Dr. NICK BARRATT
- Guest Academic -
G'day folks,
Welcome to an interview with an English gentleman with an interesting job.
Welcome, Nick ...
1.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
I’m based just outside London near Epsom
2.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT
POSITION?
I currently work as the Associate Director, Collections and
Engagement, for Senate House Library, part of the School of Advanced Studies within
the University of London.
3.
TELL US A LITTLE
ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AS A TEACHER.
In a word –
unplanned. My passion for history came from Prof David Carpenter, who
introduced me to the turbulent reign of Henry III. However, I meandered into
television where, rather unexpectedly, I gained prominence as a house historian
and genealogist before combining the two with local history to focus on
personal heritage and public history. Although I’ve published and lectured on a
wide range of subjects from the Titanic to
the story of London’s suburbs – my latest book, The Forgotten Spy combines 1920s and 30s espionage with a family
interest – I’m returning to my medieval roots and will be focusing on the
Angevin Kings of England from the mid twelfth to the early thirteenth
centuries.
4.
WERE YOU A GOOD
READER AS A KID?
Yes – I devoured books, something my daughters seem to have
inherited!
5.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU
BECOME A PROFESSOR?
I’m not actually a professor, I received my doctorate in
medieval English state finance and fiscal history from Kings College London in
1996.
6.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY
MOST ABOUT BEING AN ACADEMIC?
The ability to ask questions of the past and apply the
answers to the present. History is one of the most important and relevant
disciplines in the humanities, at a personal, local, national and international
level. It is the story of everyone, and presented in the right way can show how
we can understand each other’s perspectives and backstory for mutual benefit.
7.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST
THING ABOUT BEING A PROFESSOR? You never switch off – there’s always something of interest
to explore, or another source to check…
8.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A
PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A PROFESSOR?
Before I joined the University of London, I ran several
specialist teams at The National Archives covering medieval, early modern,
legal, maps and photographs. Before that, I managed my own historical research
company which I founded in 2000. It’s still going strong – Sticks Research
Agency – though my team of researchers now run things.
9.
WHAT IS YOUR
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
That’s a very tricky question – obtaining my PhD, writing
my first book, starting my own company and seeing it still going strong, 15
years later… Possibly completing 4 London marathons.
10.
DO YOU ENJOY WHAT
YOU DO?
It’s great fun, if challenging – there’s so much work to
do, but the potential is enormous and that’s what makes it exciting.
11.
WHAT TOPICS DO YOU
COVER?
At the moment, my role is about managing some wonderful
specialists and helping to develop the collections so that others can conduct
meaningful research, as well as creating a support framework of inductions and
training.
12.
DO YOU WRITE ANY PERSONAL WORK?
My commercial writing is aimed at a wider public audience,
but I’m finally writing more academic articles after a hiatus of a few years.
13.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS
FOR NEW WRITERS?
Write with passion about something you are passionate
about. Then ask people to read it, and be prepared to take on board their
criticisms. Eventually you’ll find a style or ‘voice’ that suits you, and your
audience.
14.
DO YOU SUFFER FROM
WRITER’S BLOCK?
Yes. The hardest part of any project is the first blank
page. It’s intimidating. I tend to fill it with structural notes, just to feel
as though I’ve got some words in the bank.
15.
WHAT IS YOUR
GREATEST JOY IN YOUR JOB?
Talking to fellow academics about their subjects – I learn
something new every day.
16.
WHO IS YOUR
FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
The book I’ve read the most times is Bill Bryon’s Short History of Nearly Everything –
superbly researched, fascinating subject matter and presented in an engaging
style.
17.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST
COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
I don’t know, I wasn’t listening…
18.
HAVE YOU WON ANY
PRIZES OR AWARDS?
A few bits and pieces over the years.
19.
WHAT DID THEY MEAN
TO YOU?
Obviously it’s always very nice to think that other people
appreciate your work; but everyone has an opinion and others may disagree with
what I write or how I write it, so as long as I know I’ve done the best I can,
I’m happy.
20.
OTHER THAN WORK,
WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
My family, always first. A very distant second would be football,
or running to stay in shape.
21.
IF YOU HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
We are all one species and share one planet; make the most
of your life to make a difference
22.
DESCRIBE YOUR
PERFECT DAY.
Any day spent
relaxing with the family
23.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS /
ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE? In the short term, to do the best I can for Senate House
Library with the aspiration to make London’s leading research hub for the
humanities; and write my next book. After that, who knows; I’ve never had a
conventional career path so I guess anything is possible – maybe even become a
professor one day!
24.
WHAT ARE YOUR
FAVOURITE FIVE BOOKS?
Non-fiction has to be Bill Bryson, Short History of Nearly Everything; in terms of fiction, then David
Mitchell, Cloud Atlas and Brendan
DuBois, Resurrection Day
25.
ANY GREAT CLAIMS TO
FAME?
A bit of television air time, a few books published –
nothing too dramatic…
26.
WHAT MIGHT BE THE
LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
It would probably be
something personal to my family
27.
ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE
TO ADD?
It is incredibly
fortunate to be working in an area that is also a passion, and I hope that I
communicate some of my enthusiasm in everything that I do.
Clancy's comment: Thank you for sparing the time, Nick. It's great to meet someone who is passionate about their job. I know how you feel. Keep going.
I'm ...
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