This is the blog of Martin Johnes, Professor of Modern History at Swansea University.
Recent blogs
A brief history of Advent calendars in the UK
Advent calendars, like so many British Christmas traditions, have their roots outside the UK. They are an evolution of a practice found in Germany of counting down through the Christian festival of Advent towards Christmas. This was often done through the lighting of candles on each of Advent’s four Sundays. In the nineteenth century, a … Continue reading “A brief history of Advent calendars in the UK”
Stories of a Post-industrial Hero: The Death of Johnny Owen
First published as: Martin Johnes (2011) Stories of a Post-industrial Hero: The Death of Johnny Owen, Sport in History, 31:4, 444-463, DOI: 10.1080/17460263.2011.646832 Boxing has a history of attracting the interest of intellectuals and serious writers. The likes of Norman Mailer and Ernest Hemingway have been fascinated not just by boxing’s brutality but also by its symbolic power. It is easy to … Continue reading “Stories of a Post-industrial Hero: The Death of Johnny Owen”
#hanescymru2020
Download the programme and abstracts New Directions in Welsh History: An Online ‘Zoom’ Conference Saturday 24 October 2020 We would like to host a conference that allows historians to present the latest academic research on the history of Wales. We encourage people to present both polished arguments and ideas in progress. Papers that reflect on … Continue reading “#hanescymru2020”
