By Sally Wilson, Carre’s Grammar School

What did you read this summer?

As the end of another school year ended, I looked forward to the pace of daily life shifting slightly – I was very much looking forward to the summer. I was also looking forward to deciding which books I was going to read. For many history teachers, the summer holiday brings a rare and welcome opportunity: time to read, reflect, and re-engage with the subject we love beyond the boundaries of the classroom. A chance to engage in one of our greatest professional pleasures—diving into the rich world of historical scholarship. Upon the return to schools it is nice to take time to look back at what we read and how it can enlighten our approach to teaching in the new term.

Why Summer Reading Matters for History Teachers

During term time, it can be difficult to find the headspace to read anything beyond what’s essential. We are focused on our students—on planning, teaching, marking… Summer is different. It allows us to step back from the daily rush and dive into the kind of deep, immersive reading that fuels both our subject knowledge and our professional imagination albeit often in brief spells around our own children.

Reading historical scholarship as a teacher is important for many reasons.

Firstly, it allows us to stay connected with how the discipline is evolving and helps us to ensure we are not teaching a static version of the past. 

Secondly, it helps us to enrich our curriculum. When we engage with thoughtful, well-researched books, we’re better equipped to build depth into our teaching, whether it’s by offering richer context, introducing new historiographical debates, or integrating more diverse voices.

Thirdly, it is important as it models our commitment to learning to our students – when they see the new additions to the bookshelf in the classroom and they ask you what you have been reading you can share your passion for History with them.

Finally, summer reading isn’t just about professional growth – we can read for our own pleasure. The chanceto follow a narrative, grapple with ideas, and feeling that spark of excitement when you learn something new. For many of us, it’s a reminder of why we first fell in love with history.

What to read?

Whether it is a visit to my local charity shop, local bookshop, Waterstones or even a browse online there are so many books to choose from that I sometimes just don’t know where to start! I keep my eyes and ears open over the year to see what friends and colleagues have been reading and recommending. I also think about what I am teaching the following year. Often, I just pick up a book that catches my attention.

Just in case you are in need of some inspiration, I asked the HA Secondary Committee members for what they are planning to read this summer:

1. Thou Savage Woman: The gripping new true crime history book of female killers in early modern Britain by Blessin Adams.

2. The Covent Garden Ladies: the book that inspired BBC2’s ‘Harlots’ by Hallie Rubenhold

3. All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles  

4. Blood and Guts: A Short History of Medicine Paperback – Import, 26 Jun. 2003 by Roy Porter 

5. Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England’s Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones 

6. The World: A Family History Paperback – 1 Aug. 2023 by Simon Sebag Montefiore 

7. The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History by Ned Blackhawk  

8. The Path of Peace: Walking the Western Front Way by Anthony Seldon

9. The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars and Caliphs by Marc David Baer  

10. Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth Century China by Jung Chang

11. Normal Women; 900 years of Making History by Phillipa Gregory

12. Autocracy, Inc: The dictators who want to run the world. By Anne Appelbaum

13, Resistance: The Underground War in Europe by Halik Kochanski

Remember this is the whole committee – not one person!

Perhaps having settled into work you could share what you read over the summer with your department in your next department meeting. It may bring new ideas, shared reference points for discussion and collaboration.

Several committee members mentioned about how summer reading helps them reconnect with History. “It’s the time I fall back in love with history,” one member shared. “There’s no pressure to teach or analyse—just the pleasure of reading something brilliant.”

We hope that you find some inspiration from our list of intended reading and that no matter what you choose to read in your spare time, you enjoy the opportunity to re-engage with History.

 Happy reading and enjoy the return to work.