One of the questions we’re most frequently asked by students who will be joining us as first years in the autumn term is “What reading do we need to do to prepare for the course?”

When you join us and register in September, you will gain access to all of our library resources, including e-books and journals – there is no need for you to spend money in advance! 

But, it can be really helpful to keep thinking about History-related things over the summer. Members of the History team have put together this list of suggestions of things to read or listen to. For students joining us for the first time in September, the bottom of the list includes some general introductory books that relate to your modules – but remember there is no need to buy and read these in advance – they will be available when you arrive. 

Whatever area or period of history you’re interested in, there’s lots here to pique your interests!

Happy reading – and enjoy your summer!

Dr Katy Gibbons, Principal Lecturer, Subject Area Lead in History

General Reading

https://aeon.co/society/history

https://theconversation.com/uk (you might spot articles by some of your History lecturers here!)

More Specialised Blogs:

https://thesocialhistorian.wordpress.com

https://manyheadedmonster.com/

Podcasts

Not just the Tudors: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/not-just-the-tudors/id1564113869

History Extra: https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/rebuilding-europe-after-ww2-paul-betts-podcast/

Histories of the Unexpected: https://historiesoftheunexpected.com/podcasts/

In Our Time: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl

History Unplugged: https://podcasts.apple.com/al/podcast/history-unplugged-podcast/id1237796990

Historical Association: https://www.history.org.uk/podcasts/list

Novels

These novels engage with the past in a number of different ways. They also cover topics and themes that you will come across in the course of your degree. 

Please note – you are not obliged or expected to buy any of these, but if you are interested, perhaps you could look out for a second hand copy, or visit your local public library!

This Lovely City by Louise Hare 

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/this-lovely-city/9780008332600

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson (our very own Rob James advised on the research for this!)

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-little-wartime-library/9781529348712

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/homegoing-9781101971062/9780241975237

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-vanishing-half-shortlisted-for-the-women-s-prize-2021/9780349701479

Rizzio by Denise Mina 

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/rizzio-darkland-tales/9781846976094

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-essex-serpent-now-a-major-apple-tv-series-starring-claire-danes-and-tom-hiddleston/9781788169622

A Book of Secrets by Kate Morrison

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/a-book-of-secrets/9781913090678

On Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/golden-hill-best-book-of-the-century-richard-osman-francis-spufford/2773291?ean=9780571225200

Ulverton by Adam Thorpe

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/ulverton-adam-thorpe/4466528?ean=9780099573449

General Textbooks

What is History Now? Eds. Susannah Lipscomb and Helena Carr 

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/what-is-history-now-suzannah-lipscomb/5968333?ean=9781474622479

The European World, 1500-1800, ed. Beat Kumin

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-european-world-1500-1800-an-introduction-to-early-modern-history-beat-kumin/7154053?ean=9780367691554

The  Birth of the Modern World, by C. R. Bayly

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-birth-of-the-modern-world-1780-1914-ca-bayly/1924659?ean=9780631236160

Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914, Robert Gildea

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/barricades-and-borders-europe-1800-1914-robert-gildea/2012520?ean=9780199253005

Twentieth Century Europe: A Brief History, eds. Michael D. Richards and Paul Waibel

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/twentieth-century-europe-a-brief-history-1900-the-present-third-edition-md-richards/1514673?ean=9781118651414