Swansea & Gower history
The copper boom in Swansea & Gower
In the middle of the 19th century, nine-tenths of the world’s copper was smelted in Swansea. How did this come about, and why was the copper trade such...
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Swansea & Gower historySailing a copper barque around Cape Horn
Even today, sailors consider Cape Horn the Everest of sailing. “The ocean is always trying to kill you” is the famous quote from Maiden skipper Tracey...
Swansea & Gower historyWomen in 1800s Swansea and Gower
What role did women play in the economy, family and community in the second half of the nineteenth century in Swansea and Gower?
Women, marriage and money...
Swansea & Gower historyProfit and pollution in Swansea copper
Copper built industrial Swansea in the nineteenth century, and powered economic opportunities for smelters, shipowners and many workers. How did the industry...
Reading historical fictionBook Review of The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller
The Land in Winter is one of my top ten historical novels for 2025. Here’s the full review, with one section for readers deciding what to read next, and...
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What makes a great historical novel? One that I sneak into my bag to read at stations, on trains or in waiting rooms. That allows me to drop through a...
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The Whalebone Theatre was one of my top ten historical novels for 2024. Here’s the full review, with one section for readers deciding what to read next...
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Great Circle was in my top ten historical novels I read in 2024. Here’s the full review, with one section for readers deciding what to read next, and ...
Reading historical fictionBook Review: Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
Light Perpetual was in my 2024 top ten historical novels. Here’s the full review, with one section for readers deciding what to read next, and a more ...
Writing historical fictionCreative inspiration in historical fiction
Historical research is all very well, but how can you make your novel come alive, and transport the reader viscerally to another time? Sometimes you need...