Wednesday 19th August: JW3 hour long look at the two World Wars. v. JW3 website for details.

I am sharing the hour, 11am to 12pm (or 12 am if things really get out of hand!!) with Trudy Gold. I am speaking about the First War, Trudy about the Second. Each talk is planned for 30mins. Do join us.

A short synopsis of my talk:

I shall explore our continuing fascination with the war. I shall continue by looking at how we are using the war as a reference point for contemporary issues, such as race and class, without necessarily understanding the true history. Our mythologising of the war, wearing our rose coloured spectacles, also presents dangers as we seek to interpret our wider national story.

Thus my main theme emerges - that the search for historical truth is important so as to challenge the use of the war to justify modern political and social positions. In short the question gnawing away at historians today, 'What history should we teach?'

And, all this in 30 minutes!