Drafting the Past

Even though Dr. Joanne Paul had wanted to be a writer for a long time, she had lost sight of that identity and had to find her way back to it. But now, she has embraced creativity and imagination as a historian, and is here to encourage you to do the same. I was thrilled to be joined in this episode by Dr. Joanna Paul. Joanne is a historian of the Renaissance and Early modern periods, especially of their political, intellectual, and cultural histories. In addition to two academic books, she is the author of two books for a general audience. The first The House of Dudley, was published in 2022. It follows the Dudley family's history alongside that of the Tudors, telling the story of the family's proximity to the throne and, as she puts it, "revealing some of the period's most talented, intelligent, and cunning individuals." Her most recent book, out this year, is Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England. In it, she tells the story of one of the most infamous figures in English history in a fascinating biography on this complicated man. I can tell you that both of these books are genuine page-turners, and I loved getting to ask Joanne more about how she wrote them. For links to the books and other subjects mentioned in this episode and a complete transcript, visit draftingthepast.com.

How do you write a history if you're not quite sure which—if any—of your sources is telling the truth? All historians have to deal with sources who exaggerate, or mislead, or just come from differing perspectives. But my guest in this episode had to wrestle with this question on a whole different level for his newest book. Were his subjects performing miracles, or conning people with magic tricks? And in the end, does it really matter? This is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history. I'm Kate Carpenter, and in today's episode I'm joined by Dr. Raphael Cormack. Raph is an editor, writer, and translator, as well as an assistant professor of modern languages and cultures at Durham University in the United Kingdom. He is the author of two books. The first, Holy Men of the Electromagnetic Age: A Forgotten History of the Occult in 2021 and is now available in paperback. And his newest book, out earlier this year, is Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring '20s. In it, he follows two charismatic and mysterious faith leaders who emerged in the uncertain interwar period in both Europe and the Middle East. We talked about how he dealt with those deeply unreliable sources, why the narrative structure that came so easily to one book didn't work for the second one, and, well, his mother. You'll see what I mean.  For complete show notes, visit draftingthepast.com. For updates on the show and more on writing history, sign up for the Drafting the Past newsletter.

I talk to a lot of history professors on this show, of course, but I'm always excited when I get a chance to talk to someone who is writing great history but working outside of a university setting. And my guest today didn't even start out as a historian, she found her way to narrative history after writing in other genres and venues first. Dr. Tracy Slater joins me in this episode to talk about her path as a writer and the challenges and freedoms of writing outside the academy while also balancing the work of a caregiver. Tracy has a PhD in English and American literature. You'll hear more about her career path shortly, which includes some adjunct teaching, a freelance writing career, and founding a literary series called Four Stories that took place in both Boston and Japan, where Tracy is now based with her family, although she was temporarily living in Toronto when I spoke with her this summer. Her first book was a memoir about her marriage, her struggle to start a family, and establishing a life in Japan called The Good Shufu: Finding Love, Self, and Home on the Far Side of the World. Her newest book is a work of narrative history called Together in Manzanar: The True Story of a Japanese Jewish Family in an American Concentration Camp. It's a history that is both intimate and expansive and, unfortunately, continues to have increasingly relevant connections to our present-day experiences. For complete show notes, visit DraftingthePast.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please tell a friend about it!  

This is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history, and I'm your host, Kate Carpenter. In each episode, I'm joined by a historian to dig into their writing process and find out how they bring history to the page. This time around, I'm happy to get to chat with Dr. Andrew Hartman. Dr. Andrew Hartman is a professor of history at Illinois State University. Before that, as you'll learn in this episode, he was a high school social studies teacher, and he specializes in teaching future social studies teachers. He is the author of three books: Education and the Cold War: The Battle for the American School; A War for the Soul of America: A History of the Culture Wars; and his newest book, Karl Marx in America. He has also written extensively in publications like the Washington Post, Slate, Jacobin, Bookforum, and more. You'll hear how Andrew tackled such a huge project, a decade in the making, how he became a subject in his own history, and why being an endurance athlete might help if you're a writer.  Find show notes and a transcript here.

Dr. Ruby Lal, a Professor of South Asian History at Emory University, dives into the enchanting world of the Mughal Empire. She shares her journey from academic prose to vibrant narratives, illuminating women’s histories through her books like Vagabond Princess and Empress. Ruby discusses her creative process, the adaptation of Empress into the young adult Tiger Slayer, and how collaboration with illustrator Molly Crabapple enriched her storytelling. The podcast explores the political stakes in reclaiming Mughal history and her upcoming projects, including a deep history of the Taj Mahal.

Stephanie Gorton, an accomplished writer and journalist known for her work in The New Yorker and Smithsonian, delves into her captivating dual biography exploring Margaret Sanger and Mary Ware Dennett. She shares insights on blending narrative structure with authentic historical contexts, reflecting on her writing journey shaped by life changes and community support. Gorton highlights the challenges of self-editing and the rich tapestry of personal archives that illuminate women's struggles, connecting past reproductive rights to present-day issues.

Dr. Padraic Scanlan, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, focuses on labor history and has penned several acclaimed books, including a thought-provoking reexamination of the Irish Great Famine. In this conversation, he shares insights on how socioeconomic factors like income inequality contributed to the famine's devastation. He also discusses his transition from journalism to historical writing, the nuances of book reviewing, and the lasting impact of literary influences such as George Orwell. Tune in for a deep dive into history's lessons for today.

Omar Valerio-Jiménez, a Professor of History at the University of Texas at San Antonio and an associate dean, discusses the journey from engineering to academia. He delves into the impact of collective memories from the U.S.-Mexico War on Mexican American civil rights. The conversation highlights how personal anecdotes enrich historical narratives and shaped his writing process. Omar's innovative work log system and the interplay between family memories and historical context offer valuable insights into crafting meaningful stories. His reflections on mentorship and feedback also inspire aspiring writers.

Welcome back to Drafting the Past, a podcast where we talk all about the craft of writing history. I'm Kate Carpenter and for this episode, I'm delighted to be joined on the podcast by Dr. Emily Herring. As you'll hear, I've been following Emily's career for a while now, and I was eager to ask about her first book and her shift from academia to full-time writing. Her book is called Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People. It's an intellectual biography of philosopher Henri Bergson, who achieved remarkable fame in the early 1900s, and it's a genuinely fascinating and pleasurable read. Let's dig into it. Here's my interview with Dr. Emily Herring. Buy Emily's book Find links and show notes at draftingthepast.com Support the show on Patreon Sign up for the free show newsletter  

Surekha Davies, a historian and former professor turned full-time writer, dives into the fascinating intersections of humanity and monstrosity. She shares her journey from academia to writing, revealing the joys and struggles of her creative process. Surekha discusses her books, especially 'Humans: A Monstrous History,' exploring how humans define identity in relation to creatures and concepts from apes to zombies. She also emphasizes the importance of community feedback and reflects on tackling imposter syndrome in scholarly work.