Here at the University of Northampton our first years have the option to take HIS1028 'United States: War and Society, 1610-2020'. I am a specialist on the eighteenth century, so I teach the segment that covers the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence. I always start with a class on how to... Continue Reading →
A historian from the University of Northampton is appearing in a TV documentary series. Matthew McCormack will feature in two episodes of The Royals: A History of Scandals on More4, starting a 9pm on Monday 30 January 2023. The series is presented by the historian Suzannah Lipscomb and focuses on scandalous episodes from the history... Continue Reading →
On 15 November 2022, the Historians at the University of Northampton are holding a special event at Northampton Museum, called 'The History of Northampton in Emotional Objects'. This event is part of the national Being Human Festival, which is an opportunity for members of the public to get involved in the exciting work being done... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year, the Northampton Branch of the Historical Association relaunched with support from the University of Northampton. This academic year we are offering a programme of talks, which will take place online, on campus or in local schools. 20 October, 7pm online: Prof Matthew McCormack (UON) ‘Black histories of the American Revolution’ This talk... Continue Reading →
John Clare was born on 13 July 1793 in Helpson, which was then part of Northamptonshire. He came from a labouring background but - unusually for a man of his class - would become a famous poet. If anything, he is more famous today than he was at the time. Clare's work enjoyed a revival... Continue Reading →
We are delighted to share the news that the Northampton Branch of the Historical Association has relaunched, with support from History at the University of Northampton. Its programme of events is now on the HA website. We are starting with two online lectures this summer: 9 June at 7pm: Dr Daniel Jones (UON), 'The real... Continue Reading →
* No plot spoilers! * I have just finished watching the second season of Bridgerton, which dropped on Netflix last month. I am a fan, which is perhaps unsurprising as I'm a historian of the period: my interests in masculinity and material culture are well catered-for by a show that is all about the marriage... Continue Reading →
Last week I went to see a performance of the ballet Cinderella. I mostly went along as I love the music, by Sergei Prokofiev, who is one of the very greatest ballet composers. His music has both spikiness and soaring romanticism, which lend themselves very well to the dance. Unexpectedly, it got me thinking about... Continue Reading →
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently under fire for allegedly attending multiple parties at Number 10 Downing Street during the height of lockdown restrictions, in breach of his own government's rules. He has mostly been evasive about this, in an attempt to ride out the wave of public outrage, and also because he doesn't... Continue Reading →
Regular readers of the blog will know that I am currently travelling around the country visiting museums as part of my project 'Shoes and the Georgian Man', funded by the Society for Antiquaries. I am studying surviving examples of shoes from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in order to explore the social significance of footwear... Continue Reading →
HISTORY AT NORTHAMPTON 