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When Robert the Bruce Fought for the English

When Robert the Bruce Fought for the English

The First War of Scottish Independence and the struggle to reject English overlordship masked an equally fierce and overlapping war waged between different factions of the Scottish nobility.
James Turner

Robert Bruce is an icon of Scottish nationalism, the man who led the kingdom to victory in the first War of Independence. A detail well known to scholars, which seldom penetrates far into public discourse, is that Robert began the war fighting for the English king....

Monarchs Anonymous at The Other Palace Theatre

Monarchs Anonymous at The Other Palace Theatre

A review of the historical comedy show which forces famous historical figures into a group therapy session.

Monarchs Anonymous is a fun, frenetic show that should appeal to a variety of ages.   The premise is a therapy session involving multiple monarchs. The figures taking part are Marie Antionette, Mansa Musa, Charles II, Henry VIII and Princess Sophia Duleep Singh....

Building Britannia: A History of Britain in 25 Buildings, by Steven Parissien

Building Britannia: A History of Britain in 25 Buildings, by Steven Parissien

British history is traced through 25 iconic buildings – from Maiden Castle to 30 St Mary Axe – in this blend of architectural perusal and cultural insight.

Dr. Steven Parissien’s latest retelling of history through architecture, Building Britannia: A History of Britain in Twenty-Five Buildings, begins with Maiden Castle in Dorset, which dates from around 600 BC. In the words of John Cooper Powys, this resembles ‘the...

Building Britannia: A Conversation with Steven Parissien

Building Britannia: A Conversation with Steven Parissien

The historian explains his use of architecture and landmarks in telling the story of Britain’s social and political history to author Paul Strathern.
Steven Parissien

Welcome, Steven, to Aspects of History. What was it that first led you into the study of architecture and cultural history? Which came first? I was always fascinated by British history and British architecture from my earliest years, though I’m not sure why: no-one in...