Closing the loop Plenty more dog content, too.
On the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, five medieval attempts to murder a reigning monarch It’s Election Day in the US, and it’s Bonfire Night in the UK. One is a day for choosing a new leader. The other is a night to remember the occasion in 1605 when a group of plotters led by Guy Fawkes tried to blow an anointed ruler and his lords to kingdom come.
My favourite things from the British Library’s outstanding new medieval women exhibition The most important medieval exhibition of the year opened in London a couple of weeks ago at the British Library in London. It is called Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. I’ve been laid low - long story, I’ll tell you at some point - so it has taken me until today to go and see it.
Six archbishops who suffered the ultimate bad day at the ecclesiastical office Followers of English ecclesiastical affairs will know that the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is stepping down from his post in January, earlier than planned, after serious failings of Church governance on his watch.
On December 16th I'll be reading at a special Substack Christmas event. Strictly limited invitations will be available to paid subscribers tomorrow at 10am GMT Okay, here’s the news. (The news is good.)
Sign up for the festive get-together in London on December 16th using the link in this email On the evening of December 16th I will be reading at a special Substack festive get-together in central London.
…and other seldom-seen treasures from the UK National Archives Last night I had an amazing time at the UK National Archives in Kew. The event was a discussion of my book Henry V. But this was a talk with a twist.
How the rapidly evolving field of archaeogenetics is unlocking secrets of the past
Thousands of fantastical bronzes are beginning to reveal the secrets of a legendary Chinese dynasty
How gladiators in ancient Anatolia lived to entertain the masses
Post your questions for this month’s open video Q&A It’s another busy week on book tour, but I want to make some time to do our monthly Q&A.
