The Friday Digest 11/04/14

 
 
This week's update features debates on the future of the publishing industry, an exorcism in Elizabethan London and the curious history of the items in your tool shed.

* Explore over 500 historical sources from across Europe, with insights by First World War experts with the British Library. 

* Did Craiglockhart hospital revolutionise mental healthcare? 

* Did the trauma of the First World War lead to great creativity?

* Pigeon vs telephone: which worked best in the trenches? 

* Which single object from the British Museum collection could possibly represent the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644), China? The answer seemed obvious – it had to be a spectacular blue-and-white porcelain vase.

* Archaeologists discover the hidden architecture of a 1,000-year-old village in New Mexico.  

* The world’s oldest yacht has been excavated on the Isle of Man. The vessel, Peggy, was built for Castletown politician and bank owner George Quayle between 1789 and 1793. 

* Skeletons in a Victorian closet: the unfortunate story of Thomas Willoughby.

* 10 ways would-be writers can start establishing their careers.   

* Beware the foul fiend: an exorcism in Elizabethan London.  

* The women of the miners' strike: 'We caused a lot of havoc'.

* A look at variety acts and turns of the early 1930s. 

* Ten ancient stories and the geological events that may have inspired them.  

* What's lurking inside the Bank of England's vaults? 

* What hidden messages are lurking in these Tudor paintings?

 * What did medieval Europe do with its teenagers?  

* The curious history of the items in your tool shed. 

* Was the Titanic disaster predicted? 

* Protected status has been granted for Northumberland's prehistoric rock-art carvings. 

* Tom Weldon, the UK head of Penguin Random House insists that the publishing industry has coped with the digital revolution better than any other: 'Some say publishing is in trouble. They are completely wrong.' But do you agree with his comments? 

* The Digital Minds conference in London asks is this a 'golden age for publishing or the end of the book?'

* Wikipedia: The Book? Publishing Perspectives investigates ...

* The Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist has been announced with debut novelists Eimear McBride, Audrey Magee appearing.

* Sue Townsend, creator of Adrian Mole, has died aged 68. She was one of Britain’s most celebrated comic writers: novelist, playwright and journalist.

* Tracey Emin is to design a Collector’s Edition bag for the second 'Books Are My Bag' campaign.

* There are some big names in Scottish crime fiction, but is it enough? Irvine Welsh asks why Scottish writers have trouble with London publishers. 

* Just how useful are footwear marks at crime scenes? 

* 5 tips for running a writers’ circle.

* Which books make you feel stupid?  

 
  Which history and publishing stories have you enjoyed reading this week?