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Recently I spoke with the Guardian journalist Tim Dowling for an excellent article he was writing (published last week) about whether beards are finally ‘over’, and I thought it would be interesting to reflect on some of this. Since re-emerging around 2014, gaining popularity through celebrity endorsement and a new market for cosmetic beard products … Continue reading Are Beards Over? A Historical Perspective.
over a year ago

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More from Dr Alun Withey

Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century

If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair.  Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in one. This is already turning up some interesting evidence, suggesting that, far … Continue reading Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century

5 days ago 10 votes
To Tip or Not To Tip: A Victorian Traveller’s Perspective

Like it or not, tipping is a big part of hospitality and the service industry. Debates about how much/whether to tip rumble on, but they are not new. Even in the 18th and 19th centuries, travellers were complaining about the amount of unwanted or unexpected extras they had to pay for.

7 months ago 85 votes
News Just In: Dr W Joins TikTok – @dralun7

Yes, it’s true – I’ve finally joined the 21st century and decided to try something new. I am still only setting things up, so please be patient with the extremely cheesy and clunky vids as I try to work out what I’m doing! I’ve only got a couple of videos up at the moment too, … Continue reading News Just In: Dr W Joins TikTok – @dralun7

8 months ago 98 votes
Victorian Swappers! Adverts for exchange in the 19th century.

Victorians were inveterate 'swappers' (NB: this might not be what you think!). Newspapers and journals were full of ads for objects sought and to be exchanged. These offer a fascinating insight into what was considered desirable, the value of objects, and the processes of exchange.

9 months ago 69 votes
Should I Stay or Should I go?: Encouraging travel in the early modern period.

Travel today is often portrayed as a healthy activity, good for body, mind…and what’s left of the spirit!  A good holiday is generally viewed as a tonic, and holiday company advertisements extol the virtues of ‘getting away’, encountering new places, people and cultures and (if you want to ‘live life to the full’) experiences. As one travel … Continue reading Should I Stay or Should I go?: Encouraging travel in the early modern period.

a year ago 88 votes

More in history

How the Métis Thrived on the Canadian Prairies

Canada was built by men and women of mixed ancestry, men and women who were métis, that is, of “mixed heritage.” However, not all métis (lowercase) can be considered Métis (spelled with the uppercase “M”). Today it is widely accepted that only individuals with Cree and French-Canadian origins and a direct family connection to […]

22 hours ago 3 votes
Final Days for Exclusive Member Access — Egypt Awaits

Last Call to Join Our Journey Through Ancient Egypt — Before It Opens to All

11 hours ago 2 votes
Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVa: Subsistence and a Little More

This is the start of the fourth part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb) discussing the structures of life for pre-modern peasants, who made up the majority of all humans who have ever lived. In the last few sections, we’ve looked broadly at how mortality, marriage and childbearing patterns shape the households these folks … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVa: Subsistence and a Little More →

2 days ago 6 votes
The Story of Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet Who Suffered for His People

Jeremiah is the “weeping prophet” who suffered much anguish because of his people’s sins. He saw first-hand how a good king who worked toward reforming his nation was followed by sons opposed to God’s warnings. He dedicated his life to ministering to the people of Judah and warning them about the impending doom of […]

2 days ago 4 votes
The Evolution of 178th St at Vyse Ave, South Bronx, NYC – 1980-2022

“I feel that a people’s past, including their accomplishments, aspirations and failures, are reflected less in the faces of those who live in these neighborhoods than in the material, built environment in which they move and modify over time. ” – Camilo José Vergara   Since 1980, Chilean-born photographer Camilo José Vergara has been marking … Continue reading "The Evolution of 178th St at Vyse Ave, South Bronx, NYC – 1980-2022" The post The Evolution of 178th St at Vyse Ave, South Bronx, NYC – 1980-2022 appeared first on Flashbak.

2 days ago 4 votes