Tag Archives: war

Ladybird books: Constructing the future past of modern Britain

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

I used to visit a beloved university English professor  and his wife. He had won the Military Cross for hand to hand combat in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945 but never talked about the terrible things he’d seen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Culture, Design, Environment, Germany, History, Media, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

We’ll get the President we deserve: Suzan Lori Parks on Hillary Clinton & America’s woman problem

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

“You’ve consumed too much of the Kool-Aid that the man has been serving you.” Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Susan Lori Parks came into the Front Row studio last week to talk about When Father Came Home From The Wars opening at … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, History, Media, Politics, Radio, Theatre, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On location for HG Wells and the H Bomb

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

As well as this documentary I’ve written this feature for BBC Culture about how the Atom Bomb changed our culture and imagination. And I discuss it with Robert Elms on BBC London here. Listen from 1 hr 39 minutes. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, History, Politics, Radio, Science, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The curious idea of museums

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

This article originally appeared in The Big Issue magazine. Journalism worth paying for. What are museums for these days? Are collections passé? Northampton City Council’s decision to sell off an ancient Egyptian statue to fund a museum extension, after striking … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Design, Education, History, Politics, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An embroidered insult to Hitler: A story about hand made things

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Samira Ahmed

My Something Understood for BBC Radio 4 this weekend is all about hand made things. You can listen to a clip of here. And the whole programme here. As well meeting a carpenter  who makes fossil-inspired objects about of ancient … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Design, Germany, History, Radio, Religion, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Oh What A Lovely War Commemoration!

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Samira Ahmed

Recently the Prime Minister  spoke of his hopes that events  to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War would be a “commemoration that, like the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, says something about who we are as … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, History, Media, Music, Politics, Radio, Theatre, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Mr Lincoln’s Wild Ride

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Samira Ahmed

I spent a night in the pub playing skittles recently with The Lawmen of Bristol for a radio documentary. They are Wild West enthusiasts, who transport around their home-made saloon town and re-enact historical gunfights for charity. Each has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How The Middle East Became Another Planet

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

From Flash Gordon’s Ming the Merciless with his harem and his war rocket Ajax, to Frank Herbert’s prophecy-obsessed desert tribes in Dune battling over a valuable resource, the Middle East has always been another planet to western science fiction creators. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, History, Politics, Religion, Science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Casablanca: When refugees were glamorous

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

This was written for the Spectator Coffee House blog, ahead of the Casablanca night at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on June 22nd, to mark Refugee Week.  “I don’t buy and sell human beings,” says Rick to the rival club … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Film, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Something Warhammer This Way Comes

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

 I discovered the world of Warhammer and Warhammer 40K through my son. Warhammer 40K was launched just over 25 years ago. To mark the anniversary I have written a feature about its world of table top fantasy wargaming for the BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Comics/graphic novels, Culture, Games, War | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment