history

Guest Post: Understanding The Essex Rebellion from the Letters of Robert Devereux

April 20, 2021kyra

Today’s guest post is courtesy of author Tony Riches, whose books I can highly recommend as well-written, and more importantly well-researched, historical fiction. Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, is one of the most intriguing men of the Elizabethan period. Tall and handsome, he soon becomes a ‘favourite’ at court, so close to the queen… Read more Guest Post: Understanding The Essex Rebellion from the Letters of Robert Devereux

Guest Post by Sylvia Barbara Soberton on the Health of Henry VIII

October 23, 2020kyra

Many thanks to Sylvia Barbara Soberton for sending me such an interesting post! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did, and that you give her new book on the health of the Tudor monarchs a look Did Henry VIII suffer from venereal disease or a urinary tract infection? The theory, first… Read more Guest Post by Sylvia Barbara Soberton on the Health of Henry VIII

Incorrect Information in the History Extra Article by Alison Weir

October 12, 2020kyra

Alison Weir, who is a very famous popular historian, just had an article published in History Extra about Henry VIII’s reproductive problems. In it she wrote: “One theory is that Henry suffered from McLeod Syndrome [a neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in boys and men and affects movement in many parts of the body],… Read more Incorrect Information in the History Extra Article by Alison Weir

There is a LONG History of Immigration in Britain

August 11, 2020kyra

(Due to current refugee/immigration hysteria, this seemed like a good time to remind readers that 1) net migration to the UK has been steadily going down and 2) more than 380,000 British people emigrated FROM the UK last year and 3) that immigration is good for the economy and 4) roughly 28% of NHS doctors who… Read more There is a LONG History of Immigration in Britain

Ogmore Castle

August 4, 2020kyra

One of the best things about being a history buff living in Wales is the abundance of awesome castles throughout the countryside. Not far from where I live is the picturesque ruins of Ogmore Castle (Castell Ogwr ), built by the Norman invaders circa 1100 and finally abandoned altogether sometime in the mid 19th century.… Read more Ogmore Castle

Review of The Devil’s Historians: How Modern Extremists Abuse the Medieval Past

July 28, 2020kyra 2 Comments

I recently read The Devil’s Historians and I cannot praise this book highly enough. The only reason I give it two thumbs up is because I lack more thumbs. This book is a brilliant analysis of how people use history to craft extremist narratives, and it uses plain language, rather than academic jargon, to explain… Read more Review of The Devil’s Historians: How Modern Extremists Abuse the Medieval Past

Science Finds Stupid, Selfish People Resist Wearing Face Masks

July 27, 2020kyra 1 Comment

The science is in — it is hella important to wear a face mask over your mouth AND nose to curb the spread of coronavirus. The evidence was there all the way back in May. Taiwan has 24 million people but had only 6 deaths from coronavirus in part because the people started routinely wearing… Read more Science Finds Stupid, Selfish People Resist Wearing Face Masks

The Medieval Fear of Women Rulers

July 13, 2020kyra 3 Comments

Long before John Knox first blasted his trumpet about the ‘monstrous regiment of women’ rulers, the fear of a female head of state was considered just and natural in Medieval Europe. Several kingdoms had codified Salic Law from 500 AD onward to prevent a woman from inheriting a throne. In the 12th century, England had… Read more The Medieval Fear of Women Rulers

Biology is Not Gender

July 10, 2020kyra

Gender is a culturally negotiated process. A child is born sexed (or more rarely, intersexed), but only acculturation can ascribe gender. The child learns to behave in the manner associated with his/her biological sex, either masculine or feminine, in accordance with sociocultural praxis. Gender, like biological sex, has also historically been constructed by Western culture… Read more Biology is Not Gender

Behold, Our Son

June 29, 2020kyra 10 Comments

Our middle child was born a biological female on 1 May 2007. This summer, that child informed us that his biological sex was a physical misrepresentation of his true gender. That, in fact, he was a boy in his heart and his mind. Thus, we now have a son. His name is Scott, and we… Read more Behold, Our Son