Claire Cock-Starkey
Joined: Nov 3, 2015
Claire Cock-Starkey is a writer and editor based in the UK. Her latest book, The Book Lovers' Miscellany, was published in January 2018. Visit her at www.nonfictioness.com.
10 Facts About Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman Empire’s Northern Frontier
10 Facts About L’Anse aux Meadows, North America’s Only Viking Ruins
8 Trade Routes That Shaped World History
20 Traditional Gift-Giving Superstitions
If you want to avoid bad luck this holiday season, don't give knives, hankies, or peacock feathers, but do give coal.
10 of the World’s Rarest Gemstones
They may not be as “precious” as diamonds or emeralds, but these scarce gems are just as valuable—if not more so.
8 Victorian Scientists Who Investigated Ghosts
Some 19th-century scientists embraced psychical research, while others tried to debunk the sensational stories.
11 Miniature Mischief-Makers From World Folklore
The milk has curdled? Must be a brownie. Someone drank all your wine? Your cellar might be infested with clurichauns.
7 Ships That Disappeared Without a Trace
The true fate of many of these ships will never be known, but speculation suggests that storms, piracy, mutiny, accidental bombing, and even the attack of a giant squid could be responsible for their vanishings.
The Lure of Laudanum, the Victorians’ Favorite Drug
In an era before modern medicine, laudanum and other opium derivatives became seen as wonder drugs.
The Rivals Who Cracked the Code of Ancient Egypt’s Hieroglyphs
Following the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, two scholars battled each other to decipher the mysterious Egyptian writing system.
10 of the Worst Jobs in the Victorian Era
Next time you complain about your boring desk job, be glad you're not a tosher or a leech collector.
10 Writers and Artists Who Wanted Their Work Destroyed
Whether from a lack of confidence, concerns over sensitive contents, a change of direction, or simply a fit of pique, a number of artists and writers have destroyed their own work.
Dubious Victorian Advice for Keeping 6 Unusual Pets
Tip: Don't buy the ones that look doped up on laudanum.
12 Incredible Facts About the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial Treasure
One of the most important archaeological discoveries in British history, the Sutton Hoo ship burial contained a hoard of Anglo-Saxon artifacts that transformed our understanding of the "Dark Ages."
11 of the Most Dazzling Hoards Ever Discovered
Stuffed with gold, silver, and precious jewels, these fabulous hoards were buried by people who forgot to retrieve them.