Blog Reviews

I chose Edwardian Promenade and Stoneman’s Corner for my blog reviews. They are similar in many regards, but they offer the reader very different experiences.

Edwardian Promenade (Click here for access)

Edwardian Promenade is a well-established blog started in 2007 by Evangeline Holland. Details about Holland are rather scarce, but she is primarily a historical fiction writer who has written a few non-fiction historical book as well a historical research guide. As for her education and academic credits, none could be found, but this does not mean she is without such credits. After all, her blog is impressive if for no other reason than the enormity of her sources, which number well over 100 sources, and scope of the blog post’s topics. As one might guess, the unifying topic for her blog is Edwardian English history which includes everything from African-American, amusements, domestic service, fashion, food, great war, men, new york city, royalty, social season, and women’s history. However, Holland also writes about Gilded Age America and Belle Époque France in this blog. Her sources range from encyclopedias and newpapers from Edwardian England to cook books and Wikipedia, and her blog posts reflect her use of sources. Meaning, each post is enlightening, exciting, and innovative. Holland’s blog is an ideal blog to follow for those interested in some casual historical research but also for more serious historians looking for something lighter. All in all, I had a very satisfying experience with this blog.

Stoneman’s Corner (Click here for access)

Stoneman’s Corner is a more stoic, bare-bones style blog authored by historian, editor, and teacher Mark R. Stoneman. In contrast to Holland, Stoneman boldly lists his credentials from his education to his professional experience. He obtained his undergraduate history degree from Darthmouth College, and then he went on to obtain his masters degree in Modern European History at Universität Augsburg, and his PhD in Modern European History at Georgetown University. His blog consists mostly of military history book reviews, his work in the classroom as a graduate school teacher, and his experience as being an editor for various history books. Though Stoneman does not cast as wide a net as Holland, Stoneman does seem to dive a bit deeper into history in that he explores historiography. Facts are not enough from Stoneman, so he explores how one’s perspective is important in studying history in many of his posts. His sources are almost entirely academic, and this reflects his deep academic roots. Stoneman’s blog will not appeal to as many as Holland, but it offers reader a valuable, more academic experience without being as heavy as a book. All in all, I had a good albeit dry experience with this blog.