Joanne H Parker

Written on Stone: The Cultural History of British Prehistoric Monuments

This collection of essays is not interested in the unresolved questions about the origin, original use, and authentic meaning of the prehistoric monuments of the British Isles. It is not concerned with their prehistory. Rather it deals with the history of barrows, standing stones, and stone circles:...

England's darling': The Victorian cult of Alfred the Great

During the last two decades, numerous studies have been devoted to the Victorian fascination with King Arthur, however . the figure of King Alfred has received almost no attention. For much of the nineteenth century, Alfred was as important as Arthur in the British popular imagination. A pervasive c...

Britannia Obscura: Mapping Hidden Britain

An exploration of hidden Britain, a surprisingly large small island.      What is the shape of Britain? The country's outline, looking a little like a wingless dragon, is instantly recognisable on any map or globe. But jostling within that familiar profile are countless vying maps of the country. So...

Art & Soul: Victorians and the Gothic

England's Darling: The Victorian Cult of Alfred the Great