Back from Chalke Valley now and somewhat in arrears with my posts. I owe you a First Draft audio roundup on the ‘greatest warrior’ question… that’s high on my list. But so too is rounding up some of the points that came out of a fascinating discussion I had yesterday with Dr Rory Cox, a senior lecturer at the University of St Andrews, about the Wars of the Roses.
Here’s a photo of us in action - many apologies for looking more like I’m about to play tennis or transact a minor drug deal than like a serious historian. Like Popeye said, I yam what I yam.
God said that to Moses, too, but in a different language and to make a different point. Anyway, I digress. What I mean to say is bear with me, I’m trying to get this stuff done and when I do I will hit send and you’ll have it.
What else, what else? Oh, well, if you move fast you might be able to snaffle one of the last copies of the super limited Broken Binding edition of my forthcoming novel Essex Dogs. It has stencilled edges, a foiled cover, each edition will be signed and numbered, and there are only 1,346 of them being printed. Rare cut! Paid subscribers, you already have a link and code that should get you fixed up at a discount price of £20.
Free subscribers, hit this button to order one at £23. Hopefully there are still a few in stock. But move fast. This is a one-off…
Any further business? Yes. On Friday I went on a very interesting tour up the spire of Salisbury cathedral. Right in the medieval timbers, we were, and that shit was righteous. Here’s a flavour of it.
I highly recommend the tour if you’re ever down that way. Meanwhile, if you like cathedrals and churches on Substack, check out Emma Wells, who has recently launched one on that very subject.
Onwards!
Dan x
Wow what a view! Also glad to see a historian dress the way I usually do. Makes me feel less imposter syndrome when I’m reading history books with my cap on and tats out.
I went on the tour of Salisbury Cathedral. We didn't go up the crooked spire. But, I did see their copy of Magna Carta. I was expecting it to be bigger. But, it looks like the girl in school with the smallest handwriting wrote it, after learning Latin of course. I took a photo of the Haunch of Venison. I didn't have time to go in. I heard it had an interesting medieval history, but the possible WWII connection was slightly more relevant to me. This was the same day I saw Stonehenge. It was a packed day.