After many years as the ‘Cinderella’ subject, history has been making a comeback. Authors of historical fiction are beating all comers in the big prize stakes, our TV schedules are full of (less than accurate) dramatizations such as The Tudors and Reign, and accessible documentary-style histories abound – who wouldn’t immediately recognize Neil Oliver’s flowing locks? Interest in history is alive and well and perhaps never more so than in this year and in this month when we remember the start of The Great War.
There are now at least six festivals devoted to history in the UK, and they bear little relation to the dull history lessons I remember from my school days. From History Live at Kelmarsh Hall – an all-round ‘experience’ including the sights, sounds and smells in the living history encampments and re-enactments; to Harrogate’s History Festival, focusing on writing and writers. North of the border November is History Month, with Previously – Scotland’s History Festival delivering 140 events over 18 days (13th – 30th November) in six towns – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Dunfermline, Moffat and St Andrews, and I’m proud to be part of this year’s programme.
The introduction to the programme says: ‘History can shake the entire world – or just yours. It’s the story of nations, the clash of armies…and the scar on your knee where your brother pushed you on the rocks when you were seven. History hasn’t finished, and neither have we.’
That comprehensive view of history is reflected in the variety of events on offer, from workshops and walks, to tours and talks, from exhibitions and discussions, to music, art and theatre. It’s impossible to cover them all, but to whet your appetite…
Walking tours include Edinburgh’s atmospheric, underground Vaults (13th-30th); the Secrets of the Royal Mile exploring the closes, wynds and courtyards of Old Edinburgh (various dates); and the Dean Cemetery – discovering the host of fascinating characters interred there (30th).
Historical novelists Andrew Williams, William Ryan and Edward Wilson discuss the shadow world of spies and secret policemen from WW1 to Vietnam (17th); Shona Maclean, Marie Macpherson and Louise Turner talk about riot, murder and reformation (23rd); and Register House unveils the story of the Kaiser’s Spy and the landlady who help the authorities to snare him (various).
Hear medieval music in What is a Hurdy-Gurdy anyway? (15th); and the Edinburgh Renaissance Band performing in the atmospheric Rosslyn Chapel (14th).
Enjoy Politics in Rhyme – likely to be much more entertaining than the real thing; or visit the Great Hall of Stirling Castle for the Flyting– a verbal war between two of James IV’s makars, described as ‘a brilliant, beautiful and bawdy battle of verse and verb, originally written to please a king’ (14th).
Four days of events celebrate the life, work and travels of Robert Louis Stevenson, including an All-day Reading – drop in or stay the course (13th).
Discover Women: in war – an exhibition on Weapons and Wounding (until 29th); in education – Watt Wonderful Women – a talk on Heriot Watt University’s trailblazers (18th); in trade – Head Office: Women in 17th Century Fife Trade (26th); and in drama – Miss Julie, Strindberg’s classic play (18th- 22nd).
As you might expect in this centenary year, war is well represented, but for a different angle why not sample Leaving it all– Scottish soldiers’ wills and appeals against military service in WW1 (12th).
Food and drink aren’t forgotten: from The History of Gin and Distilling (various) to Fireside Feast a three course banquet served in Riddle’s Court, in Edinburgh’s Old Town, similar to one that was served in 1598 (22nd). I wish, as that’s the year I’m writing in just now!
There are a host of events focusing on family history – Getting Started with Family History Research (15th) and the more unusual Hospital Records for Family Historians (18th).
If your taste is for the creepy try the Dark Truth Tour (various), or Ghosts and Ghouls (13th – 30th) – you never know who you might meet!
In Glasgow the focus is on the Irish connection – including Glasgow Irish and The Great War (15th); in Dunfermline, on Andrew Carnegie (25th) and in St Andrews, a weekend (27th-30th) of events surrounding St Andrews Day.
For children there is The Reluctant Time Traveller with Janis McKay (21st) and a schools programme.
Finally, for writers: Writing Your Story, Writing History with David Simons and Chris Dolan – writing from historic events or personal histories (13th); and History in Historical Fiction – Icing the Cake or Main Ingredient: a talk / workshop with Margaret Skea (21st in Edinburgh and 29th in St Andrews).
Some events have a charge, others are free, but all can be accessed online via
http://www.historyfest.co.uk/2014-events/november-29
Oh, and if you’d like to be part of history, artist Chris Rutterford will be incorporating faces of visitors and locals into a 64 foot mural depicting historic scenes from the Grassmarket. (various)