Merryn | Historian
The way we interpret the past has much to do with the way words impact our perception of events. For technical brevity – history hinges on psycholinguistics. That’s why, when we explore resilience, resourcefulness and patriotic resolve, we might also find confusion, ineptitude, and scelestic inhumane intent – the words we choose do matter, and that fascinates me.
Here, you’ll find more than a smattering of recherché language and oblique theories. Most posts are connected to the second world war but history is a broad church, and I like being in the curious congregation. One or two pieces may or may not have been written under the influence of too much strong coffee or a charming, young and flinty Pouilly-Fumé. Good luck with those.

IT IS TIME TO KILL OUR DARLINGS
15 MINUTES
Wavell Room | Rhetoric in Defence | Plain English | Clarity

WHY CALL IT OVERLORD?
5 MINUTES
Overlord | Churchill | Mothball | Morgan | ISSB

d
THE D IN D-DAY STANDS FOR…
5 MINUTES
D-Day | Decision Day | Eisenhower | TIME Magazine

HISTORIAN. WOMAN. ENTHUSIASTIC.
10 minutes
Women | Historians | Breasts and Brains | Respect

BLITZKRIEG
15 minutes
Blitzkrieg | Language | Guderian | TIME Magazine

THE ORIGINAL GRAMMAR NAZIS
20 minutes
Mein Kampf | Grammar | Nazis | Steve McQueen | Bonaparte

BEING CROSS ABOUT POPPIES
15 minutes
Poppies | Remembrance | Poetry | Swastikas