Kathryn White

The Women who Spied For International Women's Day, Dr Kathryn White writes about the brave female spies of the Second World War, both real and fictional

For #InternationalWomensDay2026 I reflect on some excellent books on the bravest women who served in WW2:

The Women who Spied For International Women's Day, Dr Kathryn White writes about the brave female spies of the Second World War, both real and fictional

For #InternationalWomensDay2026 I reflect on some excellent books on the bravest women who served in WW2:

There’s not that much historical fiction on the Women’s Prize long list, but I am excited to read The Others by Sheena Kalayil, set in 1989 East Germany.

Also pleased to see the incredible Wild, Dark Shore on the list. Such a gripping and absorbing read.

Goes on a lovely off-grid weekend in New Zealand, takes some suitably light, relaxing reading

The Jewish YMCA Dr Kathryn White follows the life and work of Harold Boas from Perth to London

This week’s Substack features the story of one man from Perth and his mission to serve Jewish soldiers with the YMCA in the First World War.

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

The Jewish YMCA Dr Kathryn White follows the life and work of Harold Boas from Perth to London

The remarkable story of the YMCA’s Jewish service in the First World War, now on my Substack:

So follow along, because there’s plenty more to come with a new post every Sunday

England's Highest War Memorials Dr Kathryn White investigates the Great Gifts round in the Lake District and hikes Great Gable

And finally, an article that ended up 2 years in the making. When 2 of rural England’s biggest debates of the interwar years collided: public access to the countryside & the desire to commemorate the fallen. The result? England’s highest war memorials
kathrynshistoryblog.substack.com/p/englands-h...

Historian reads the Walter Scott Prize shortlist Dr Kathryn White reviews the books who were shortlisted for - and won - the 2025 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction

I’m really enjoying writing about books, especially historical fiction, and reaching out beyond my usual time periods.

In this article, I talk about six of the best historical novels from last year:

kathrynshistoryblog.substack.com/p/historian-...

Holst's War With composer Gustav Holst in Salonica and Constantinople as he served with the YMCA

My fist full article back was the wonderful story of composer Gustav Holst and his time spent running the YMCA music section in Salonica:

kathrynshistoryblog.substack.com/p/holsts-war

It’s 2 months since I relaunched my history blog & I’m loving writing history again.

I’d love you to subscribe (it’s free!) or to share with others interested in the World Wars, British Empire, & historical reads both fact & fiction.

And in case you missed any posts, here’s my 3 favourites so far:

How Do We Trust History? Dr Kathryn White reads Trust by Hernan Diaz and gets existential about it

In which I read Trust by Hernan Diaz and get existential about how we do history:

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

How Do We Trust History? Dr Kathryn White reads Trust by Hernan Diaz and gets existential about it

In which I read Trust by Hernan Diaz and get existential about how we do history:

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

The People's Memorial Dr Kathryn White visits the war memorials of Kings Park, Perth

The Perth war memorial might be the only one (at least that I’ve ever seen) that includes a public donation box, ingeniously built out of naval shells.

This and more in my weekly Substack:
open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

The People's Memorial Dr Kathryn White visits the war memorials of Kings Park, Perth

Kings Park, Perth is home to some remarkable war memorials, including a living #WW1 memorial and the shells of HMS Queen Elizabeth. I visit in my latest Substack:

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

I respect the previous reader of this library book who was clearly very frustrated with its accuracy yet persisted with reading the whole thing.

France on Trial by Julian Jackson is a good English-language book (if a little dry on the legal stuff) about Petain’s trial and explores his legacy.

Lives under the Nazis Dr Kathryn White recommends three personal histories of lives under Second World War oppression

Don’t miss my latest Substack, where I’m reading books by Julia Boyd, Daniel Finkelstein and Philippe Sands.

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

Lives under the Nazis Dr Kathryn White recommends three personal histories of lives under Second World War oppression

In this week’s Substack I read 3 powerful and personal histories of the Second World War. #ww2

Trying not to be a creep on this flight, but also trying to see which ep of @theresthistory.bsky.social the chap next to me is loading up on his phone.

The RAN’s gone old school

📍STS Young Endeavour at HMAS Kuttabul, Sydney

Outtakes from today’s post: some rather more modern military tech, and my wrecked waterproofs after I slipped on the tough way down from Great Gable.

England's Highest War Memorials Dr Kathryn White investigates the Great Gifts round in the Lake District and hikes Great Gable

The right to roam, the commemoration of soldiers, and England’s Lakeland fells. It’s all in my latest Substack:

England's Highest War Memorials Dr Kathryn White investigates the Great Gifts round in the Lake District and hikes Great Gable

This week’s Substack: the story of how England’s highest mountains became the most moving of war memorials

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

Historian reads the Walter Scott Prize shortlist Dr Kathryn White reviews the books who were shortlisted for - and won - the 2025 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction

In my latest Substack I review six of the best historical fiction from the last year:

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

Historian reads the Walter Scott Prize shortlist Dr Kathryn White reviews the books who were shortlisted for - and won - the 2025 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction

The Walter Scott Prize @walterscottprize.bsky.social celebrates the best of historical fiction. I read and review the 2025 shortlist in my latest Substack:

open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

Me tooo

Deeply unsettled by this book’s insistence on “1st World War” rather than First. Not something I’ve ever seen before?

The Boomerang Grenade A weird and wonderful find at the Infantry Museum

Check out my latest Substack for some weird and wonderful - and oh so Australian - WW1 technology
open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...

The Boomerang Grenade A weird and wonderful find at the Infantry Museum

An unexpected find on a trip to the Infantry Museum:
open.substack.com/pub/kathryns...