Alun Withey
I am an academic historian of early modern medicine and social history, with a particular interest in Welsh medical history. I'm currently based at Swansea University, where I teach a variety of courses on early modern Britain. Current research interests include medical technologies of the 18th century, and especially razors and shaving and their link to constructions of masculinity and politeness.
Categories used most frequently by the blogger:
18th century History of Medicine 17th century Alun Withey Enlightenment History of science Medical History Shaving Medical Marketplace Doctors Practitioners 19th century Beards medical remedies Barber Masculinity Barber-surgeon Razors Facial Hair Wellcome Trust
Medicine on the Move: Early Modern Travel and Remedies
8 September 2023
As my new project on the history of travel, health risk and preparation begins to get underway, one of the things that I am thinking about is the place of travel within early modern...
The Health Risks of Travel in Early-Modern Britain
17 February 2023
As I start to make some progress on my new research project on travel, health and risk I am turning my attention to the sorts of things that early modern travellers were fearful of....
Packing the Essentials!: Preparing to Travel in the 18th Century.
8 June 2022
Now that Covid restrictions have finally been lifted, and summer is at least theoretically here – it’s raining outside as I write! – many people are returning to travel and undertaking...
Are Beards Over? A Historical Perspective.
25 April 2022
Recently I spoke with the Guardian journalist Tim Dowling for an excellent article he was writing (published last week) about whether beards are finally ‘over’, and I thought it...