Culture & History
I write regularly about cultural issues in the British press, including drawing on my work as a historian to provide context for contemporary debate.
I can be irrepressible when talking history: I recently enjoyed explaining the relative sexual virtues of Elizabeth I on Channel 5’s ‘Last Days of Mary Queen of Scots’, and leading a historians’ live-tweet of historical context for the BBC’s Wolf Hall. You’ll also find some of my book reviews, lighter pieces and broader arts writing on this page.
The Maltby Massie-esque New Year 2015/16 Quiz
For the last five years, Alex Massie’s Christmas Quiz has been the essence of the Maltby Family Christmas. So when Alex announced on Christmas Eve that he wouldn’t be producing his quiz this year, some tears were shed. As our monarch tells us, however, it is better to light a candle than curse...
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There’s nothing confusing about a black actress playing Hermione Granger
written for The Spectator, 21st December 2015 A news producer rang up this morning, asking me to talk about ‘colour-blind casting’. Noma Dumezweni has just been cast as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the stage sequel to JK Rowling’s novels. So there I was, listening to a hack ask...
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Boris shows a hint of Euroscepticism — but he still can’t beat Mary Beard
written for The Spectator, 20 November 2015 Thank God for Mary Beard. Sure, she’s wrong about Jeremy Corbyn. She was wrong about 9/11. She’s wrong about plenty. But let’s talk about what matters. She’s right about Ancient Rome. It’s rare to see Boris Johnson lose a popular vote. Last night, Beard...
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A Tribute to Lisa Jardine
written for Apollo Magazine 27th October 2015 Asked to imagine her own funeral, Lisa Jardine would respond, ‘my funeral? I really couldn’t imagine the world without me’. It was the mark of a resilient self-belief that infected those of us who adored her, even as it infuriated those, in academia or...
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The photo of a young Queen playing Nazi is an important piece of our history
written for The Spectator, 18 July 2015 What can an image from 1933 ever really tell us? In July 1933, Der Stürmer, the Nazi newspaper, published a cover image of a gaping Jewish mouth, the picture of avarice, swallowing kings, admirals, bankers, film stars, greedy for world-control. Hitler had come...
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Why feminists like me are addicted to Game of Thrones
written for The Spectator, 16 June 2015 This post contains spoilers and discussion of the Season 5 Finale. My name is Kate Maltby, I’m a feminist, and I’m addicted to Game of Thrones. I’ve known I’ve had a problem for some time, really. It all started at the end of Season 3. Languidly...
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