Category Archives: History of Reading

Escape Routes

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Peter Kruschwitz

Probably in A. D. 474, Gaius Sollius Modestus Sidonius Apollinaris, more commonly known just as Sidonius Apollinaris, a Gallo-Roman aristocrat, Bishop of Clermont (eventually canonised), as well as an acclaimed poet, wrote a letter to one Magnus Felix, a former … Continue reading →

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#beggarsbelief

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Peter Kruschwitz

I have not been very good at updating my blog recently – between marking, my admin roles, and my desire to finish my next monograph (more about that anon!), there simply has not been a lot of spare time. Will … Continue reading →

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Love, death, and blissful ignorance: Pliny and the origins of photography

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Peter Kruschwitz

Pliny the Elder, ancient Rome’s great encyclopedist, did not, of course, describe the origins of modern photography – a technique and art that was greatly advanced in Reading, Berkshire, by William Henry Fox Talbot (as described in this wonderful book). … Continue reading →

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Lesser Known Ballads (and Other Art Work) of Reading Gaol

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Peter Kruschwitz

Built in 1844, HM Prison Reading (also known as Reading Gaol and famous through Oscar Wilde‘s poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol) was decommissioned in 2013. Since September 2016 the prison has opened its doors to the public for the … Continue reading →

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Sex, Gender Roles, and Hatred

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Peter Kruschwitz

In 1908, Edith Morley was appointed Professor of English Language at University College Reading – the institution that eventually became the University of Reading. Professor Morley’s autobiographical sketch, ‘Looking Before and After’ was recently published as ‘Before and After: Reminiscences … Continue reading →

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Of Arms … Errr: Biscuits I Sing!

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Peter Kruschwitz

Regular readers of my blog will know of my interest in the local history of Berkshire’s county town of Reading. I could not have been more thrilled, therefore, when I went through my University’s archive catalogue and found a record … Continue reading →

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Sneaking a Peek at Reading Abbey

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Peter Kruschwitz

Recently, I have not found as much time to write pieces for this blog as I used to. Summer term – exam period  at Reading – is upon us, and in addition to that, I have been very busy working … Continue reading →

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Restoring a Ghost Inscription from Reading

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

I have deep respect for the immense learning, skills, and achievements of many of my academic teachers as well as other scholars with whom I was fortunate enough to cross paths at various stages of my professional life. An example … Continue reading →

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Reading’s Latin Inscriptions

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

May I be forgiven some shameless self-advertising? My latest book has just been published by Reading’s wonderful Two Rivers Press! The book contains an anthology of 48 Latin inscriptions that are on display in Berkshire’s county town of Reading (as … Continue reading →

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Children, Love, and Memory

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Peter Kruschwitz

Reading’s magnificent Saint Laurence church houses many a Latin inscription, some of which date back as far as the late medieval period. Among these treasures, there is a remarkable funerary monument, dedicated to one Martha Hamley: The monument displays a … Continue reading →

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