Author: HistoricalHoney

I was intrigued by the title of this book, wondering if there was anything new to be said about the Ark.  By the end, I had discovered a great deal about the development of the myth and the transition from Mesopotamian legend to biblical account. More than that, I had discovered what the Ark actually…

When Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt in 1798, he was accompanied by 167 scholars, his Commission on the Sciences and Arts. Their work revealed a dazzling world of ancient temples and tombs to European eyes. The expedition’s results, published in the 23-volume Description de l’Égypte, made Ancient Egypt fashionable. The rage for collecting Egyptian antiquities, and…

On a warm August day we descended into the depths of the Thames Tunnel at the Brunel Museum for an evening in ‘Iceland’; the setting of Hannah Kent’s début novel, Burial Rites.  Source: All photos © ive.readthat.com Rather than give the audience a synopsis of the novel, Hannah answered the question we all wanted to know; how exactly does a…

Nine  hours  travelling,  squalid  sleeping  arrangements,  too  much  to  drink  and  money  lost  during  late  night  card  games. Not  a  scene  from  a  20th Century  teenage  gap  year,  but  a  young  person’s  17th Century  Grand  Tour,  in  which  they  would  experience  the  renaissance  period  first  hand. Some of the sights one might have seen on their Grand…

Take a walk around the Manchester of 2013 and behold a 21st Century city; skyscrapers and sleek, glass shop fronts galore. But look beyond the modern facade and you will find evidence of the origins of Manchester’s rich architectural history…the gems of Britain’s first industrial city. The skyline of Manchester, at the height of the…

This article is about…doing archaeology for free. It is a subject that a lot of people are reluctant to approach in archaeology, however, I am sticking my oar in. And I genuinely think that this is a topic that ought to be approached more often and more openly. #FreeArchaeology In my blog post (click here),…

A couple of weeks ago, Historical Honey were lucky enough to attend the press review of the #FashionRules Exhibition at Kensington Palace. I couldn’t wait to hear what they thought, as several years ago, I was given the chance to work with some of the Royal Dress Collection during my time as a volunteer there….

If you’d asked me before I’d picked up this book just what Bonnie and Clyde’s story was, I would have said ‘Weren’t they just two outlaws looking for trouble?’ Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. Granted they were both trouble makers, and yes they didn’t stay on the right side of the law,…

Certain movies can be like an old friend; they bring you comfort, give you great advice and you can even finish their sentences. It’s fair to say there are a handful of historical movies which are just classic, and universally loved by all. Well, that was what I thought until I checked out their one…

What appealed to me about the Secret Book Club was receiving a book which would propel me into a new world of books and reading. We all have staid reading habits when it comes to books and I wanted something to get me out of that groove. I have enjoyed the same books since childhood;…