Sunken Cities conjures up mental images of Atlantis, but the reality is far more extraordinary. This British Museum exhibition explores the lost Egyptian cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus. Hidden beneath the Mediterranean for over a thousand years, the excavations have been hugely important. They have allowed experts to revisit the relationship between the ancient Egyptians […]
exhibition
Celts at the National Museum of Scotland
The Celts occupy a somewhat romantic and wild position in the British imagination. This new exhibition in conjunction with the British Museum has helped to spark new interest in these enigmatic peoples. I’ll be honest, I always had a mental image of primal tribes led by thunderous figures and advised by mysterious groups of druids. […]
Plague Exhibition at the National Library of Scotland
It’s not often you get to talk about the plague in polite society. But if you should find yourself in Edinburgh between now and 29 May, might I recommend a visit to the National Library of Scotland? As a writer I’m duty-bound to recommend a visit to any house of books, but in this case, the NLS […]
Crime Museum Uncovered – Exhibition Review
Two weeks ago I was in London to see Hamlet at the Barbican (which was amazing, by the way), and I took the opportunity to visit the Crime Museum Uncovered exhibition at the Museum of London – MoL always do strong exhibitions and I’ve been fascinated by the Crime Museum for years. Yes, I am […]
Ancient Lives, New Discoveries at the British Museum
Anyone who knows me, or reads my fiction, knows I have a lifelong fascination with mummies. Way back when I was eight years old, we studied the ancient Egyptians at primary school, and I had to mummify one of my dolls. We wrapped her in clingfilm ‘bandages’ and added clay shabtis and amulets – I’m […]
Landscape and Writing
I had a brief visit to London over the Bank Holiday weekend, and ended up at the British Library for their Writing Britain exhibition. Now, I lived in London for seven years, and it is to my eternal shame that I only visited the British Library twice. It’s often easy to overlook the British Library […]