Author Spotlight: Murray Dahm
This year, we will continue featuring our authors in the popular "Author Spotlight" series on the blog. Let's learn more about an author who has long contributed to the magazine: Murray Dahm.
- What have you contributed to Medieval World?
I’ve contributed eight articles (so far) to Medieval World, ranging in topics from Justinian I’s wars to the ‘discoveries’ of Columbus. Prior to that I contributed forty-three articles to Medieval Warfare from its earliest days.
- Tell us a bit about your background as an historian (education or otherwise). What edge do you think it gives you as an author and as an historian?
When I was at university in the 1990s, I studied a great deal of medieval history along with ancient history (which became my major and in which I ended up with three degrees). I actually studied enough medieval history for it to have been a double-major but that was not a thing when I did my degree! I was lucky enough to study under some outstanding medieval and early modern scholars (Valerie Flint, Michael Graves, and Philip Rousseau among them). Thus, even though I went on to do much more work in the realm of ancient history and ancient warfare, I never lost my interest in medieval history. Indeed, one of my very first academic publications crossed-over both worlds – it was a paleographical analysis of the cursive Latin letter ‘p’ and how it could be the model for the Runic letter ‘p’ in the Futhark. My background and training therefore allowed me to let my attention be taken by a wide range of interests in medieval history, even though I now concentrate more on the ancient world. What is more, I do like to explore continuities and connections between the ancient and medieval worlds, especially ones which seem to have been missed or glossed over. In recent years, I have written several books (for Osprey) on topics which cross over between the ancient and medieval worlds – thus I have written on Belisarius’ wars and the Huns under Attila. My book, Finis Britanniae, looking at late Roman and early Anglo-Saxon Britain was published by Amberley last year.
- Do you have a favourite event or figure or object from Middle Ages?
It is probably a combination of an event and a figure since my favourite battle is the battle of Maldon fought in August AD 991 and the English commander there – Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex. I first came across the battle in the fragmentary epic poem on the battle – one of the best sources for the conduct of shield-wall warfare from any period. The battle was a loss for the Anglo-Saxons trying to defend the east coast from a Viking invasion.
- What sparks your initial interest in writing an article?
Inspiration can come from a variety of sources – sometimes you are commissioned to write an article, sometimes interest is sparked by reading or thinking on a topic and then the connections the synapses in your brain make. The older I get, the more I realise that such connections are unique to each of us – we could both read the same thing and yet think about it in entirely different ways.
- Tell us a bit about your research and writing process.
I have spent many years building up a very large collection of books on both ancient and medieval history – I prefer physical copies – to the point hat my house is filled to overflowing. These provide the starting point and, if I am asked to explore something I don’t have the right books on, I still find myself buying what is necessary – there is a special joy in tracking down the right book (especially if it is rare or hard to find!).
- Do you have a favourite article from the contributions already published in Medieval World?
Oh, tricky – I really enjoyed the Notre-Dame and Columbus articles (although that may be because they were the most recent!).
- What do you find most valuable about this magazine?
I think the variety and breadth of knowledge from the wide range of authors gives the reader amazing insights that is hard to find affordably anywhere else – the accompanying images and original artworks also make Medieval World a great starting point for anything medieval.
- What book(s) are you currently reading?
Oh. So many – I usually have many on the go at once. But currently in the medieval realm, Wiemer’s Theodoric the Great and I am waiting on the new edition of The Battle of Maldon to arrive.
- What book(s) on medieval history and culture would you recommend to our readers? Why?
That’s a tricky one – since it depends on period and subject. I tend to look at military history more than other things, and usually I prefer to start with primary sources, but Runciman’s History of the Crusades remains excellent; perhaps John Julius Norwich’s Byzantium series.
- Tell us about a recent publication.
I mentioned my Finis Britanniae above – its an examination of the military history of late Roman Britian and the Saxon conquest – essentially the military history of Britian from the third century AD until AD 597.
