Dr Ian Mortimer

Playing with eldest son and four friends in the White Hart at 3:45pm. My own songs plus high-energy rock and soul covers.

No, but I am thinking of recording it at the end of this year, when time allows.

Yes the two are the same. The change of name for the paperback was not my choice.

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

State of my desk as we near the end of proofreading the new book, ‘Mortimer’s A-Zs of English History’. One day it’ll be tidy again.

Absolutely. Must do it again some time.

🚨COUNTDOWN TO GLOUCESTER🚨
🔍 Most people think they know history—but do they? 🤔 @ianmortimer.bsky.social tears up the rulebook and calls for a revolution in how we understand it

Listen 🎧 pod.fo/e/2c8e2a

🎟️ Gloucester History Festival, 25–27 April
📍Tickets: www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

Also my A-Zs of English History should appear this autumn - October, I think. The final author queries will go to the editor next week too.

That’s very kind of you, Alan. Thank you. I’m just reading over the first 19 chapters of The History of England through the Windows of an Ordinary House for delivery to the editor on Monday; three more chapters to write. Due for publication April 2026.

Thank you. Yes, there will be. I’m under contract to read it.

I’m working on it. It’s just that history gets harder the closer you come to the modern world.

Medieval Horizons, Why The Middle Ages Matter by @ianmortimer.bsky.social is fascinating, important and a great read - very quotable - we stand on the shoulders of medieval giants

Makes me proud: it’s my son’s bar. A young man with vision and taste.

Made me chuckle.

Nimbys are sometimes right, prime minister Riding roughshod over communities is a big risk for Labour — listening to objectors can mean plans are less resented

Agree with Libby Purves's article in the Times. I spent the best part of 14 years on the planning commitee of a National Park Authority and if I was ever a 'blockage' to development, it was with good reason. Bad development projects SHOULD be resisted.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Dr Ian Mortimer talks to Sharon Bennett Connolly and Derek Birks about Medieval Speed.

New on the Slice of Medieval #Podcast this week is a fascinating discussion about #medieval speed with @ianmortimer.bsky.social
bit.ly/49HV8Z3
#history

Thanks. Yes, the Ninth was one for the first records I ever bought (aged 10 or 11) and it still moves me but now I understand so much more why that is. As explained at the end of TTG Regency. 'You millions, I embrace you' [including you unborn millions...].

Please don't call what RFK Jr. and Jay Bhattacharya are going to do medieval. It's not medieval. It's nothing like the Middle Ages. People in the Middle Ages were happy to try all kinds of things to not die of the plague and if you'd given them antibiotics and vaccines they would have loved it.

I’m feel proud, @bsky.app is receiving so many new followers they can't cope. X is haemorrhaging. I’m so happy.

I love this place, so impressive, so high - but I can't help but think that the very altitude must have made it quite impractical. I mean, nipping out for a pint of milk must have taken ages and been hell on the legs.

I don't think I can, I'm afraid. You really need a USA historian for that one.

Glad to see you again, Stephen. Thanks for your support.

Thanks for your kind and generous comments. Yes, I do intend to read all my books from now on. It seems odd, looking back, that no one in the earlier days ever suggested I should have a go at reading one myself. But now I know I can, I shall! It's quite an intimate thing, reading an audiobook.

Thanks! When my children were young, they used to rush to the history sections of bookshops to see which ones of mine they could find. That was always the biggest thrill of all, when they were excited to see my books. Now they're all in their 20s they don't do that any more.

But I still do.

Looks like an introduction is in order. I'm an English historian living in Devon, author of 22 books incl 4 Time Traveller's Guides, 4 biographies, 4 historical novels, & a book about running, etc. Currently writing a history of England from the point of view of those who lived in my house.

Congratulations, Martin! (from the author of the book just to the left of yours...)