Career David Starkey

starkey known historical analyses of henry viii , court

his first television appearance in 1977, on granada television s behave russell harty. prosecution witness in 1984 itv programme trial of richard iii, jury acquitted king on grounds of insufficient evidence. television documentaries on 6 wives of henry viii , elizabeth ratings successes.

in 2002 signed £2 million contract channel 4 produce 25 hours of television, including monarchy, chronicle of history of english kings , queens anglo-saxon times onward. presented 2009 series henry: mind of tyrant, brian viner, reviewer independent, called highly fascinating , although a. a. gill less complimentary, calling hello! history . in interview series radio times, starkey complained many historians had focused not on henry, on wives. referring feminised history , said: many of writers write women , of audience female audience. prompted historian lucy worsley label comments misogynistic. more recently, in 2011, taught 5 history lessons in channel 4 s jamie s dream school, after criticised state education system.

the core of history narrative , biography. , way history has been presented in curriculum last 25 years different. importance of knowledge has been downgraded. instead argument has been s skills. supposedly, trying children inculcate them analytical skills of historian. seems me goddamn awful way approach subject, , dangerous, , one, of course, panders sorts of easy assumptions - ‘oh ve got internet, don t need knowledge anymore because s easy things . oh no isn t. in order think, need information in mind.

in 1984 starkey elected fellow of royal historical society , in 1994 fellow of society of antiquaries of london. given honorary fellowship @ cambridge college, fitzwilliam college. has worked curator on several exhibitions, including exhibit in 2003 on elizabeth i, following had lunch namesake, elizabeth ii. several years later told reporter monarch had no interest in predecessors, other followed great grandfather. don t think s @ comfortable – hesitate use word intellectual – s useful. think s got elements bit goebbels in attitude culture – remember: every time hear word culture reach revolver. think queen reaches mask. remarks criticised penny junor, royal biographer, , robert lacey, royal historian.

on 25 june 2012 dr. starkey gave lecture head of our morality: why twentieth-century british monarchy matters @ marc fitch lectures.