is November 5 when the episode’s culprit plots to blow up the House of Parliament from the abandoned tube tracks below, just as representatives are holding a late night meeting on an anti-terrorism bill.
• One of the most famous recent adaptations is the British graphic novel and movie adaptation, V for Vendetta.  This retelling of the story of Guy Fawkes is set in a dystopian England, where a neo-facist government is under attack by the freedom fighter, V, who wears a Guy Fawkes mask while plotting his ultimate revenge. It is a dark movie, but well acted by Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, a young British girl who finds herself in the middle of V’s plot.

From the past to the pop culture future, Guy Fawkes may have failed in his gunpowder plot but succeeded in being charred into British memory for generations.

Remember, remember…
Rae & Shan

Digitizing History: The Tower of London Online

So we’re a little bit late on our October Museum of the Month post but hey, who doesn’t want to extend the spookiness of Halloween for a few days? Today, we’re featuring one of the most iconic sites in all of the U.K.: The Tower of London. The Tower has been in existence since 1066, the end of the Norman Conquest, and has a long, bloodied history. There are ghost stories aplenty at the Tower, and it has set the scene for many major events in British history. Join us as we detail a brief history of the Tower and how to stay connected online!

The Tower of London has served many different purposes throughout its long history: a
fortress, a weaponry, a prison, a residence, a home to the Crown Jewels, and finally, a museum. Early in its history, the Tower was a fortress; however, it has always carried a foreboding appearance, with the White Tower built in 1078 by William the Conquerer, a sign of oppression against the common people. Henry III was the first to make the Tower his home in 1240, and Richard II began the processional march from the Tower to Westminster Abbey in 1377, a tradition that lasted until 1660.  Though used as a prison from 1100 – 1952, the Tower fully took on this role in the 16th century and came to represent death for all those placed within its walls.

Let’s discuss some of the most notable residents in the Tower of London’s history, shall we? One of the most famous tales is the story of The Princes in the Tower. The Princes were 12-year-old Edward V and his 9-year-old brother Richard, the only sons of King Edward IV. When King Edward died, his brother Richard (later Richard III) “lodged” the boys in the Tower, supposedly to prepare Prince Edward for his coronation. Instead, the brothers disappeared and Richard took the throne. It is assumed that the boys were murdered, but no one really knows for sure. Two skeletons of children, perhaps the Princes (but perhaps not!) were later found in a wooden box buried beneath the Tower. King Henry VIII, carrying on with his traditional style of murdering people who did not agree with him, imprisoned many people in the Tower. These included the political Sir Thomas More, beheaded for not accepting Henry as head of the new Church of England, and his wife Anne Boleyn, beheaded for “having an affair” (aka not producing a male heir), despite the fact that Henry had an affair with her while still married to his first wife. Many of Henry’s prisoners were brought to the Tower through a water entrance, which came to be known as “Traitors Gate.” Guy Fawkes was also imprisoned in the Tower after his failed Gunpowder Plot in 1605. He was kept in a cell known as the “Little Ease,” a room so small that prisoners could not stand up straight or fully lie down. He was sentenced to the brutal punishment of being hanged, drawn and quartered, but jumped off the gallows himself. Among the last people to be kept prisoners at the Tower were the Kray twins, notorious London gangsters who were transferred from the Tower to another prison in 1952. This fall, Tom Hardy will be depicting both of the Kray brothers on screen in the film Legend, out on November 20.

Today, the Tower is no longer a fortress, residence, or prison. It’s a museum managed by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent organization that watches over six historic sites including the Tower, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle. I have taken two tours through the Tower: one at age 8 and and one at 20. To be honest with you, we had to leave the tour early when I was 8 because the stories were just too gruesome for me. But at 20, I found it absolutely fascinating. The guides know so much about history, and have some fun facts and interesting tales to tell. For example, there is an old legend that if the Tower has any less than 6 ravens, the monarchy will fall. To combat this potential problem, the ravens living in the tower have had their wings clipped! Another incredible aspect of visiting the Tower is the opportunity to see the Crown Jewels. You actually ride a moving walkway (think airport) past the Crown Jewels. You may recognize the Crown Jewels from a certain fabulous BBC show called Sherlock: 

While I encourage all of you to visit the Tower and feel the incredible sense of a thousand years worth of history beneath your feet, I know that’s not always entirely possible. Here a few ways you can stay connected with the Tower online!

1. The Tower of London and Historic Royal Palaces on Twitter

     

The Tower of London Twitter and the Historic Royal Palaces Twitter accounts are both excellent places to stay up to date with the latest information. The Tower of London Twitter page provides fascinating facts from #OnThisDay in history, as well as links to info about new exhibits and events taking place at the Tower. The Historic Royal Palaces Twitter keeps you connected to all 6 historic sites managed by the organization, offering up stories, videos, and fun facts about each place. They did an awesome job with providing lots of spooky tales during Halloween – make sure you go back a few days and check out their haunted tweets!

2. Historic Royal Palaces on Instagram

Looking for a little history in your Instagram feed? Follow Historic Royal Palaces! Their Instagram is full of gorgeous photos of their sites (they even repost photos taken by visitors, so make sure to tag them if you’re in the U.K.!) along with historical facts and information about upcoming events.

3. Historic Royal Palaces on YouTube

Historic Royal Palaces has a really great YouTube channel featuring videos from several different areas, including conservation, learning and engagements, historic cookery (!!), and more. They also have special videos for major events or important landmarks, including Hampton Court 500, celebrating the 500 year anniversary of Hampton Court Palace, and a special selection of videos about poppies at the Tower of London for Remembrance Day. A great place to start for more information about the Tower is with this video called “The Tower of London: An Introduction.”

4. The Tower of London on Periscope

If you’re not familiar with Periscope, it’s a new social networking tool that lets users post and watch video broadcasts in real time. The Tower of London has a Periscope account where they broadcast events that are happening to viewers around the world – for example, their most recent Periscope followed a Yeoman telling ghost stories at the Tower. Periscope is a great way to feel like you’re right in the action! You can get a Periscope account on your mobile device from the App Store or Google Play store. Also make sure to follow the Tower on Twitter to find out about their next Periscope!

We hope you enjoy “visiting” the Tower of London online!

In history,
Rae

An Irish History of Halloween

Many cultures have a version of Halloween – a celebration of the harvest, the changing of the seasons, and the end of life. While American Halloween traditions have been influenced by other cultures like Mexico’s Dia De Los Muertos, the greatest influence comes from ancient Gaelic traditions that have morphed over the generations, all originating from the festival of Samhain.
The Samhain festival was said to be the one day during the year when those who had died took the long journey to the underworld. During this time, they were able to mingle in the land of the living. However, the friendly ghosts were only part of what was said to be lurking: all forms of demons, faeries, and monsters were said to escape from the open gates of the underworld. In order to appease the supernatural creatures roaming their world, the Irish would set bonfires to guide the spirits to the afterlife and way from the living, and were known to include an animal sacrifice for good measure.

The use of masks and costumes was also common in Gaelic tradition as both a way to disguise oneself from the evil spirits roaming the land and to pay honor to them by dressing in their likeness. Another tradition that remains popular today is the carving of vegetables, traditionally turnips, to look like goblins or spirits, which could bring luck and keep spirits at bay. These traditions migrated to the Americas and turned into the carving of pumpkins.

How did the festival of Samhain morph into Halloween? Some speculate that it was the Catholic influence on the region, which encouraged the celebration of All Saints Day and focused on praying for the souls of the dead while avoiding the evil spirits that wondered the earth on All Hallows Eve (now called Halloween). Some of those traditional Gaelic traditions still remain, but the fear surrounding Halloween night’s ghosts and goblins was a product of Catholic influence. Keep an eye out for a wandering spirit and carve a turnip for good luck!

A Happy Samhain one and all!
Shan

Haunted Edinburgh: From Faeries to Ghoulish Graveyards

While studying abroad at Oxford, I spent the long Easter holiday weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland where I hiked Arthur’s seat, found a fantastic Mexican restaurant, and went on a fabulous (and inexpensive) haunted Edinburgh ghost tour. The whole city of Edinburgh feels ancient and most definitely haunted with graying stone walls and walkways, a cool mist coming off of the ocean, and the drizzle of rain.

While there are a lot of tours to choose from, we found a cheap tour that included a mini-flashlight and met right in the center of town (it also ended at a haunted pub, which was a bonus!). Here are a few of the spooky spots I visited on our nighttime tour:

Old Calton Burial Ground

I actually stumbled upon this haunted location before taking the tour, as the gorgeous gothic graveyard is home to philosopher, David Hume’s tomb and has a lovely view of the city. This site looks like a scene out of a ghost film. Even the rain stains on the crumbling gravestones are ominous (see the horrifying face that appeared over time – pointed out to us by our friendly haunted guide in this photo).

Calton Hill

In the seventeenth century, locals claimed that Calton Hill hid a major faerie settlement buried deep underground. Scottish faeries are not your friendly Tinker Bell types. Folklore often warns of their trickster nature and surprising power. For a full set of rules when interacting with faeries, check out this great blog post at the Official Scotland Website. Even if you don’t happen to run into a faerie, Calton Hill contains historic monuments and a beautiful view high above the city.

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Historically, Greyfriars Kirkyard was a peaceful cemetery. This all changed in 1998 when a homeless man broke into Sir George Mackenzie’s grave looking for a dry place to sleep. What he allegedly released is a poltergiest, a vicious spirit who has physically attacked visitors since. One famous story tells the tale of an exorcist who visited the cemetery in hopes of returning the violent spirit back into its grave. Instead, the exorcist found the evil spirits were too strong and feared they would kill him. Unfortunately, they did. Only two months later he died suddenly of a heart attack. This area is closed off (for good reason), but a peek through the iron gates was enough for this ghost hunter.

Edinburgh Vaults

The Vaults that run inside of the great Edinburgh South Bridge have had many uses since they were built in 1788. From storage to refuge from the plague, eventually the Vaults became home to Edinburgh’s underbelly and saw its share of deaths including a number of murders. Today, the Vaults are one of the most haunted locations in Edinburgh and have been featured on a number of ghost hunting TV shows including the U.K.’s Most Haunted and my personal favorite, Ghost Adventures. The Vaults are refuge for the aggressive “Mr. Boots” ghost who follows tours and often attacks female visitors, as well as the playful, Jack, a child spirit who tries to hold visitor’s hands.

The White Hart Inn

After a long walk through haunted Edinburgh on a cold April night, we were happy to warm up and wrap up our tour in a pub (albeit, a pretty haunted one), The White Hart Inn. As one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs with some rooms dating back to 1516, the pub is haunted by a large black mass, often spotted on its way into the cellar where it has been rumored to move barrels and frighten staff.

Happy haunting!

Shan

The (not so secret) Haunted History of York

If you’ve actively been reading this blog, you probably know that I spent a glorious semester living in York, England, which is pretty much the best city in the world. Another interesting fact about York is that it’s supposedly the most haunted city in all of Europe (seriously, you guys – the International Ghost Research Foundation did a study on it in 2002 and found 504 hauntings. 504!!!). One reason for the many ghostly sightings is the fact that York has existed for a long time. It was founded in 71 AD by the Romans and has been involved in almost every conquest of England (the Romans, the Vikings, the Normans). There have been battles and bloodshed through York’s extensive history, which have perhaps led to many restless souls. York totally capitalizes on this and offers many opportunities to take ghost walks through the city. I was fortunate enough to participate in 2 ghost walks while living there (pictured above is a photo op with our creepy Victorian guide) and have some excellent stories to share with you all! Grab a blanket and a piping hot mug of tea, and maybe leave the lights on for this ghostly tour of York…

1. The College Street House

Way back in the 14th century, the Black Death was running rampant across Europe. It was tradition to mark the houses of those infected with a red “X” across the door, saving others from entering. Our first haunted location, the College Street House, takes place in the context of the bubonic plague. The College Street House was occupied by a normal family: a mother, a father, and a child. The mother and father both became ill and succumbed to the disease, while the 6-year-old girl, thought also to have the plague, was locked in the home with the dead bodies of her parents. The authorities were wrong, however, and the girl was not sick. Instead, she was boarded up in the house and slowly died of starvation. To this day, ghost tour guides claim to hear crying coming from the home, and sometimes see a shadow of a young girl in the upstairs bedroom window.

2. The Treasurers House

The tale of the Treasurers House is one of the most famous ghost stories in all of York. To give you a little background: the Treasurers House that stands today was built in 1562, home to the descendants of Thomas Young, Archbishop of York. The house had several private owners before being acquired by the National Trust. The story goes that a Roman road had been discovered in the cellar of the home. A teenage apprentice named Harry Martindale was repairing a pipe in the cellar when he began to hear the music of a trumpet. This sound grew louder and louder until a legion of Roman soldiers marched through the wall. They were only visible from the knees up, as the road would have been lower when the Romans were living in York. It was determined the Martindale’s descriptions of the Roman clothing matched those of the Roman soldiers living in York in the 5th century. The Treasurers House was also featured on the first episode of Discovery Channel’s Ghosthunters.

3.The Golden Fleece 

The Golden Fleece is one of the oldest inns and pubs in York, dating back to 1503. It’s located just opposite a famous street called The Shambles (fun fact: Diagon Alley was based on The Shambles for the Harry Potter films!). The Golden Fleece also claims to be the most haunted public public in all of York. Naturally, my friends and I went there for drinks on Halloween. We didn’t experience anything spooky ourselves, but did hear some interesting stories. The ghost most commonly reported by visitors is Lady Alice Peckett, wife of the former owner Lord Mayor John Peckett. Witnesses have also reported seeing the ghost of a World War II pilot. Though his cause of death is uncertain, he is believed to have either committed suicide or fell from a second floor window. Another sighting is known as One Eyed Jack, a man who wears a 16th/17th century red coat and carries a pistol. There’s also the sad tale of a young Victorian boy who was trampled by horses. This boy was a pickpocket, and guests often report feeling tugging on their jackets or finding that money or possessions have gone missing. There are many stories across the internet of ghostly encounters people have had at The Golden Fleece, and it was even filmed for the show Most Haunted. Next time you’re in York, book a room and stay there if you dare…

If you ever find yourself in York, I highly suggest taking a Ghost Walk. They are fun, informative, and just creepy enough. Have a happy and spooky Halloween, blog readers!

With ghostly regards,
Rae

Digitizing History: Titanic Belfast Online

For our second Museum of the Month feature, I want to introduce you to one of the most unique and interesting museums I’ve visited: Titanic Belfast. Titanic Belfast technically calls itself an “attraction” rather than a museum, but it’s full of history about the construction and voyage of the RMS Titanic. To give you a little background: the Titanic was built in Belfast Harbour, with construction beginning in 1909. The Titanic launched from Belfast on May 31, 1911, with over 100,000 people watching. The ship was docked in Southampton, where it began its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912 with 2,224 passengers and crew members. The Titanic struck an iceberg in the late hours of April 14 and sunk, with an estimated 705 survivors.

Titanic Belfast is located on the former Harland & Wolff Shipyard, where the RMS Titanic was
constructed. One of my favorite features of the museum is actually located behind the site. There are poles lining the dockyard that represent the length of the Titanic where visitors can walk, giving them a visual representation of the sheer size of the ship. Titanic Belfast does an excellent job of fully immersing visitors into the world of the Titanic, and the marvel and grandeur that it it encompassed. The Titanic Belfast building itself is also an important feature of the museum. It was intended to resemble a ship in order to reflect Belfast’s prominent history in shipmaking, especially focusing on the legacy of Harland & Wolff. The height – 126 feet – is not an arbitrary number, either; this was the same height as the RMS Titanic. To many people (yours truly included), the building also resembles an iceberg, and has been nicknamed “The Iceberg” by locals.

Titanic Belfast is very modern on the outside, and the theme of modernity continues throughout its galleries and exhibits. I’m a huge advocate for the use of digital media in museums and galleries, and Titanic Belfast incorporates film, audio, digital archives, and even a ride (yes, I said RIDE!) seamlessly into traditional galleries. You begin your visit in a gallery about industrialization and shipbuilding in Belfast, next making your way to the Shipyard Ride, which is a huge favorite of many visitors. During the Shipyard Ride, you sit in a car hanging from a suspended track that weaves you through a life-size model of the RMS Titanic construction site, offering a unique perspective into the world of shipbuilding. Your journey continues through the launch and the maiden voyage, where you are treated to a room that creatively uses film to capture the elegance of the ship’s interior, making you feel as though you are aboard. You experience the sinking of the ship and its aftermath, finally ending in a cinema-style room with a screen on the floor, allowing you a bird’s eye view of wreckage in the ocean. Titanic Belfast is different from other museums or traveling exhibits about the RMS Titanic in that they do not have any artifacts recovered from the sunken ship displayed in the museum. There’s an interesting debate in the museum world about whether artifacts recovered from shipwrecks should be used in museums. Titanic Belfast subscribes to the idea that the shipwreck is akin to a graveyard, and artifacts should not be removed.

While visiting Titanic Belfast is an absolutely incredible experience and I highly recommend that you all go, it’s not always possible to drop everything and fly across the ocean. Here are some ways you can engage with the museum online:

1.Titanic Belfast website

The website offers a great section on some of the artifacts found at the Titanic Belfast museum, including a launch notebook and printed menu of the luncheon that was served on April 14, the day the Titanic hit the iceberg. They also have a great section about the museum itself, including a video explaining the design, a time-lapse of the construction, and descriptions and photos of each of the nine galleries in the museum.

2. Titanic Belfast on Social Media

Titanic Belfast has very active accounts on both Twitter and Instagram. Follow along on Twitter for information about upcoming events (so you can plan your trip accordingly!), photos from past events/ special exhibits, and links to informational pages about the museum and the RMS Titanic. On Instagram, get your daily dose of beauty with pictures of the site, the exhibits, and photos from the archives including the construction of the Titanic and the Harland & Wolff Shipyards in the early 20th century.

3.Titanic Belfast on YouTube 

The next best thing to experiencing a place in real life is through video! Luckily for us, Titanic Belfast has an awesome YouTube channel! There are videos ranging from promotional ads to features on special events and exhibits to lectures at the museum to construction films from the building of the site. One of the must-see videos is a walk-through of Titanic Belfast.

Enjoy your digital journey through Titanic Belfast!

In history,

Rae

The Many Lives of WWII: A Review of Kate Atkinson’s Historical Fiction

I’ve always been a history buff (something Rae and I have in common), and have spent much of my academic career (and a lot of free time) studying WWII. When I stumbled upon Life After Life by Kate Atkinson this spring, I was expecting another traditional first person account of the war. I was wrong. Instead of one account of WWII, readers are treated to a panoramic view of the many subtle and grand ways the war tore at the lives of English countrymen. Not to spoil the story, but the protagonist, Ursula Todd, dies. At least a dozen times, over and over again, restarting her life to make a different decision that changes her circumstances and reveals another viewpoint on the war. She experiences Germany as an English study abroad student witnessing the rise of the Third Reich, ultimately finding herself interacting with Hitler himself, and experiences the London Blitz, as she crawls through the carnage as a member of the rescue team sent out to find survivors. Even with the jarring death and ultimate resurrection of our protagonist at the end of each chapter, Atkinson’s beautifully written characters remain consistent, responding realistically when faced with an entirely new reality and set of circumstances. The plot is rich with intersecting storylines and detailed descriptions of England at war.

Life After Life is one of those books that you keep reflecting back on, that makes you think about reality, the choices we make, and what really matters in the end.

A God in Ruins, the Life After Life companion novel, was released this May and I was initially nervous to reenter Atkinson’s deeply emotional plot without the promise of a new life at the end of each chapter. The story follows Teddy Todd, Ursula’s younger brother, who fights for England as a WWII Royal Air Force pilot and lives each bloody day with the understanding that it may be his last (and in a few of Ursula’s timelines in Life After Life he doesn’t survive…). To Teddy’s great surprise, he does survive and is left wondering what to do next. While Teddy only has one timeline, the plot moves true to Atkinson’s non-linear style, bouncing between his wartime experiences and the path his life takes into old age. Teddy struggles to embrace a world post-WWII that he doesn’t understand with a family untarnished by his own challenging RAF experiences. As Atkinson explains in the Author’s Note, this is one of Ursula’s potential timelines and while many of the same characters remain, the reader does not know where Teddy’s life will take them. I found myself deeply invested in Teddy’s life, exploring the war from the skies above Germany to the lasting effects of deep loss and pain. It is also a moving exploration of aging and the emotional toll of fading away slowly into death.

The ending of A God in Ruins was marvelous and a shuddering reminder of the power of the author and, ultimately, of the steady flow of time. Both books share the common theme that these lifetimes and stories exist only for those who survive the bloodshed of a terrible war. They both provide a fresh new perspective on England during WWII and explore its impact on the culture and people of England during the conflict and for decades after.

Enjoy fellow history friends!
Shan

History Digitized: The British Museum Online

So if you haven’t realized it by now, Shan and I are history nerds. Having the opportunity to study overseas, surrounded by thousands of years of culture and heritage only made us fall even more in love with everything from the past. I studied public history in school and actively try to visit every museum I can. That’s why Shan and I decided to make a Museum of the Month feature on our blog! Each month, we’ll write about a museum in the U.K., or a museum in the U.S. with a British focus, and how you can use the amazing world of the *~internet~* to stay connected! Today, we’re featuring one of my favorites: The British Museum.

I wrote a really long paper about the history of the British Museum, but I’ll spare you that lecture and give the abridged version. The British Museum was founded in 1753 as the first public museum, created largely from the collections of Sir Hans Sloane, an English physicist and naturalist. Before museums, “cabinets of curiosity” were a popular way for people to collect treasures and oddities from around the world, and that’s one of the reasons why the British Museum has such an extensive collection of artifacts from almost every ancient civilization (seriously you guys, I could go on about this forever – the collections at the British Museum are expansive and incredible). The museum is also HUGE. I’ve been twice and feel like I’ve only seen 1/10 of what it has to offer. Some of the most famous artifacts at the museum include the Rosetta Stone, the Mummy of Katebet, and a Moai statue from Easter Island. Below is a picture of yours truly with one of the most controversial pieces at the museum: the Elgin Marbles.

Another cool fact about the British Museum? IT’S FREE. You can see all of these incredible, priceless artifacts for FREE (I am a huge geek and I know it). But like us, many of you probably don’t live in the U.K. So why am I telling you all about the amazing things at the museum? Because you can stay connected with them all online! A big revolution in the public history field has been the growth of digital history, allowing us to view a museum’s collections or galleries from around the world. I am going to outline 3 ways for you to stay connected with the British Museum online:

1: The British Museum website. The website is a goldmine of information. They have a comprehensive database of their collections, which includes over 3.5 million artifacts (that’s MILLION, people). Have an interest in African textiles? Chinese pottery? Roman spoons? You can find it ALL online. The website also has a feature that I love: viewing galleries online. You can view highlighted objects and watch video tours of the galleries. The one below features medieval and Renaissance objects in a new gallery.

2: The British Museum blog. We bloggers love to promote each other, and the British Museum’s blog is one of the best. The blog gives you the chance to go behind the scenes and hear from the people who work at the museum, or help with collections and exhibit development – the curators, conservators, scientists, and researchers. This is a great way to not only learn more about objects and exhibits, but the process behind accessioning, storing, cleaning, and handling artifacts that are thousands of years old.

3. The British Museum on social media. The British Museum is very active on Twitter, and they’re one of my favorite accounts to follow. They provide a great combination of information, history, and general internet fun (#MedievalMonday is possibly my favorite hashtag of all time). They’re also on Instagram, so make sure to follow them for your daily dose of history!

I’m going to close out this blog with a fun video for you guys! One of my favorite topics is the blending of pop culture with history and digital media, and the British Museum provides a prime example of that. In 2013, the British Museum displayed a temporary exhibit called Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum. The museum invited one of my all time favorite bands, Bastille, to perform their hit single “Pompeii” in the exhibition and record a video. Not only is it a beautifully captured film, but it really emphasizes the relevance of history to the present and the connections that continue to be formed between the digital and historical worlds.

If you love British history as much as us, check out our U.K. History Pinterest board! Thanks for taking this historical journey with us!

Rae

King Henry VIII: A Pop Culture Love Affair

Has anyone else noticed that King Henry VIII has had a second chance at his 15 minutes of fame? I feel like everywhere I look there is another book, movie, or TV show romanticizing the narcissistic King.

For those who have lost count of their King Henrys, remember that our friend Henry VIII reigned from 1509 – 1547 and inspired the classic rhyme to keep track of his many wives:

Divorced, Beheaded, Died. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.

That’s right folks, only one of his wives survived unscathed. Known for his love of all thing indulgent, there have been representations of this famous monarch ranging from the young, sexy prince to the bulbous, spoiled old king. His one redeeming quality is that he fathered Queen Elizabeth I, one of my favorite royal monarchs and a great example of a good ole fashioned independent woman. Oh, and I suppose he is also known for separating England from the Catholic Church, a highly controversial move that established the Church of England and allowed him to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Whether his recent upsurge in pop culture popularity is due to his Renaissance romances or his infamous temper, I think Henry VIII is here to stay. You don’t have to visit Hampton Court Palace to enjoy this infamous historical figure, you can now easily bring him into your American home.

Although, if you are curious, these are the beautiful Hampton Gardens that witnessed his domestic discontent. It really is a wonderful place to visit, and I enjoyed its mix of Medieval and Renaissance influences. And, if you’re lucky, you could run into Henry himself walking the castle grounds! (While snapping the photo of Henry at Hampton Court Palace that I used for this post, I was so tempted to yell, “Run, Anne! Run!”)

Here are a few of my favorite pop culture representations of King Henry VIII:

1. Henry Tutor is on Twitter and he is absolutely hilarious. Carry him with you on the go and enjoy his playful quips throughout your day (and in 140 characters or less!). Follow @KngHnryVIII 

2. Author Hilary Mantel recently published a fantastic book series on the reign of Henry VIII. Wolf Hall (2009) tells the story of Henry’s romance with Anne Boleyn, divorce from Catherine, and battle with the Pope from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell. The enigmatic historical figure, Cromwell, is best known as Anne’s advisor, but his cunning tactics to win a place in Henry’s favor makes this elegantly written book a must-read. PBS even made it into a mini-series, which premiered spring 2015. It is now available on both sides of the pond on DVD.

The second book in Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy, Bring Up the Bodies (2012), is currently sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be enjoyed. It follows Cromwell into the tumultuous marriage of Anne and Henry, as he struggles to maintain control over his carefully crafted web of influence. These books are a unique glimpse into Henry’s court and I eagerly await the final book, currently called “The Mirror and the Light“, which has yet to set its publication date. I wonder how it will all end?!

3. The Tudors, the hit Showtime show that ran from 2007-2010, was certainly a more glamorous depiction of Henry VIII’s many marriages. Starring the sexy Jonathan Rhys Meyers, this may not be historically accurate, but it certainly is an entertaining retelling. Lucky for us American fans, it is available on Netflix or can be rented from your local library.

4. In another retelling of Henry’s romance with Anne Boleyn, The Other Boleyn Girl (2002), written by Philippa Gregory, is told from her sister Mary’s perspective. Mary was one of the King’s many lovers and was mother of his illegitimate son. Written like juicy historical gossip, this entertaining read has it all: sex, lies, and King Henry style rock ‘n roll. You can imagine that there was some familial tension between the two sisters…

There was also a movie adaptation, but really, the book was so much better.

5. Finally, in writing this blog post, I learned that the song my dad used to sing to me as a child (over and over again), “I’m Henery the Eighth, I am,” written in the early 1900’s and later revived in the 1960’s by the musical group, Herman’s Hermits, is actually about King Henry VIII. How did I miss that? In this case, it is focused on “Henery” finally getting a bit of comeuppance.

Perhaps the repetition of this song in our household growing up helped to solidify my love for history. Don’t take my word for it, enjoy this little musical gem for yourself and tell me you don’t feel inspired to study Henry VIII’s reign more in-depth!

There you have it history friends, take Henry VIII home with you, but be careful, you don’t want to end up being wife #7!

Yours in history,
Shan