Helen Johnson, Yorkshire Writer

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My Debut as a reviewer for Historical Novels Reviews

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Helen Johnson

I am delighted to announce my debut as a reviewer for the Historical Novels Society, a community of historical fiction lovers. The task proved not as easy as I’d imagined Continue Reading →

Posted in Fiction, Journalism | Tagged 20th century history, fiction, historical fiction, journalism, Reviews, Women's history

Why we need Christmas more than ever – and how to save it from Covid-19

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Helen Johnson
Santa is not letting Covid cancel Christmas

I’ve spent years writing about Yorkshire’s Christmas traditions. But this Christmas will be one like no other – because we have Covid-19 – and it’s easy to feel that Christmas Continue Reading →

Posted in Festivals and Traditions | Tagged Christmas, Festivals and Traditions, journalism

Women against Votes for Women

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Helen Johnson

Astounded During my researches for my story set at the outbreak of the Great War, I was astounded to come across the Women’s Anti-Suffrage League. Yes – an organisation of Continue Reading →

Posted in History and Archaeology | Tagged 20th century history, History and Archaeology, Women's history

Finish writing one novel, begin another.

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Helen Johnson
Yorkshire roses

Bladesmith After two years living with an 11th century teenager, I finished writing my novel of the Harrying of the North. Bladesmith tells of Gudrid, an 11th century Yorkshire blacksmith’s Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, Fiction, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, fiction, historical fiction, The Great War, Yorkshire

The Harrying of the North and the Danes

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Helen Johnson
In the 11th century, Yorkshire was invaded many times.

Who were the Danes? When the Danish fleet arrived in the River Humber in September 1069, they were greeted with rejoicing.  English resistance fighters flocked to them.  The combined armies Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

The Harrying – Unimaginable

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Helen Johnson
Richmond Castle, founded shortly after the Harrying of the North, to control northern England.

Helen Johnson considers the unimaginable horror of the Harrying of the North – then writes a historical novel about it. Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, historical fiction, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

Locked in

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Helen Johnson

As you know, in recent years, I’ve begun writing fiction. As we’re all locked in now, I thought I’d share a short story I wrote a while back, about someone Continue Reading →

Posted in Fiction | Tagged creative writing, fiction, Short Stories

The Unravelling of William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Helen Johnson

In my last blog post, I wrote about William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions. He wished to rule as a just, legal, God-appointed King. So, what went wrong? William the Conqueror Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology

William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Helen Johnson
William the Conqueror

The trauma of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England resonated for centuries.  But England had seen other invading kings – not least Cnut, only fifty years before.  What was different Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, historical fiction, History and Archaeology

Northern Power and the Danelaw

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Helen Johnson
Viking raiders terrorised England for nearly three centuries

In an earlier post, the Northern Powerhouse of 1065, I wrote about a northern revolt in 1065.  It was, however, only one of a long chain of north/south power struggles.  Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

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