historical research

Political science is centrally concerned with understanding how politics works. It’s a discipline of the present tense, and the bulk of our research focuses on gathering evidence in the here and now. But sometimes political scientists also dig into the past. From time to time, you’ll even find one of us trawling through the records in a dusty archive. 

We are discussing one particular ongoing example of historical research in political science - at prisoner-of-war camps in the UK in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. 

We are joined by:

Zeynep Bulutgil,Professor in International Relations. Regular listeners may remember in episode we did with her back in 2022 on the origins of the secular state.

Sam Erkiletian, a final-year PhD student who’s just about to submit his dissertation on patterns of socialization in groups of combatants.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Bulutgil, H. Zeynep, The Origins of Secular Institutions: Ideas, Timing, and Organization.

UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

In this portion of my writers’ room interview with Amy Goodpaster Strebe, she talks about publishing her masters thesis, which was a comparative study of the Women Air Force Service Pilots and the Women who flew for Russia, including the Nacht Hexen or Night Witches, entitled Flying for Her Country. 

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-Liz Booker

Discover the power of art and music in historical fiction research with award-winning author, Sheena MacLeod. Infuse your writing with the emotional depth and rich dimensionality that these two mediums offer. Our conversation journeys through Sheena's fascinating approach to research, touching on areas such as the emotional turmoil of Scots during the clearances as depicted in Thomas Faed's painting, 'The Last of the Clan,' and how broadsheets of Restoration London used music and poetry to pass on messages. It's a splendid mix of academia and artistry that's bound to enrich your understanding of historical fiction writing.

We then tread the path of symbolism in art - a path riddled with enigmas and packed with profound meanings. We'll decode symbols in works like Mary Queen of Scott's dropped glove and Michael Angelo's Sistine Chapel, and explore how they're used in story and plot development. Sheena's insights on the matter are a treasure trove for any writer looking to add layers of meaning and resonance to their work. No stone is left unturned as we examine everything from the significance of jewellery like the Clan Brooch to the hidden dissatisfaction in Michael Angelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings.

Our final discussion wraps up this enlightening journey. We talk about how art and music can evoke emotion, inspire stories, and bring meaning to your work. The power of these mediums in research is truly extraordinary, and Sheena's unique perspective on it is sure to inspire. So, ready to unlock new depths in your writing with the charm of art and music? Come, join us on this remarkable journey and discover the magic yourself.

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I've learned so much on my trip to Antigua but one thing I have learned overall is that you should expect the unexpected and embrace it. It will make your final manuscript so much richer and bring it to life. 

What is it like leading the laptop lifestyle and writing from anywhere in the world? Can you do it? Today's episode outlines how easy it could be and the steps you can take. 

Today's episode talks about using Newspaper Archives and the way these can help with research. 

Today's episode come to you from London where I am preparing for several research visits. So, I am talking about how to prepare in order to make the most of your visit. 

Things are opening up and we now have more freedom to roam. For authors this means we can now turn our hands to research that doesn't involve the internet and electronic resources. However, the world has changed and so too has the way we now approach our research. Today, I give you an in depth overview of what needs to be done to manage research trips in this changed world that we now have to navigate. 

Today on the show I do an episode myself on what I have found out about undertaking historical research and why each piece of documentary evidence is important. It takes thing deeper and I share what I have found out about the process. I share lots of tips and ways you can do this research for yourself, applying it to your own topic. 

Sometimes the idea of going to a real archive can be intimidating, or just impossible based on your location. Learning to navigate a digital archive can be incredibly useful when it comes to researching and a great starting point for any research assignment.  Many newspaper archives are a paid subscription but the Trove archive is completely free and an absolute gold mine for finding hidden historical treasures.

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Podcast Recommendations: How did it come to this?

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Contact: Twitter @HistoryDetect, Instagram @HistoryDetective9, Facebook  and email  historydetective9@gmail.com

All original music written and performed by Kelly Chase.

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Contact: Twitter @HistoryDetect, Instagram @HistoryDetective9, email  historydetective9@gmail.com

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All  music written and performed by Kelly Chase.

Jess speaks to historical romance author Felicia Grossman about coming into chick lit and romance, learning to write from reading, finding Twitter writer friends, hearing advice the right way and in the right moment, writing multiple drafts before getting input, developing your process with time but knowing what you need to keep, the boxes of historical romance and writing outside of them, how she's introduced her own Jewish faith and history into her stories and having truth called anachronistic.