Thank you Wootton + Trump assassination attempt + history of fireworks podcast

Thank you, Wootton, near Woodstock for inviting me to talk about the history of assassination on Valentine's Day! I loved the Village Hall venue - looked like a full house, with chairs packed tightly together, delivering a great atmosphere. 

Good questions too. Did I think the Trump assassination attempt was faked? Though I consider Trump a thoroughly disgraceful character, I said I did not, because even if you could procure a sniper of Eddie Redmayne calibre, it would be too risky to fire a shot designed to graze or very narrowly miss Trump. The suggestion that Trump was injured by shrapnel from the teleprompter screen rather than by a bullet does not change my view. But maybe I'm missing something? It was certainly very convenient for him, but that does not mean it was fake.

Btw my podcast with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb on the history of fireworks from their mysterious origins to the present day (based on my book A History of Fireworks published by Reaktion) is available here - https://podcasts.apple.com/ai/podcast/fireworks-from-the-tudors-to-guy-fawkes/id1564113869?i=1000674896970

The history of assassination roadshow hits Wootton

Looking forward to delivering one of the famous Wootton Village Hall talks in Oxfordshire on Friday. Subject - the history of assassination. I'll be talking about the world's first assassination; asking whether London was the scene of the world's first assassination by firearm; examining the surprising carelessness of some victims - like Abraham Lincoln, who let his bodyguard go off for a drink; and telling the story of the weird ones - murder by booby-trapped statuette, poisoned umbrella and man disguised as bear. 

Drawing on my book Assassins' Deeds. A History of Assassination from Ancient Egypt to the Present Day (Reaktion Books), I'll also be detailing the most famous ones - such as Julius Caesar, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, JFK, as well as the not very famous British prime minister who was the only one to be assassinated. 

And, of course, Friday being Valentine's Day, the talk will include a love story. All proceeds go to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

http://www.woottontalks.co.uk/

Stanmore: are you ready for fireworks?

Looking forward to talking about my new book 'A History of Fireworks' (Reaktion Books) at Stanmore & District u3a on Monday, 20 January. I'll be sharing secrets about the mysterious origins of fireworks, Britain's first major display, rowdy Bonfire Nights, firework disasters, famous firework makers, fireworks in art, music and literature and the challenges they now face because of fears about pollution and the effects they have on animals https://stanmore.u3asite.uk/u3a_events/monday-20th-january-john-withington/