Book 50 - Desmond Steward "The Demon's Brood"

Desmond Steward "The Demon's Brood: The Plantagenet Dynasty That Forged the English Nation" (Constable)





This is a conservative, schoolbook-ish chronological history of the Plantagenet dynasty, from Henry II to Richard III. Seward has an intensely dry, academic sense of humour which sometimes comes through in his strong opinions about other historians, and he has a good eye for an anecdote. He's also clearly one of those people who thinks that suggesting a historical figure might have had a homosexual relationship is slander, and he's never heard of a bisexual (or, indeed, of the fact that pre-modern sexualities were very different than modern ones). A decent introduction, if you need one, to the basic events of the period but if you want a meatier introduction to the period there are better books around. 

Good Morning

When does 'alternative truth' become rewriting history?

“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”

George Orwell


This item is thought provoking.

And deeply disturbing.

From 'alternative facts' to rewriting history in Trump's White House

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44959300

It Is Not New At All - Fake News

We're hearing a great deal about this term these days and I think what disturbs me most is the current thought that this is something new.

No so.

From Pope Julius II to the War of the League of Cambrai, via that genius of propaganda, Martin Luther (it is perhaps no accident that the term, 'propaganda' is an invention of the Roman Catholic church) and on into the 17th century and the news journals of such journalistic geniuses as Marchamont Nedham during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, my own period of study, we have had 'fake news'.

The two world wars were full of it although I suppose that states facing an existential threat may at least have a modicum of an excuse.

What is perhaps new, is the way that 'fake news' is now disseminated largely via the web, but what is the web if not the 'new technology' of our own day as print was of the 16th and 17th centuries, telegraph of the 19th and radio and television of the 20th?

As a society divides into two opposing camps, perhaps what we are losing is the ability to spot fake news? There will be a tendency to see everything produced by the 'other side' as fake news whether it is or it isn't.

Historians are often guilty of assuming that people in the past swallowed stories about 'dog headed children' or the 'papal ass' whole. Surely we must give them enough agency to assume that many would have seen through such stories for what they were as many today will see through them for what they are?

Our own government is now getting into a terrible wax about 'fake news' and what I fear is that politicians may end up taking the view that China has had it right all along.

And that way, my friends, perdition genuinely does lie!

{Originally posted by cmcmck}

Going Out

Woke up to a massive downpour. The rain was bouncing off the ground. Now the sun is out and it is a beautiful morning. Forecast is good.

I shall be out today,going to Ashford, Rochester and Sittingbourne.

In Rochester

Just have Sittingbourne to do next.weather has been glorious , a sunny 35 degrees C with a slight breeze and almost a cloudless sky after the #torrential downpour in the morning. Now then Market Force. The money from them better come tomorrow - i am awaiting £98 from this company that went out on the 25th!


So, at the charity shop visit i bought a mug (Central Perk mug) - yes Friends mugs  -  and a Folio edition on Greek myths. The two items were just £3 each which i get back fromt the research company on the 10th of next month.



 This is worth £10.99



Greek Myths review from  You Tube

Good Night