PHOENIX 98FM'S NOVEMBER BOOK CLUB GUEST - AMANDA J THOMAS

Difficult these days to make a personal visit to our Brentwood-based radio studio for our monthly Book Club programme, but we have still managed to meet many talented authors from this area, albeit virtually.  This month's guest author Amanda J Thomas was interviewed by our favourite radio presenter, Michelle Ward.  Amanda is an author, historian and linguist with a particular interest in social and medical history. She is also a member of our local historical society and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. More details below. 

 

To date, Amanda's books include 'The Nonconformist Revolution' (Pen & Sword, 2020), 'Cholera - The Victorian Plague' (Pen & Sword, 2020, 2015) and 'The Lambeth Cholera Outbreak of 1848-1849' (McFarland, 2009). Her broadcast work comprises 'London 2000 Years Revealed' (Channel 5, 2019), 'A House Through Time’ (BBC2, 2018), 'Who Do You Think You Are?' (Wall to Wall Media/BBC1, 2016-17 and 2012-13), and 'The Flying Archaeologist' (BBC4, 2012). Amanda is Editor of the historical journal, 'The Clock Tower', for The Friends of Medway Archives Centre, Editorial Consultant to 'Harpendia' magazine, and a judge for the Alan Neame Award, the annual Kent Family History Society writing competition.

Background: Amanda Thomas was born in Chatham, Kent to British/Australian parents, and is now based in Hertfordshire. She graduated with a degree in Italian from the University of Kent at Canterbury, and also spent an academic year at the Università degli Studi di Torino where she qualified in the study of glottology and the history of Indo-European languages. Following university, Amanda wrote for a wide range of consumer and women’s magazines in London. She subsequently moved into PR, specialising in the television and music sectors, and worked on the launch of satellite television in Europe.  www.swwj.co.uk

                                        Michelle Ward