‘EVERYBODY HAS AN INTEREST IN HISTORY, WHETHER THEY ADMIT IT OR NOT’
We may be biased here at All About History, but history is an exciting and evolving discipline. It allows us to examine and explore the past, uncovering fascinating stories, ideas, events and experiences that have helped shape the world we live in today. We spoke Helen Carr, historian, writer, producer and author of the bestselling biography of John of Gaunt, about her love for history, how she conducts her research and why history should be accessible to everyone.
Why did you decide to become a historian?
I can’t remember there being a time where I wasn’t interested in history. From a young age, I was always going to castles, cathedrals, monuments and archaeological sites of interest. It also came from the fact that my great-grandfather [EH Carr] was a well-known historian. That was something I always grew up in the knowledge of and I was very interested in him, what he did and what he wrote about. It’s always been within my family to have an interest in history, even though neither of my parents or any other family members have had such an active interest. I think that from a young age I just became fascinated with the past and that never left me. I don’t think anybody goes into a career in history thinking that they’re going to change the world or they’re going to earn
