IN THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT

I hope you're all imbibing the Halloween spirit.  What better than some Victorian operetta.  From the Buxton Gilbert and Sullivan festival, a spirited rendition of the ghosts' chorus from Ruddigore.  Splendid.  If only I could persuade Miss Lana del Rey to participate...







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HOPE YOUR HALLOWEEN IS GOING AS WELL AS MINE

Keep up the reading!

Son of Frankensteve

THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FROM WEDNESDAY'S SESSION

This is the PowerPoint we went through four weeks ago with additional notes following on from the feedback i gave you.

Steve






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WISHING YOU A HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Have a ghoulish and fiendish Halloween.  Hope your essays are coming along!

Frankensteve

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DR SUESS Vs SHAKESPEARE

Warning!  This video contains bad but grammatically correct language.







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EPIC RAP BATTLES FROM HISTORY SEASON 2 FINALE RASPUTIN -Vs STALIN

Excellent video from the ERB team.  Please be warned that this video contains bad language.






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HOW TRUE! IF WEBSITES WERE PETS

From College Humour - thanks Lyds for the link.

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THE FIRST WORLD WAR - RARE PHOTOGRAPH

A smiling Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife on the day of their assassination.  From the curiosities website.

Steve



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THE CONTINUING POLITICS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR

An interesting article from the Guardian relating to the Australian Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and issues relating to the phrase "Known unto God"being used in a secular society.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/29/paul-keating-unknown-soldier


Steve

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WE'RE ALSO ON GOOGLE+

Don't forget that we are also on Google+.  I know that some of you have already joined the Access to History Circle on Google+; if you haven't yet  done so, it's very easy to do and takes around two minutes.  You can click the Google+ badges on the blog site to take you there.  

By joining Google+ you will receive notifications of new posts a lot faster and you will be able to contact me and converse in real time with other members in the Circle regarding work, assignments, links etc.

Steve







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PAXMAN USES A QUOTATION FROM MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL

I know that I often bang on about T.S. Eliot's play "Murder in the Cathedral" but I did feel vindicated when reading Jeremy Paxman's book "Great Britain's Great War" to come across this wonderful line from it,

"Human kind cannot bear very much reality".

Think of the all the times we spend on diversions such as TV, the Internet, video-games, the bar, the match etc.  TV news you may reply gives us more than enough reality but TV news only gives representations of reality, heavily edited and mediated.  All reality, it could be argued, is diluted or second-hand in this sense.  Anyway, I'll leave such a debate for the "reality" of the tap-room or snug at the The Sun Inn.

By the way, the book is a great read and re-dresses the myths and misconceptions of the "Blackadder" view of the First World War.  It was a secondary school teacher setting the following question, based on Wilfred Owen's "Dulce Et Decorum Est" which prompted him to write the book.  The question she set was, "How does Wilfred Owen show the futility of war?" Yes "war" in general, not just the First World War.  If all wars are futile, including therefore, the Second World War, then perhaps this blog would now be written in German and not by me. 

As for the First World War, this is the same Wilfred Owen who could have been invalided out of the war but chose to return to active service in France.  Indeed, in his final letter to his mother he describes  himself as "serene" and having "a great life".  Therefore the Urtext of his death and poetry has become that all war is futility.  

Websites such as http://www.rjgeib.com/heroes/owen/owen.html
perpetuate this myth with the nonsense of describing him as a "pacifist"!  Owen was far from a pacifist, neither was Sassoon, who won the Military Cross in 1916 and wrote of voluntarily going out into no-mans-land  and attacking German patrols with bombs (grenades) and cudgels.  To see these men through the prism of twenty-first century sensibilities is to denigrate their reputations.

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ESSAY WRITING TIPS

ASSIGNMENT ONE: THE FIRST WORLD WAR - REMEMBERING MONS

Very interesting article from The Guardian at:


http://gu.com/p/3jq2d

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PROJECT WEEK

This week is project week.  I know many of you are thinking of a history project. Tomorrow`s session time will be focussed on projects and suitable subjects for them.

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A QUESTION FOR YOU...

A daguerreotype of my King Canute party piece, which usually requires a generous measure of Pimm's, a stony shoreline and an incoming tide. Was Knutsford really a corruption of Canute's Ford I generally ask myself in such situations. I am also reminded of the Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Ceasar Augustus (Caligula) who in an apocryphal story, marched his legions up and down a beach for weeks in order to wage war on Neptune and took back with him shells and pebbles as booty from his victorious campaign. I digress...

A question: if life is a struggle, what are your weapons of choice in order to survive?

Good hunting!


Steve

HISTORY AND NARRATIVE

Another interesting article from The Guardian


Who will win the first world war this time round? | Jackie Ashley

http://gu.com/p/3tkxj

THE FIRST WORLD WAR: NARRATIVE AND HISTORY

A century on from the first world war, the old narratives feel long gone | Ian Jack

http://gu.com/p/3tmx3

THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE NARRATIVE OF HISTORY

A century on from the first world war, the old narratives feel long gone | Ian Jack

http://gu.com/p/3tmx3

ANGLO-SAXON STOKENHAM

A fascinating place. A link to the area.

http://www.stokenham.org

MEMORIAL TO ROBERT FALCON SCOTT - EXETER CATHEDRAL

A QUESTION FOR YOU...

This Friday night, many people will be having a beano of a time planning rag week for their respective varsities.

A question for you..

Is it ever possible to remember something that didn't happen?

TESTING

Just testing some software. Steve.

DILETTANTE

Off to Stokenham armed with a Tilley which I've been informed is de rigueur (although I suspect for dilettantes as Phil Harding didn't seem to sport one) on wet and cold days.  BTW, I thought female diggers had to have posh names like Carenza - oh!

A PERFUMERY

In the age of the chain and the franchise, how refreshing to visit this gem of a store.

CRITICAL READING FOR LYDS

In return for the light reading re Anglo-Saxon lexis; two social and local history books and some contemporary philosophy for good measure.  Hope you prep well because I'll be asking questions later!

ENJOYING THE BOOK

Took Terry Pratchett's Guards!  Guards!  away with me. Reading and enjoying very much. Thanks again Lynsey.

Steve

INTERESTING ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN

Influence of the first world war on fashion: archive, October 1914 http://gu.com/p/3jmn2

ABOVE AND BEYOND!

Lyds I should call this above and beyond!  Light reading!  Like the first word in Beowulf - Hwat!  

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THE FIRST WORLD WAR: MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER

This is my grandfather, George Frederick Evans who joined the East Lancashire Regiment in 1915.  He was gassed in 1917 but survived with one lung.  The gas attack contributed to his death in the 1950s and is stated in his Death certificate.  A delayed fatality of the War to End All Wars.  

If he hadn't survived, my father would never have been born and this blog would not exist!  Isn't history fascinating?  

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THIS WAS AMAZING

Blood and Chocolate – review http://gu.com/p/3jbcy

REPRESENTING THE FIRST WORLD WAR

BBC to mark first world war centenary with biggest TV season to date http://gu.com/p/3jtag

SHE LOOKS FAMILIAR!

Steampunk heaven is Lincoln September 2012 and 2013.  I spy some familiar faces!

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ESSAYS AND DISPLAYS

I hope your essays and displays are coming along.  I'm away for several days but you can still email or use Google+ if you need any guidance.

Steve

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RESEARCH

This book on the Sherwood Foresters for example.

BUXTON LIBRARY

I'm currently researching Buxton in during the Edwardian and First World War period.  All is going well  Not using the Internet but local history books. 

A QUESTION FOR YOU...

You're most likely wrapping up warm for your walk to Evensong.  However, here's a question for you to consider all the way to the Lychgate. 

Do we ever stop thinking?

I do hope it's a choral evensong for you.

Steve

FOSSIL SKULL ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN

Looks like the issue of human evolution may have to be re-examined.  The video is courtesy of The Guardian.  Thanks Lyds for drawing it to my attention.




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ALWAYS BUSY!

I'm listening to Great Britain's Great War: A Sympathetic History of Our Gravest Folly (Unabridged) on #Audible for #Android. Get the app free: https://www.audible.co.uk/wireless @audibleuk

TESTING

Just testing a link ladies and gentlemen.  Normal service will be resumed shortly.




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A QUESTION FOR YOU...

While you're pouring yourselves a rather generous measure of Bombay Sapphire and like me, tuning your wireless to the BBC Home Service for a wonderful evening of Educating Archie, ITMA and Mantovani and his Orchestra, a question for you to ponder...

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

Must dash, Round the Horn is about to start...  pip pip!






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FOR LYNSEY

Thanks Lynsey for the loan of the Terry Pratchett books and for all the help with history links etc.  Below are a couple of photographs of streets in a town in Somerset named after the Discworld books.  I've placed a link to the Guardian for more information.  Thanks again Lynsey.

Steve

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/apr/05/terry-pratchett-discworld-somerset

streets 

A QUESTION FOR YOU...

Just before you take to the phone for a busy day conversing with your cutter, maiden aunt, perfumier or bookie, a quick question...

What’s the difference between telling a lie and keeping a secret?

By the way, this really is my home phone. I know some of you doubted that I lived in a hall, (much to your caddish shame) but the phone is the genuine article.

Steve

ACCESS CLASS - DISPLAY GUIDELINES

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French Cavalry Capture A Dutch Fleet

In January 1795, the French Revolutionary Army was advancing into the United Provinces (now the Netherlands) when the cold weather led to one of thestrangest battles of the era. Johan Willem de Winter was sent with a group of French Hussars to capture the strongpoint of den Helder and to keep any Dutch ships from escaping to friendly Britain. When the general arrived, he found that a Dutch fleet, which had been anchored at den Helder, had become stuck in thick ice. Silently approaching the fleet by marching onto the ice, the Hussars were able to surround the ships and force the Dutch sailors to surrender. This is the only time in recorded history that a fleet has been captured by a cavalry charge.

From 10 Of the Absolutely Strangest Moments in the History of War

http://listverse.com/2013/10/15/10-of-the-absolutely-strangest-moments-in-the-history-of-war/

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HISTORY AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF EVENTS

Chou En Lai was reportedly once asked what he thought was the historic impact of the French Revolution. After considering the question for a moment he replied:

It's too soon to tell.

This story shows up in a few different versions. Sometimes it's reported as being told to Kissinger himself, sometimes, as in the version quoted below, to Nixon, and sometimes a full twenty years earlier to someone else. It's a good guess that Chou En Lai actually said this, though precisely when, or to whom, isn't clear. This particular example is taken from one of the various web reports of the event - as usual, used by someone for his or her own reasons:

Legend has it that, while preparing Richard Nixon for his historic visit to China in 1972, Henry Kissinger mentioned that Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-Lai was an avid student of French history. During his trip, Nixon met with Chou En-Lai in the walled garden of the Forbidden City. As they walked slowly around the lily ponds, Nixon remembered Kissinger's comment. To break the ice, he asked Chou what he thought had been the impact of the French revolution on western civilization. Chou En-Lai considered the question for a few moments. Finally, he turned to Nixon and replied, "The impact of the French revolution on western civilization -- too early to tell."

And of course in that respect the jury is still out on many historic events.

Acknowledgement http://muse.tau.ac.il



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NEW POLL

I've just started a new poll.  Please vote.

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WE WANT OUR OLD KAISER BACK!

A great song with a great fan video to accompany it.  It says it all really about how dissatisfied the German people were with Kaiser Wilhelm II during and shortly after the First World War, that they looked back fondly to the "old Kaiser" Wilhelm I in the song "We want our old Kaiser back".

 This is a German military song and is playful as it leads the audience to believe they nostalgically wish for the return of Wilhelm II but then they qualify this by saying the "one with the long beard".  Incidentally, the singer with the distinctive bass-baritone voice is the legendary Heino who sells more records in Germany than Elvis or the Beatles!  I hope you enjoy!

Steve



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ESSAY WRITING TIPS

YOUR ESSAY - A REFERENCING GUIDE

Referencing guide:




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LESSON 9 MONDAY - YOUR ESSAYS

Follow these links to some websites relating to the First World War to help you with your research/essay.

First World War.com  - multimedia history 

http://www.firstworldwar.com/

WWI.com  - provides links to several other WWI sites

http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Links_to_Other_WWI_

Edtechteacher - provides more links

http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/modern-history/ww1

http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/american-history/1900/wwi



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SAW THESE IN THE CORNERHOUSE STORE

Was greatly amused by these cards on Friday. These are from the Ladybird collection and one is from the Bluntcard collection.  They are designed by Simon Spicer and his website is at: 

http://www.simonspicer.com/cards/ladybird

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MONDAY'S LESSON

Please bring in your work on a memory stick or have a fail-safe method of loading onto word, as we are using the computers.

Thanks,


Steve

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