Okay, here’s my question for this month: how do you deal with burnout on a particular subject? Particularly when that subject is in the forefront of the public consciousness or conversation.
For example, I’ve seen Hunting the Falcon about Anne Boleyn in bookstores a lot since it was released and can’t bring myself to buy or read it because I feel like I’ve already learned SO much about her and her fate. I feel like I want whatever information/argument/opinion/etc that’s new, but I don’t want to read 400 other pages of things I already know. Am I making sense? Idk.
The Plantagenets sure wrote a lot of letters. How did the mail get delivered, especially when the delivery target was away on progress or campaign? How is it that so many letters survived, even when the person did not?
Alrighty, so I just read an article about the latest cultural revival in Athens. It stated that the first golden age of tourism started around 435 BC. Since I'm currently reading your Templars book and all the pilgrimages to the holy land, that got me thinking about historical tourism. So if I'm a moderately wealthy medieval Countess living in a nice little manor, where would be some popular hotspots for the time? Would Stonehenge be a thing? Or would I head over to the continent?
In my class this semester I noticed the earliest written story about Robin Hood (Piers Plowman) was written around the time of the Peasant's Revolt and the other peasant uprisings in Europe in response to the nobility wanted to keep peasants tied to the land and restrict mobility. My prof is an Early Medievalist and could not answer my question but I still would like an answer, lol... so... could the popularity of a story such as Piers Plowman and the Peasants Revolt be connected in some way?
It just seems logical that a character such as Robin Hood would have shot up in popularity around a time where the peasants were struggling against the oppressive laws that were meant to favour the nobility.
Finished with an 'A' btw, I feel that is something worth bragging about.
I will probably be in the Low Vision/Blind Rehab in Long Beach CA (they Air Force believed in some very dangerous medical techniques when I was in the military back in the mid 50's and cobalt radiation was all the rage to cure many ailments Years later they realized it caused permanent damage to the thyroid and so I am stuck with the damage and they are helping me to stay independent and provide me with many wonderful helpful devices so that I am still a happy camper and when things wear out I go in again to update or find new methods of dealing with the Low Vision I am stuck with forever) will not be able to get to the May 16 Utah fundraiser as a result) r but the new equipment will enhance my personal day to day living. My question is what happened to people in Medieval Times who were damaged by new innovations that failed ,or Were there compensations to those damaged or were they just abandoned to their own resources: We have compensatory insurance for such things but did the families or Guilds take care of damaged people in the past or is that a recent practice?
It’s not a serious question, Dan, but when you were slaving away over Henry V, did you ever wonder, if, had he survived his illness and Henry VI succeeded when he was an adult, would Henry VI still have had mental issues ? Just asking…..
My question this months relates to the second Welsh War of Edward I and the death of the Prince of Wales Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. There have been many theories, but given the letters sent to Edward by John Peckham following Llywelyn's death, was this act mischief and malevolence by Marcher Lords and part of a wider plot that could have threatened Edward himself, or just the machinations of Edward to get rid of Llywelyn without directly involving himself? Or were the Marchers simply trying to demonstrate their loyalty to Edward? Hope you can share some insight!
Many thanks,
John
p.s. Can't wait for Henry V and hopefully a book tour including Shrewsbury!
Hi Dan! Speaking of tattoos, I was wondering if it was a thing in medieval times and, if so, what where the main themes depicted? I'm guessing you must have a medieval inspired tattoo. Where do you get your ideas? Any resources that you can suggest (yes, I'm thinking in making a medieval themed tattoo...just haven't found a good idea yet!). Thanks
Interesting Q&A with the authors of Arise England. Wondered how the plague -which changed the structure and culture of society just as COVID has been impactful in our time- contributed to the development of the English state? Was the citizenry more or less empowered politically as their value changed in the wake of population losses? I’m probably not expressing this well but I hope my thoughts are clear.
I’ve just finished a book that explores the story of an event in the history of the American west which was studied as fact and printed in text books for years, yet it was completely false from the start. I’m guessing there are similar situations in all history, so I’m wondering if you’ve come across any examples of events that are (or were) treated as fact but have been since debunked?
I imagine you’ve done your fair share of travelling to see historical sites and also just travelling in general. What’s your favourite historical place you’ve visited? And also what’s your favourite place you’ve visited in general i.e. it does not have to be linked to history?
Okay, here’s my question for this month: how do you deal with burnout on a particular subject? Particularly when that subject is in the forefront of the public consciousness or conversation.
For example, I’ve seen Hunting the Falcon about Anne Boleyn in bookstores a lot since it was released and can’t bring myself to buy or read it because I feel like I’ve already learned SO much about her and her fate. I feel like I want whatever information/argument/opinion/etc that’s new, but I don’t want to read 400 other pages of things I already know. Am I making sense? Idk.
Hi Dan,
In all the research you did, did you also came across any tattoos they did in those (crusaders) days?
Because there is a tattoo that people are getting when they are in Jerusalem.
And when will there be a Dutch translation of your upcoming book 📕 on Henry V?
The Plantagenets sure wrote a lot of letters. How did the mail get delivered, especially when the delivery target was away on progress or campaign? How is it that so many letters survived, even when the person did not?
Alrighty, so I just read an article about the latest cultural revival in Athens. It stated that the first golden age of tourism started around 435 BC. Since I'm currently reading your Templars book and all the pilgrimages to the holy land, that got me thinking about historical tourism. So if I'm a moderately wealthy medieval Countess living in a nice little manor, where would be some popular hotspots for the time? Would Stonehenge be a thing? Or would I head over to the continent?
How did Elizabeth Woodville handle her 2 sons, just disappearing? Is this something that just wasn't recorded because she was a woman?
In my class this semester I noticed the earliest written story about Robin Hood (Piers Plowman) was written around the time of the Peasant's Revolt and the other peasant uprisings in Europe in response to the nobility wanted to keep peasants tied to the land and restrict mobility. My prof is an Early Medievalist and could not answer my question but I still would like an answer, lol... so... could the popularity of a story such as Piers Plowman and the Peasants Revolt be connected in some way?
It just seems logical that a character such as Robin Hood would have shot up in popularity around a time where the peasants were struggling against the oppressive laws that were meant to favour the nobility.
Finished with an 'A' btw, I feel that is something worth bragging about.
First, Zombies and Medieval Europe? I'm in. The truck is a nice bonus........
Second, will you be doing Henry V signings in Waterstones in London?
Thirdly, have you read or do you intend to read Unruly by David Mitchell? The reviews are largely positive so I think I'll get it.
That Posty/Bay collab sounds like Transformers x Walking Dead in medieval Europe...I'm intrigued, tell me more...
Were there any other knights as well known as William Marshal?
If you were to get a tattoo that gave a subtle nod to the Marshal, what would you get done?
I will probably be in the Low Vision/Blind Rehab in Long Beach CA (they Air Force believed in some very dangerous medical techniques when I was in the military back in the mid 50's and cobalt radiation was all the rage to cure many ailments Years later they realized it caused permanent damage to the thyroid and so I am stuck with the damage and they are helping me to stay independent and provide me with many wonderful helpful devices so that I am still a happy camper and when things wear out I go in again to update or find new methods of dealing with the Low Vision I am stuck with forever) will not be able to get to the May 16 Utah fundraiser as a result) r but the new equipment will enhance my personal day to day living. My question is what happened to people in Medieval Times who were damaged by new innovations that failed ,or Were there compensations to those damaged or were they just abandoned to their own resources: We have compensatory insurance for such things but did the families or Guilds take care of damaged people in the past or is that a recent practice?
Dan,
You've got a lot of serious, thoughtful questions, so I'm going to throw in a silly one:
Snog, Marry, Kill
Henry II, Edward III, Henry V?
It’s not a serious question, Dan, but when you were slaving away over Henry V, did you ever wonder, if, had he survived his illness and Henry VI succeeded when he was an adult, would Henry VI still have had mental issues ? Just asking…..
Hi Dan,
My question this months relates to the second Welsh War of Edward I and the death of the Prince of Wales Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. There have been many theories, but given the letters sent to Edward by John Peckham following Llywelyn's death, was this act mischief and malevolence by Marcher Lords and part of a wider plot that could have threatened Edward himself, or just the machinations of Edward to get rid of Llywelyn without directly involving himself? Or were the Marchers simply trying to demonstrate their loyalty to Edward? Hope you can share some insight!
Many thanks,
John
p.s. Can't wait for Henry V and hopefully a book tour including Shrewsbury!
Hi Dan! Speaking of tattoos, I was wondering if it was a thing in medieval times and, if so, what where the main themes depicted? I'm guessing you must have a medieval inspired tattoo. Where do you get your ideas? Any resources that you can suggest (yes, I'm thinking in making a medieval themed tattoo...just haven't found a good idea yet!). Thanks
Interesting Q&A with the authors of Arise England. Wondered how the plague -which changed the structure and culture of society just as COVID has been impactful in our time- contributed to the development of the English state? Was the citizenry more or less empowered politically as their value changed in the wake of population losses? I’m probably not expressing this well but I hope my thoughts are clear.
I’ve just finished a book that explores the story of an event in the history of the American west which was studied as fact and printed in text books for years, yet it was completely false from the start. I’m guessing there are similar situations in all history, so I’m wondering if you’ve come across any examples of events that are (or were) treated as fact but have been since debunked?
Hi Dan
I imagine you’ve done your fair share of travelling to see historical sites and also just travelling in general. What’s your favourite historical place you’ve visited? And also what’s your favourite place you’ve visited in general i.e. it does not have to be linked to history?