Am I a proper historian now?
Anyone with online access to War In History can now download my debut article which is about horses and the New Model Army. I haven’t got my hands on a hard copy yet, but it’s quite exciting to see it on the website. Now I just need to finish the Difficult Second Article…
- Gavin Robinson, ‘Horse Supply and the Development of the New Model Army, 1642-1646’, War In History, 15 (April 2008), pp. 121-140.
Comment by Ross Mahoney — 3:20 pm, 14 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
Gavin
Yes I noticed that this morning. Congrats. It nice to get stuff published. I must try and finsih one of the pieces I am working on. If you need a copy I will donwload one for you.
As to being a real historian well that is a moot point. Unless you directly make the bulk of your earning from history are you a historian? Technically college and university lecturers are lecturers first and historians second. The bulk of my earning, in actual fact all of it, comes from teaching. That is my profession. I just happen to be a lecturer of History. However, I do consider myself a historian and I am sure most other lecturer would feel the same. I think it is a case of semantics really. Also another question that comes from this is what qualification do you need to be a historian? Do you need to be qualified to PhD level? I think we could go on about this quite along so I will stop.
Congrats. I will read it even thoug it is not my period. I have read about it being written so it is now interesting to read the actual piece.
Ross
Comment by Gavin Robinson — 4:07 pm, 14 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
Thanks. I’ve got online access through the IHR, so I’m just waiting for Sage to send me the link to the page where I can order offprints.
I think everyone has a different idea of what makes a historian. At least my CV now looks better than it did before, so it might be easier for me to get a job or research grant in future. There are certainly plenty of bloggers without PhDs who are writing really good stuff.
Comment by Gary Smailes — 6:52 pm, 14 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
A proper historian indeed!
Comment by Brett — 11:12 am, 15 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
My eye skipped over it on the first pass — no aeroplanes, hmmph — but caught on your name on the second. Congrats!
Comment by Gavin Robinson — 6:34 pm, 15 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
Next time I’ll try to write something about flying horses. ;)
Comment by Ross Mahoney — 2:07 pm, 16 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
Flying horses…Now that would be interesting;)
Comment by Ortho — 8:06 pm, 20 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
Dear Sir,
Congratulations on your publication.
The post’s tongue-in-cheek title made me chuckle. Here, in the United States, academic snobs do not consider “independent researchers” to be “proper historians.” I hope the attitude is different in your next of the woods.
That said, your research — judging from the article abstract — is positioned at a unique nexus between animal, military, and political history. I am certain that your academic career shall be bright.
Sincerely,
Ortho
Comment by Gavin Robinson — 12:09 pm, 21 April 2008 [permanent link to this comment]
Thanks Ortho. You’re right, it was meant to be funny. And there’s no need to call me “Sir” no matter how much of a proper historian I become. :)
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