Credentials
I received my undergraduate degree at Cambridge University in 1995 and my doctorate at the University of Florence in 2007, both in medieval history. I also have a longstanding interest in nineteenth-century history: particularly the perception of food and natural history in that period. I run, too, a series of history blogs including http://florencecapital.wordpress.com and, with Prof. Zach Nowak, www.foodinitaly.org.
Teaching Philosophy
As a teacher I strain to reduce history to understandable and easily memorable models. I leave space for gifted students to delve into the complexities of the past (final paper and essays). I search out and dole out colourful incidents and peculiarities that make other times come alive. I always encourage class discussion. And I consider it a privilege to teach students who are invariably lively, curious and challenging.