tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post5780400523266519200..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Monday Forum - the historiansJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-54474493772973212042015-02-02T21:03:13.469+11:002015-02-02T21:03:13.469+11:00Hi Robert. John Ferry, Alan, Norma, David and othe...Hi Robert. John Ferry, Alan, Norma, David and others created a school of history focused on the way family reconstruction can provide valuable insights. Camden is a great example.<br /><br />I don't know some of the names you mentioned. Time for some research! David and I are a little out of touch at present, but I will pass your regards on. Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-67085936742494290552015-02-02T20:15:44.129+11:002015-02-02T20:15:44.129+11:00That's a good point, Winton. Both Ward and Bla...That's a good point, Winton. Both Ward and Blainey had/have very decided views, but they tell stories without standing between the reader and story. Thinking about it, there have indeed been some dreadfully pompous historians!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-50899560555042911292015-02-02T20:11:37.516+11:002015-02-02T20:11:37.516+11:00Bit off topic, but I should have added I hadn'...Bit off topic, but I should have added I hadn't realised Alan was in the same year as me (albeit different schools). I knew he was a similar age but not that close. My best wishes to brother David next time you are in contact.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06204107727656943931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-29158473835927831042015-02-02T20:01:53.934+11:002015-02-02T20:01:53.934+11:00Jim, I think Alan is a terrific writer. His histo...Jim, I think Alan is a terrific writer. His history of Camden is a model of local history writing. He is/was a wonderful teacher. I undertook a history BA at UNE to escape accountancy and Alan along with Norma Townsend and David Kent were inspirational. I wouldn't be currently trying to finish my PhD if it wasn't for the History Dept of UNE setting me on the path. I caught up with Alan at the day in his honour at ANU a year ago.<br />I have found Linda Colley to be a writer with insight and ease of explanation and the younger generation like Maya Jasanoff are of the same school. Tom Griffiths is erudite and intelligent. Greg Dening was superb in taking his reader over horizons real and imagined and Rhys Isaac's history of early Virginia is a masterpiece. Sorry, I going on - this is becoming too long. There are of course others. Bob ClarkeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06204107727656943931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-49298034577822127592015-02-02T19:03:02.546+11:002015-02-02T19:03:02.546+11:00My favourite historians tell a story with a messag...My favourite historians tell a story with a message without being pompous. I have read and liked histories by Russell Ward and Geoffrey Blainey.Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-7399829167330096522015-02-02T18:02:08.900+11:002015-02-02T18:02:08.900+11:00Why thank you sir!:)Why thank you sir!:)Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-62932343404302813702015-02-02T17:29:54.854+11:002015-02-02T17:29:54.854+11:00You're a pretty good writer too JB. I loved th...You're a pretty good writer too JB. I loved this thought a few posts back: "[O]ne of the changes in the Australian media landscape lies in the way that speed of communications facilitates instant responses. One side effect is less tolerance for mistakes because of the way a swooping and swirling media and broader commentariat all linked in real time means the creation and expression of instant views."Noric Dilanchianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07971423154965231907noreply@blogger.com