Histories in the making
A quick trip down memory lane
Both of us have had a lot going on in life recently, so this week we’re taking a quick breath. Also, many of you will have joined recently and not seen some of our earlier pieces, so here’s the first in an occasional series of reminders of past pieces.
The history of…
Paul began this series two years ago. Here are the first five that you might have missed…
A history of… shampoo – from saponification to antimacassars!
A history of… drinking straws – 6,000 years of, well, sucking
A history of… the gin and tonic (plus Part 2) – jenever, malaria and more
A history of… crisps (potato chips) – at last! Something with a precise origin story. Or not.
A history of… ancient elections – the origins of democracy (of a kind)
In their own words…
Andrew’s pieces began in 2020, closely based around first-hand sources. Here are some of the very earliest…
A Night in an Opium Den, 1891 – an original Victorian account. Who was its writer?
The dread of the Thames Police, 1841 – an early account of mudlarking
Nights out in New York, 1744 – an engaging travel diarist visits this small town!
Frolics on the frozen river, 1684 – back to the Thames for some frosty fun
The British burn Washington, 1814 – a previous assault on the Capitol