My historical interests focus around our cultural predecessors, with a particular interest in the culture of Britain and Northern Europe in the early middle ages.
That's why I do what I do, researching and performing this cultural history.
Last year I finished my most recent book Gods and Worshippers, about the pre-Christian religions of the Germanic and Scandinavian world.
I'm currently trying to attract support for a proposal for a new charity devoted to the Scottish Clans. You can find out more here: http://thorewing.net/clans/foundation
Music
I play a range of historical instruments - lyre, bone flutes, hornpipe (pibcorn) etc. - and I sing in various medieval languages. There's more about my music making at: www.squeake.co.uk and at www.mandrakemusic.co.uk
Movies
Hmm! Been thinking about this and almost all the films I've thought of are lighthearted looks at history . . . this probably says more about how I see films than it does anything else. Anyway, here are a few:
The Court Jester (a favourite since childhood, but I haven't seen it for years)
The Life of Brian and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (these two in that order!)
Time Bandits (but only for the scene with Robin Hood)
Shakespeare in Love (and Judi Dench did deserve that Oscar!)
Les Visiteurs (wonderful nonsense)
Of course, on reflection there are many other films, but I'm not usually next to a computer when I think of them! Two that do spring to mind are Master and Commander and O Brother, Where art thou?.
Television
Don't have one, but I've started buying DVDs for my boy Caradoc, and I have rediscovered some of my own childhood favourites - mainly from Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin's Smallfilms - so it's Ivor the Engine and Noggin the Nog for me!
Books
The Common Stream, Rowland Parker The People of the Sea, David Thompson The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony, Roberto Calasso The Poetic Edda The Mabinogion Parzival, Wolfram von Eschenbach The Praise Singer, Mary Renault
Or for books I've written myself, there's:
The Wisdom of the Celts - translations of wisdom poetry from medieval Wales and Ireland Viking Clothing - the only serious book on the subject
You can buy both these books from me, and each now has its own MySpace profile.
I don't do heroes. I just don't really think its a good idea to set anyone up on a pedastol. Not that there aren't great people out there - I meet them every day.
The University of Durham
Durham, United Kingdom
Graduated: 1989
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Medieval Literature
Minor: Philosophy, History, Linguistics
Clubs: Dark Age and Medieval Society (President) : Hatfield College Boat Club : Durham Union Society (I think I'm supposed to be a Life Member, for what it's worth!)
About me:
I live with my wife Annie and two children; my boy Caradoc is five now, and little Gwennie is already two. Caradoc still likes jousting and horses best of all, while Gwennie just loves life!
I have a great interest in our past, especially in the culture of pre-Christian Northern Europe and the medieval Scottish clans. But I take an interest in the history and culture of all the world's peoples. I'm also interested in how we live with our history today, and in what role our heritage and traditions have for our future.
Free time I mainly spend with my family. Work time is divided bewteen writing, research and performance. Working from home as I do, I am lucky enough to be able to switch from one to another as I want.
I've just sent my latest book to the printers - I'm fed up with publishers not paying up, so I decided to publish New Notes on Clan Ewen myself, through Historical Arts. It's the first attempt to get to grips with my clan's history for over a hundred years. You'll find more about the clans in general at .. http://thorewing.net/clans.
I'm currently trying to attract support for a proposal for a new charity devoted to the Scottish Clans. You can find out more here: http://thorewing.net/clans/foundation
Who I'd like to meet: Coifi (Bede Historia Ecclesia Bk.2 ch.13),
Alli (Glavedrupstenen, Fyn, Denmark), Suibhneach Mac Eoighainn (Swene MacEwen of Otter), Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages)
Statue from Camposanto Monumentale. Part of the Pisa Cathedral. Which itself is part of the big architectural complex, called "The Field of Miracles / Piazza dei Miracoli"
Hi Thor. I just had a look at your Scottish Clans site. Very interesting. And I filled in your survey. This is a photo of Duart Castle, the home of the McLeans.
Thanks back again. Well, a forum or MySpace group might be useful a a platform for exchange, but then the internet is taking so much time you need to spend on other things... Anyway, Gods & Worshippers is a very interesting read as well as inspiring. I will spend a week in an Iron Age museum/village in Denmark this summer with time to focus on the spiritual , where there will be opportunity to discuss it with fellow enthusiasts. I will stay tuned for further publishings of yours.
Hello there. Nice to hear from you Thor. I am donig well.I hope you had a good christmas and that the new year will be a blessed one for you and your lovley family. Maybe I'll see you around this year. smiles and happy thoughts to all of you.
