David Bowen
@dcxypenge.bsky.social
Retired journalist and consultant, now researching and writing about history. See my Substack here: https://davidbowenwriter.substack.com/
New Substack: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-mad-ma...
The mad mad world of Victor Hugo
The French national treasure spent 15 years on the British island of Guernsey. His house is a monument to true eccentricity
davidbowenwriter.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
New Substack: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-mad-ma...
Another Substack: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-strang...
The strange life of an island metaphor
Heligoland, no longer British, played a high profile part on both sides in the run-up to the First World War. But more for what it stood for than for what it actually was.
davidbowenwriter.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Another Substack: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-strang...
Try my new out of date quiz ... davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-1911-q...
The 1911 quiz: Number One
A little quiz on geography and history, based on the 17th volume of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, eleventh edition.
davidbowenwriter.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Try my new out of date quiz ... davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-1911-q...
Bit of background in my latest Substack: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
Why the Portuguese are everywhere
The Azores and Madeira are still part of Portugal, but there was a time when Portuguese explorers could be found all over the world. How - and why - did they set up the first maritime empire?
davidbowenwriter.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Bit of background in my latest Substack: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
My first post on Bluesky - a repost of a weekly Substack I write on travel and history. More during the week on the Substack app. davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-crumbl...
The crumbling elegance of the mural capital of the world
Churu in Rajasthan was home town for super-rich merchants who set about outdoing each other with extravagantly decorated mansions. Then they left. But the buildings and their decorations remain
davidbowenwriter.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:23 AM
My first post on Bluesky - a repost of a weekly Substack I write on travel and history. More during the week on the Substack app. davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-crumbl...
A new Substack on a wild Atlantic island run and its fascinating social structure: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-island...
August 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
A new Substack on a wild Atlantic island run and its fascinating social structure: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/the-island...
Here's a story about the wild clans of the Outer Hebrides in the 16th century - in Gaelic it's called the Age of Forays: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/nitroglyce...
July 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Here's a story about the wild clans of the Outer Hebrides in the 16th century - in Gaelic it's called the Age of Forays: davidbowenwriter.substack.com/p/nitroglyce...
I'm writing a book mixing travel and history, mostly about Atlantic islands you may or may not have heard of. I'll post links here, but here's the main link: davidbowenwriter.substack.com
Travels round the edge of history | David Bowen | Substack
Historical journeys around Atlantic islands, from David Bowen. Click to read Travels round the edge of history, by David Bowen, a Substack publication. Launched 3 months ago.
davidbowenwriter.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I'm writing a book mixing travel and history, mostly about Atlantic islands you may or may not have heard of. I'll post links here, but here's the main link: davidbowenwriter.substack.com