Historian on the Edge

Just when you thought he couldn't get any worse...

2013-05-04T12:27:00.002+01:00

... this. Harvard really should fire his ass now. (Thanks to Steve Sarson for drawing my attention to this piece.)

A little bit more politics creeping in...

2013-05-01T18:59:00.001+01:00

(I'll post something historical and serious soon - promise. A bit burnt out at the moment.) For those of you (esp. non-Brits) who need an explanation: http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/news/article/2699/ukip-nigel-farage-defends-candidate-over-alleged-nazi-salute

For the students...

2013-05-01T14:52:00.001+01:00

With hat tip to one Bobby Kuechenmeister

Contact Hours Update

2013-05-01T11:47:00.002+01:00

Apparently we got our 10 minutes back, so add 20% to any currently available figures for contact hours in my department.

Happy International Jazz Day!

2013-04-30T15:05:00.002+01:00

From Prof Grumpy.

Contact Hours: An Explanation

2013-04-29T11:23:00.000+01:00

[Because of the Daily Heil article published today which specifically mentions my department and complains about 'scandalous' low amounts of teaching, I thought I'd move this (originally from 25/06/12) back to the top of the page. The management of Poppleton University managed to score a spectacular own goal in any case. All universities have guidelines about not over-running, about finishing

Ah, but what to do? (Updated)

2013-04-27T09:48:00.000+01:00

[Stop Press: Amazon have told me that they have removed the offending review by Pace, so I have taken down the analysis of his efforts to mislead people. Though he's still writing nonsense in the comments section of other reviews... I've been accused of being a Stalinist for this, which does not amuse me. This isn't about stifling alternative views or bad reviews; it's about taking action

Meanwhile...

2013-04-26T18:46:00.006+01:00

... in rather more important matters, this piece makes important and valuable points, although - typically - many of the commenters have their ears shut.

P.s. Historian on the Edge: A Man with a Plan (and the academics are NOT happy)

2013-04-25T21:47:00.000+01:00

This you might find more amusing. My Amazon-abuser, Pace/Elafius, pens a comment congratulating the author of the 1-star review (the one that accuses me of saying that Sarmatian cavalry were the same as British cavalry and that there were no Sarmatians in Britain: a small prize to any reader who can point out where I say either) in which he claims that the people who have written positive

David Cameron's Handy Guide to Personal Pronouns

2013-04-18T10:40:00.000+01:00

1: We A tricky one, this. Technically regarded as the first person plural, implying a collective subjectivity, its use is in fact much more complex. Indeed, the meaning can change diametrically according to context. This can be illustrated no better than with these two well-known examples of common* usage, where the collectivity implicit in the pronoun appears to be emphasised by the

Thatcher: A Nation Mourns

2013-04-17T20:54:00.004+01:00

There were extraordinary scenes today as, in an amazing spontaneous show of emotion that took the political classes by surprise, people across the UK came together as one in showing their grief at the loss of their beloved former leader, a far cry from the quiet, private affair of the funeral itself. Leeds Glasgow Meanwhile in London, the extra police wisely drafted in hold back the

Just wondering...

2013-04-17T08:45:00.001+01:00

...whether there's anything in this strange constellation of facts. When Thatcher became Prime Minister she presumed to quote St Francis. When a pope was elected who took the name of Francis, after the saint, because of his love of the poor, Thatcher was dead within a month. Some kind of exorcism, perhaps?

On this joyous day in history

2013-04-08T13:03:00.002+01:00

Just this. P.s. Yes, I am a big old hypocrite.

Great Lies of Academia no.94

2013-04-05T09:53:00.000+01:00

"I/We would like to thank X for his/her review of my/our book, Y. ..." And, while we're on the subject, ... Professor Grumpy's Wise Words, no.(?)2 Never, ever, ever reply to a review. No matter how dick-witted, unfair, misrepresentational, potentially libellous it was, no one ever, ever, ever, made themselves look better by replying to a review. Remember: books stay on shelves; reviews

Who's the Patron Saint of 'Epic Fails'?

2013-04-04T19:42:00.000+01:00

I got this through the letterbox a few days ago. I can be a bit pedantic, as you know. Nonetheless I don't expect the composer of the average parish church/community newsletter to know that Richard I never fought any battles at Antioch, or that he never went on the First Crusade (which finished 58 years before he was born). I don't expect them to know the dates of the Emperor Diocletian

Littlejohn latest

2013-03-25T17:24:00.002Z

This, from Guardian coverage here: The Daily Mail defended Littlejohn's column. A spokesman said on Friday: "It is regrettable that this tragic death should now be the subject of an orchestrated twitterstorm, fanned by individuals – including former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell – with agendas to pursue." I think I'm just going to let that stand. There's really nothing anyone could

History Never Happened

2013-03-25T08:59:00.002Z

[This is the next rough draft instalment of my work in progress, Why History Doesn't Matter, which (currently) follows on from the second part of 'The Siege' (here). Essentially the argument in this section (which is hardly novel or original, I admit) is that history - as opposed to The Past - doesn't exist until we shape 'the past' into 'history' in the present and that there are some key

Time to put an end to this.

2013-03-23T12:21:00.002Z

Many of you may know my views on journalists. But even by their own sub-slug standards, Richard Littlejohn is a slimy, evil wretch. Bleating by journalistsabout press freedom clearly involves their freedom to hound innocent people to their death for their lifestyle. Here is the latest of Littlejohn's exploits, for which - let's remember - he is paid a million a year. Please sign the petition

Arthur at the Oxford Literary Festival

2013-03-18T12:17:00.002Z

If you live within striking distance of Oxford and have a: nothing better to do this Wednesday (20th), and b: 11 quid to spare, you can hear me talking about Arthur (including some ideas not in the book) at the Oxford Literary Festival. Details here. (As with the book-jacket blurb - not the bit by Michael Wood [having a plug from him on my book was quite possibly the coolest thing ever to

The closest I'll ever get...

2013-03-15T07:33:00.001Z

... to rubbing shoulders with Mary Beard! (Also the first time I've ever seen any of my books feature on a display like this, at Foyles on Charing Cross Rd., London)

Worlds of Arthur reviews (updated)

2013-03-14T14:31:00.000Z

Some nice words from James Palmer (of the University of St Andrews) on the subject of my book can be found here. I think he's very satisfyingly got the point of what I was trying to do and why it matters. There are some nice reviews, too on Amazon and US Amazon (although, since they don't pay their taxes and do employ thugs, I feel I should urge you to look elsewhere for your copy - best of

Thought for the Day

2013-03-11T22:00:00.004Z

Today, comes from Martha Nussbaum's blurb for the back of the updated edition of Stanley Cavell, Must we mean what we say? '[N]ow, as then, new forms of reductionism, scientism, and sheer flight prove appealing for those for whom a complex human understanding is more than their hearts can bear.'

Act now before we're all gone...

2013-03-10T18:38:00.001Z

Here is the usually rather brilliant Stewart Lee on the subject of the decline of the intellectual. I'm uncomfortable with the untypically careless juxtaposition of 'cash-rich Asia' and 'giving idiots money' and I'm sure every half-wit in the land will leap upon it with glee (half-wits hate Stewart Lee with a vengeance). The decline in intelligent debate, or the role of intellectuals in public

Gove's School History Reforms "Debated" Again

2013-03-07T21:45:00.001Z

First as farce... OK - so the original title of this post was too flippant a way of drawing your attention my thoughts on the interchange you can find here and here between the historian to whom we at HotE like, for legal reasons, to refer as ‘Fire-His-Ass’ (hereafter FHA) and the historian to whom we at HotE like, for legal reasons, to refer as Regius Prof, or Sir Regius Prof as he now

When the going gets tough...

2013-03-06T12:13:00.002Z