writing workshop historical turning point

The Imagining History Programme UK

Creative historical fiction writing for young writers.

Imagining history.

Live Adventures in Time Travel.

The Imagining History Programme offers free writing workshops in historical places during which new and young writers explore the crafting of a piece of Historical Fiction.

Carefully curated imaginative explorations and writing sessions of varying lengths cultivate the sheer enjoyment of discovering unknown worlds. We believe that actual lived experience of historical places gives rise to deep insight and learning.

Our projects bring together social and historical research with a taste for enquiring into the context that creates a good story. To this we add innovative, sometimes surprising practical techniques for developing the idiosyncratic signatures of young writers using their history as a source for creative and imaginative writing. We have gained the approval of academic historians, archeologists, curators, heritage education professionals, as well as of young writers, their parents, teachers and schools managements.

We are constantly developing new ways of connecting young writers with the skills and concepts of speculation based on historical information and processes. During the first year of pandemic lockdown, we re-modeled our working process for the online environment. This allowed us to explore contemporary discussions of what history in fact is. We were able in our project, Times Shifting , to bring together a unique group of young international writers who over the course of three months explored their shared experience of that astonishing historical turning point. You can read the short stories created fo the anthology Times Shifting – New Voices from a Changed World here .

It has become clear, in the years since we began, that our approach can be an important tool in developing a creative, individual and often idiosyncratic ‘take’ on historical and social facts and processes. Imagining History allows students to speculate in a particularly open way. They create their own intellectual and emotional journeys behind the accepted facts and lived lives of historical figures, places, events and occurrences.

The open and non-judgemental (though not uncritical) methods we use have also brought praise from participants who have experienced challenges to their mental well-being during periods of individual or collective stress.

read more here about what participants have said.

Where we come from…

The programme was established in 2015 by Alan Caig Wilson, Director of The Young Walter Scott Prize, in association with the East Anglian writer and educator Elizabeth Ferretti. Since then our team has grown organically to include two more writer-educators, an academic historian and an art historian. The development of online working has made it easier to invite the involvement of guest professionals associated with hosting venues.

The unique and open approach of IHUK also grew out of conversations with teenage writers in the months following the establishment of the Young Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Young writers expressed a certain confusion and lack of confidence in understanding the particular balance of speculation and ‘hard’ historical fact that plays such a rich role in the creation of historical fiction.

Our programmes and projects are fundamentally inspired by the actions of discovery and speculation of the young Walter Scott as he sourced the inspirations for a lifetime of creative innovation. The presence of Dr Dina Gusejnova in our core team, herself brought up in Russia on the stories of Sir Walter Scott, gives academic weight to the importance of Historical Fiction in the training of young minds to find their individual and informed voices.

Since then around 900 young writers have explored, researched and written in historical places, often enjoying special access to venues across the Scotland, the East of England and Cornwall. 

for more information about the range and reach of our programme, read more here

Crucibles of inspiration…

We work in a three-dimensional way bringing together young writers, teachers, historical venue staff, professional writers, arts educators and historians. Our work is immersive and experiential. We work with small groups of writers, online or outdoors at sites of historical interest. Our workshops and projects are carefully structured patterns of physical, intellectual and creative discovery, including time for private writing time.

Over the years we have found that it is possible to make complex demands of the writers once the critical relationship with the particular historical place is established. From observations of teachers and years of assessing participant feedback, we are confident in saying that our particular format of creative outdoor, small-group, physical-exploration based working reaches deeply into many areas of the personal, psychological, emotional and creative growth of young minds.

We are inspired by the words of Sir Ken Robinson, who defines creativity as the development of something of value in the eyes of the creator. We place the concept of ‘satisfaction’ at the very heart of our work. Each young person will create something of value that is satisfying during our workshops and projects. In contact with the historical environment, a young mind is faced with puzzles of many kinds. We have developed workshop technologies that guide them to creative solutions to the puzzles. The smiles, nods and excited laughter at the end of a day of mining a historical place for stories is reward enough; the feedback then allows us to believe that the chances of ongoing curiosity-driven development is high.

for more information on how we create our projects read more here

The Young Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction (YWSP)

Inspiration meets aspiration.

The Imagining History Programme UK is umbilically connected to The Young Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. YWSP is now in its seventh year – 14 winners, 14 runners up in two age-categories.

YWSP offers a unique pathway for young writers to imagine a future for their creative inspiration. From the decision to enter, the process of mailing the entry, to (potentially) winning, to spending a weekend as a guest of the Prize’s founders, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, to sharing the stage with the winner of the international Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, and having their entries published in an anthology, YWSP is a totally new world. We invite the winners to become immersed in the world of like-minded people united in their love for the genre of literature established by Sir Walter Scott. Indeed YWSP winners have their photographs taken at the very desk where Sir Walter created many of his novels.

YWSP was founded to seek out those who might, in years to come, follow in the footsteps of the boy who lay in the grass of the Scottish Borders and dreamed of other worlds. The process of creating Historical Fiction asks a young writer to think themselves into the lives of other people in radically different times and to ask themselves what might have happened next?

The top YWSP prize is a £500 travel bursary designed to send our winning writers off on further journeys of inspiration and discovery – this time of their own invention. Previous winners have visited their family homelands in Indonesia, toured Scottish castles and explored the layers of history of Istanbul.

At the Borders Book Festival in 2021, our two winners from YWSP 2020 Madeleine Friedlein (over 16 winner), Atlas Weyland Eden (under 16 winner) and our YWSP 2019 winner Ide Crawford (under 16 ) were awarded their prizes by Hilary Mantel in the year that the final volume of her Tudor trilogy won the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Read more about this perfect confluence of the established world of Historical Fiction and its world to come here .

Here they are with Sir Walter Scott in his library at Abbotsford.

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Writing Workshop: Historical Turning Point Wrld Hist

Read the revised introduction of an informative essay. During the Neolithic Revolution, irrigation was introduced, which produced larger crop yields, allowing people to store a surplus of food. Which best explains why the revision is effective It includes details and facts. Read a sentence from the draft of an essay about a historical turning point. During the Neolithic Revolution, irrigation was introduced, which produced larger crop yields, allowing people to store a surplus of food. The sentence would most likely be part of the introduction. Read the revised conclusion of an informative essay. The invention of the printing press was a turning point in history. In addition to increasing the availability of books and the spread of new ideas, it also led to significant political change and radical changes to the religion of Europe. This forever altered the course of history. Which best states why the conclusion is effective? It summarizes key points and restates facts. The graphic organizer explains the structure of an informative essay. The thesis statement should be included in the introduction. Read an excerpt from the introduction to an informative essay. The Neolithic Revolution was an important turning point in history. Instead of moving from place to place to gather enough food to survive, early peoples were able to settle in one place, farm crops on a large scale, and build settlements. How could a writer most improve the thesis in this introduction? by explaining the lasting change that occurred Which describes a purpose of a thesis statement? It supports a student's point of view on a topic. After creating an outline for an informative essay, a student should write the draft. Read the conclusion to an informative essay. The invention of the printing press was a turning point in history. In addition to increasing the availability of books and the spread of new ideas, it also led to significant political change and radical changes to the religion of Europe. This forever altered the course of history. Which phrase best supports the conclusion about the printing press? "invention of the printing press" Which is an important part of revising an essay about a turning point? effective transitions WE WILL WRITE A CUSTOM ESSAY SAMPLE ON ANY TOPIC SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU FOR ONLY $13.90/page Order now

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About this site

This web site is published by the Smithsonian Office of Education. It includes a cross section of web sites from across the Smithsonian Institution's museums and research centers which relate to the National History Day theme Turning Points in History . We have divided the contents into PEOPLE, EVENTS and IDEAS to facilitate searching. Some web sites may be listed in more than one of these sections. Be sure to note the author of individual web sites - it is not necessarily this office!  Museum and research center names are listed below  the title of each online exhibition.

The Smithsonian web site contains a significant amount of information on inventions and inventors. The Lemelson Center in the National Museum of American History is a good starting point. Check the National Air and Space Museum for information on space exploration and flight or the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.  There are many sources at the Smithsonian for cultural history turning points: National Museum of American Art, National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of African Art, and Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum,  Freer and Sackler Galleries, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History (Native Peoples), and National Museum of American History. Take a look at ENCYLOPEDIA SMITHSONIAN for information on additional topics.

National History Day 2000   theme

What is a turning point? The dictionary defines it as "the point at which a very significant change occurs; a decisive moment." Sometimes a turning point in history has immediate repercussions, making its significance obvious to people at the time; sometimes, the impact of an event or decision or person is clear only in retrospect. A turning point can be a personal decision in the life of one person, or a political choice affecting millions; it can be an event or idea with global or local consequences; it can be the life of a single person who inspires or affects other people.

Students investigating this year’s theme may choose to explore events with international repercussions, such as wars, or they may focus on events which affected fewer people, such as natural disasters, the establishment of new institutions, or the move of a family from one place to another. They may examine new ideas--political, religious, social, economic, philosophical--and how those ideas helped to transform some aspect of human life. Or they may choose instead to look at individuals whose ideas or actions have made a difference to those around them or to the world at large.

Citing Web Sites

Here are a few links to help you cite our sites correctly:

Columbia University Press: Columbia Guide to Online Style (MLA)

Robert Harris: Evaluating Internet Research Sources

Library of Congress: Citing Electronic Sources

Undergraduate Writing Center, University of Texas at Austin: APA and MLA Citation Styles (National History guidelines require MLA formated citations)

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] and include National History Day in the subject line of your message.

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• Turning Points in Historiography: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

In this Book

• Q. Edward Wang, Georg G. Iggers
• Published by: University of Rochester Press
• View Citation

Table of Contents

• Half Title Page, Title Page, Copyright, Dedication
• LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
• Laurence Whitehead
• NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
• ABBREVIATIONS
• pp. xvii-xx
• 1. African Democratisation: The Journey So Far
• Abdul Raufu Mustapha & Lindsay Whitfield
• 2. Senegal since 2000: Rebuilding Hegemony in a Global Age
• Tarik Dahou & Vincent Foucher
• 3. Côte d’Ivoire since 1993: The Risky Reinvention of a Nation
• Francis Akindès
• 4. Ghana since 1993: A Successful Democratic Experiment?
• Lindsay Whitfield
• 5. Nigeria since 1999: A Revolving Door Syndrome or the Consolidation of Democracy?
• Abdul Raufu Mustapha
• 6. Kenya Since 2002: The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same
• Nic Cheeseman
• 7. Zambia since 1990: Paradoxes of Democratic Transition
• Miles Larmer
• pp. 114-133
• 8. South Africa since 1994: Who Holds Power after Apartheid?
• Jeremy Seekings
• pp. 134-152
• 9. Mozambique since 1989: Shaping Democracy after Socialism
• Eric Morier-Genoud
• pp. 153-166
• 10. Rwanda & Burundi since 1994: An End to the Discriminatory State?
• Patricia Daley
• pp. 167-184
• 11. Zimbabwe since 1997: Land & the Legacies of War
• Jocelyn Alexander
• pp. 185-201
• 12. Conclusion: The Politics of African States in the Era of Democratisation
• Lindsay Whitfield and Abdul Raufu Mustapha
• pp. 202-228
• pp. 229-237

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A Historic Turning Point?

Will historians see 2020 as the peak of a global crisis – or will the world continue on its perilous course?

Few of us would have believed at the end of 2019 that the coming year would be more awful than the year past. But 2019 had one final gift for us: 31 December was the day that authorities in Wuhan, China confirmed they were treating dozens of cases of an unknown illness. There have been, at the time of writing, 1,173,189 deaths from Covid-19 from some 44 million confirmed cases; the death toll is likely to be 1.5m by the year end. 

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Writing Workshop: Historical Turning Point Test Questions – Flashcards

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• Aim at least 500 characters
• a topic sentence that states the main or controlling idea
• supporting sentences to explain and develop the point you’re making
• evidence from your reading or an example from the subject area that supports your point
• analysis of the implication/significance/impact of the evidence finished off with a critical conclusion you have drawn from the evidence.

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Before and After: Analyzing Turning Points in History

Major historic events inevitably bring about changes in society, from politics to daily routines. In this activity, students use four historical front pages to hypothesize about the impact of the covered events, then use current media to explore the continuing impact.

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• Civil Rights
• Women's Rights

Instructions

• Ask your students to answer a warmup discussion prompt: Think about a major event in your life (moving, starting at a new school, the arrival of a sibling, etc.). How was your life different before and after this event?
• Tell students they are going to use primary sources to gather evidence about how major historic events changed society. Using the information they can find in front-page news stories, they are going to hypothesize (make their best guess) how major events changed the lives of the people who lived through them. They should consider big changes and small changes. For example, the 9/11 attacks prompted the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan (big change), and it also led to “God Bless America” being played at ballparks (smaller change).
• Hand out the Analyzing Turning Points in History worksheet. To reduce the time required for this activity, you may assign one or two events (rather than all four) to each student. Using the front pages on this poster, give students 20 to 40 minutes to work individually or in small groups to make their hypotheses about the changes these events set in motion (left column of chart) and give their evidence/reason for each (right column of chart).
• If students are focusing on one or two events, have them confer with students who focused on the other events to fill in the rest of their chart.
• Give students 10 to 20 minutes to respond to the prompt in step 2 on the worksheet, evaluating how these events continue to affect our lives today.
• As a class, use the Newseum’s online Today’s Front Pages exhibit to look at front pages from across the nation and around the world. Look for headlines that show the lasting impact of these events. (Possible ideas: response to current economic challenges, the war on terror, continuing civil rights battles, etc.)
• Use the post-activity discussion prompts to begin a class discussion about the changes major events can set in motion, changing the course of history in big and small ways.
• Analyzing Turning Points in History worksheet, one per student
• Access to the four front pages on the EDCollections poster (either downloaded from these links -   Philadelphia Inquirer ,  USA TODAY ,  The Afro-American , and  Woman’s Journal and Suffrage News . - or via devices to view artifact gallery below)
• Internet access (optional)
• Teacher key (download)

Discussion Questions

• What were some of the big changes you found evidence to support? What were some of the smaller changes?
• What type of evidence/reasons did you use to make your hypotheses about changes?
• Sort the changes you hypothesized into categories. Possible categories: predictable versus unpredictable; positive versus negative; political versus personal, etc.
• Which event do you think had the biggest impact, resulting in the most significant changes? Why?

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

• Choose one of the four events in the multi-artifact viewer (and also on the EDCollections poster). Write a journal entry from the perspective of someone living shortly before this event occurred, then a second entry from after. At the top of your entry, give a description of who “you” (the person writing this journal entry) are. Use the second journal entry to describe some of the changes that have happened in your life since your chosen big event.
• Complete a chart listing changes and their reasons for a contemporary news story that has affected your life. Choose one news source to make your chart. As you did on the worksheet, list the changes you believe this event has caused on the left and the reason for the change on the right. List at least four changes and reasons.
• One area of life often affected by major historic events is the use/extent of First Amendment freedoms. Choose one of these events and research how it affected the role/use of the five freedoms of the First Amendment (religion, speech, press, assembly and petition).

Related Standards | Common Core State Standards

Common core state standards: ccss.ela-literacy.ccra.r.1, common core state standards: ccss.ela-literacy.ccra.r.2, common core state standards: ccss.ela-literacy.ccra.r.7, common core state standards: ccss.ela-literacy.ccra.r.8, related standards | national center for history in the schools, national center for history in the schools: nchs.us history.era 8, national center for history in the schools: nchs.us history.era 9, national center for history in the schools: nchs.us history.era 10, related standards | national council of teachers of english, national council of teachers of english: ncte.1, national council of teachers of english: ncte.7, national council of teachers of english: ncte.8, related standards | center for civic education, center for civic education: cce.ii, center for civic education: cce.iii, center for civic education: cce.v, related standards | ncss curriculum standards, ncss curriculum standards: ncss 2, ncss curriculum standards: ncss 5, ncss curriculum standards: ncss 6, ncss curriculum standards: ncss 10, explore more lesson plans.

Or, see all our ED Collections , Lesson Plans , Critical Debates , Themes , Exhibits , Digital Artifacts , Historical Events , Videos , and Interactives using our ED Tool search .

Lesson Plans

From the Front Page to the History Books

Compare Coverage of Brown v. Board Ruling

Different Perspectives on Women's Suffrage

What Don't You Know About Civil Rights?

Bias Through History: Analyzing Historical Sources

Media Mix-Ups Through History: Analyzing Historical Sources

Civil Rights: Reporting Then

The Tools to Persuade

Political Persuasion: It’s All About Image

Give Women the Vote? Analyzing Suffrage Propaganda

Civil Rights: Knowns and Unknowns

Things Change, Things Stay the Same

Civil Rights: Turning Points

Civil Rights: Identifying Community Issues

Civil Rights News Coverage: Looking Back at Bias

The Freedom to Make a Change

The Women Who Made the Movement

Belva Lockwood: America's First Generation of Female Lawyers

Recognizing Bias: Analyzing Context and Execution

The Press and the Presidency: Friend or Foe? How the President Is Portrayed

Making the Most of the Five Freedoms

Civil Rights: Reporting Now

'The Press and the Civil Rights Movement' Video Lesson

Persuasion Portfolios

Illustrated Opinions: Decoding an Editorial Cartoon

Making a Change: Letter From Birmingham Jail

Civil Rights: Reporting Out

Weighing the Arguments

Civil Rights: The Five Freedoms

Civil Rights: Chronicling the Movement

The First Amendment in Action Today

Disinformation Nation: Separating Politics & Propaganda

Case Study: ISIS Execution on Record (2015)

Case Study: The Ambassador’s Journal (2012)

'Rise Up': Exhibit Guide

Case Study: Giving the Unabomber a Voice (1995)

Case Study: The Execution of Ruth Snyder (1928)

Watergate’s ‘Deep Throat’ (1972)

Use ‘War of the Worlds’ to Teach Media Literacy

Bell Ringer: Evaluating Online News

Related videos, historical events and more ….

2017 Women's March: Archived Pages

Front Page of Suffragist Newspaper 'The New Northwest,' Aug. 6, 1875

Know-Nothing Party Newspaper Promotes Nativism (2 of 2)

Newspaper Coverage of Progressive (Bull Moose) Party, Aug. 7, 1912

'The World' Has Stories on Nellie Bly, Civil Rights

Mississippi Blacks Face Barriers to Registering to Vote

 Victoria Woodhull, First Woman Nominated for Presidency

Mueller Report Released, 2019: Archived Pages

'The Press and the Civil Rights Movement' Video and Lesson

Participating in Political Discourse

'The News' Defends Panama Canal Coverage, 1908

10 Tips to Spot Media Manipulation

Civil Rights Media Map

Free Speech Essentials

Women's Property Protected

'Ain't I a Woman?'

Women's Group Fights Lynching

Suffrage and States' Rights

Women's Loyal National League

Massachusetts Anti-Suffragists Dissent

'The New Northwest' Newspaper

13th Amendment Ratified

New Equal Rights Association

Lockwood for president.

Major Split Among Suffragists

Woodhull for President!

First Woman Wins Congress Seat

National Woman's Party Founded

The Radical 'Revolution'

'Woman's Journal' Takes Off

Publication of 'The Una'

New Party Supports Suffrage

Susan B. Anthony Arrested

'A Vindication' Published

College Students Organize

'The Afro-American' Founded

Congressional Union Founded

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Regents Prep: Global 2 Exam

How to identity and explain the significance of a turning point.

Helpful words and phrases for identifying and explaining the significance of turning points in history and activities for practicing the use of those words and phrases

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Resources for Part II: Constructed Response Questions: How to Identity and Explain the Significance of a Turning Point

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The Turning-Point of My Life by Mark Twain

January 29, 2011 by Richard Leave a Comment

 I understand the idea, the BAZAR invites several of us to write upon the above text. It means the change in my life’s course which introduced what must be regarded by me as the most IMPORTANT condition of my career. But it also implies—without intention, perhaps—that that turning-point ITSELF was the creator of the new condition. This gives it too much distinction, too much prominence, too much credit. It is only the LAST link in a very long chain of turning-points commissioned to produce the cardinal result; it is not any more important than the humblest of its ten thousand predecessors. Each of the ten thousand did its appointed share, on its appointed date, in forwarding the scheme, and they were all necessary; to have left out any one of them would have defeated the scheme and brought about SOME OTHER result. It know we have a fashion of saying “such and such an event was the turning-point in my life,” but we shouldn’t say it. We should merely grant that its place as LAST link in the chain makes it the most CONSPICUOUS link; in real importance it has no advantage over any one of its predecessors.

Perhaps the most celebrated turning-point recorded in history was the crossing of the Rubicon. Suetonius says:

Coming up with his troops on the banks of the Rubicon, he halted for a while, and, revolving in his mind the importance of the step he was on the point of taking, he turned to those about him and said, “We may still retreat; but if we pass this little bridge, nothing is left for us but to fight it out in arms.”

This was a stupendously important moment. And all the incidents, big and little, of Caesar’s previous life had been leading up to it, stage by stage, link by link. This was the LAST link—merely the last one, and no bigger than the others; but as we gaze back at it through the inflating mists of our imagination, it looks as big as the orbit of Neptune.

You, the reader, have a PERSONAL interest in that link, and so have I; so has the rest of the human race. It was one of the links in your life-chain, and it was one of the links in mine. We may wait, now, with bated breath, while Caesar reflects. Your fate and mine are involved in his decision.

While he was thus hesitating, the following incident occurred. A person remarked for his noble mien and graceful aspect appeared close at hand, sitting and playing upon a pipe. When not only the shepherds, but a number of soldiers also, flocked to listen to him, and some trumpeters among them, he snatched a trumpet from one of them, ran to the river with it, and, sounding the advance with a piercing blast, crossed to the other side. Upon this, Caesar exclaimed: “Let us go whither the omens of the gods and the iniquity of our enemies call us. THE DIE IS CAST.”

So he crossed—and changed the future of the whole human race, for all time. But that stranger was a link in Caesar’s life-chain, too; and a necessary one. We don’t know his name, we never hear of him again; he was very casual; he acts like an accident; but he was no accident, he was there by compulsion of HIS life-chain, to blow the electrifying blast that was to make up Caesar’s mind for him, and thence go piping down the aisles of history forever.

If the stranger hadn’t been there! But he WAS. And Caesar crossed. With such results! Such vast events—each a link in the HUMAN RACE’S life-chain; each event producing the next one, and that one the next one, and so on: the destruction of the republic; the founding of the empire; the breaking up of the empire; the rise of Christianity upon its ruins; the spread of the religion to other lands—and so on; link by link took its appointed place at its appointed time, the discovery of America being one of them; our Revolution another; the inflow of English and other immigrants another; their drift westward (my ancestors among them) another; the settlement of certain of them in Missouri, which resulted in ME. For I was one of the unavoidable results of the crossing of the Rubicon. If the stranger, with his trumpet blast, had stayed away (which he COULDN’T, for he was the appointed link) Caesar would not have crossed. What would have happened, in that case, we can never guess. We only know that the things that did happen would not have happened. They might have been replaced by equally prodigious things, of course, but their nature and results are beyond our guessing. But the matter that interests me personally is that I would not be HERE now, but somewhere else; and probably black—there is no telling. Very well, I am glad he crossed. And very really and thankfully glad, too, though I never cared anything about it before.

II To me, the most important feature of my life is its literary feature. I have been professionally literary something more than forty years. There have been many turning-points in my life, but the one that was the link in the chain appointed to conduct me to the literary guild is the most CONSPICUOUS link in that chain. BECAUSE it was the last one. It was not any more important than its predecessors. All the other links have an inconspicuous look, except the crossing of the Rubicon; but as factors in making me literary they are all of the one size, the crossing of the Rubicon included.

I know how I came to be literary, and I will tell the steps that lead up to it and brought it about.

The crossing of the Rubicon was not the first one, it was hardly even a recent one; I should have to go back ages before Caesar’s day to find the first one. To save space I will go back only a couple of generations and start with an incident of my boyhood. When I was twelve and a half years old, my father died. It was in the spring. The summer came, and brought with it an epidemic of measles. For a time a child died almost every day. The village was paralyzed with fright, distress, despair. Children that were not smitten with the disease were imprisoned in their homes to save them from the infection. In the homes there were no cheerful faces, there was no music, there was no singing but of solemn hymns, no voice but of prayer, no romping was allowed, no noise, no laughter, the family moved spectrally about on tiptoe, in a ghostly hush. I was a prisoner. My soul was steeped in this awful dreariness—and in fear. At some time or other every day and every night a sudden shiver shook me to the marrow, and I said to myself, “There, I’ve got it! and I shall die.” Life on these miserable terms was not worth living, and at last I made up my mind to get the disease and have it over, one way or the other. I escaped from the house and went to the house of a neighbor where a playmate of mine was very ill with the malady. When the chance offered I crept into his room and got into bed with him. I was discovered by his mother and sent back into captivity. But I had the disease; they could not take that from me. I came near to dying. The whole village was interested, and anxious, and sent for news of me every day; and not only once a day, but several times. Everybody believed I would die; but on the fourteenth day a change came for the worse and they were disappointed.

This was a turning-point of my life. (Link number one.) For when I got well my mother closed my school career and apprenticed me to a printer. She was tired of trying to keep me out of mischief, and the adventure of the measles decided her to put me into more masterful hands than hers.

I became a printer, and began to add one link after another to the chain which was to lead me into the literary profession. A long road, but I could not know that; and as I did not know what its goal was, or even that it had one, I was indifferent. Also contented.

A young printer wanders around a good deal, seeking and finding work; and seeking again, when necessity commands. N. B. Necessity is a CIRCUMSTANCE; Circumstance is man’s master—and when Circumstance commands, he must obey; he may argue the matter—that is his privilege, just as it is the honorable privilege of a falling body to argue with the attraction of gravitation—but it won’t do any good, he must OBEY. I wandered for ten years, under the guidance and dictatorship of Circumstance, and finally arrived in a city of Iowa, where I worked several months. Among the books that interested me in those days was one about the Amazon. The traveler told an alluring tale of his long voyage up the great river from Para to the sources of the Madeira, through the heart of an enchanted land, a land wastefully rich in tropical wonders, a romantic land where all the birds and flowers and animals were of the museum varieties, and where the alligator and the crocodile and the monkey seemed as much at home as if they were in the Zoo. Also, he told an astonishing tale about COCA, a vegetable product of miraculous powers, asserting that it was so nourishing and so strength-giving that the native of the mountains of the Madeira region would tramp up hill and down all day on a pinch of powdered coca and require no other sustenance.

I was fired with a longing to ascend the Amazon. Also with a longing to open up a trade in coca with all the world. During months I dreamed that dream, and tried to contrive ways to get to Para and spring that splendid enterprise upon an unsuspecting planet. But all in vain. A person may PLAN as much as he wants to, but nothing of consequence is likely to come of it until the magician CIRCUMSTANCE steps in and takes the matter off his hands. At last Circumstance came to my help. It was in this way. Circumstance, to help or hurt another man, made him lose a fifty-dollar bill in the street; and to help or hurt me, made me find it. I advertised the find, and left for the Amazon the same day. This was another turning-point, another link.

Could Circumstance have ordered another dweller in that town to go to the Amazon and open up a world-trade in coca on a fifty-dollar basis and been obeyed? No, I was the only one. There were other fools there—shoals and shoals of them—but they were not of my kind. I was the only one of my kind.

Circumstance is powerful, but it cannot work alone; it has to have a partner. Its partner is man’s TEMPERAMENT—his natural disposition. His temperament is not his invention, it is BORN in him, and he has no authority over it, neither is he responsible for its acts. He cannot change it, nothing can change it, nothing can modify it—except temporarily. But it won’t stay modified. It is permanent, like the color of the man’s eyes and the shape of his ears. Blue eyes are gray in certain unusual lights; but they resume their natural color when that stress is removed.

A Circumstance that will coerce one man will have no effect upon a man of a different temperament. If Circumstance had thrown the bank-note in Caesar’s way, his temperament would not have made him start for the Amazon. His temperament would have compelled him to do something with the money, but not that. It might have made him advertise the note—and WAIT. We can’t tell. Also, it might have made him go to New York and buy into the Government, with results that would leave Tweed nothing to learn when it came his turn.

Very well, Circumstance furnished the capital, and my temperament told me what to do with it. Sometimes a temperament is an ass. When that is the case of the owner of it is an ass, too, and is going to remain one. Training, experience, association, can temporarily so polish him, improve him, exalt him that people will think he is a mule, but they will be mistaken. Artificially he IS a mule, for the time being, but at bottom he is an ass yet, and will remain one.

By temperament I was the kind of person that DOES things. Does them, and reflects afterward. So I started for the Amazon without reflecting and without asking any questions. That was more than fifty years ago. In all that time my temperament has not changed, by even a shade. I have been punished many and many a time, and bitterly, for doing things and reflecting afterward, but these tortures have been of no value to me; I still do the thing commanded by Circumstance and Temperament, and reflect afterward. Always violently. When I am reflecting, on these occasions, even deaf persons can hear me think.

I went by the way of Cincinnati, and down the Ohio and Mississippi. My idea was to take ship, at New Orleans, for Para. In New Orleans I inquired, and found there was no ship leaving for Para. Also, that there never had BEEN one leaving for Para. I reflected. A policeman came and asked me what I was doing, and I told him. He made me move on, and said if he caught me reflecting in the public street again he would run me in.

After a few days I was out of money. Then Circumstance arrived, with another turning-point of my life—a new link. On my way down, I had made the acquaintance of a pilot. I begged him to teach me the river, and he consented. I became a pilot.

By and by Circumstance came again—introducing the Civil War, this time, in order to push me ahead another stage or two toward the literary profession. The boats stopped running, my livelihood was gone.

Circumstance came to the rescue with a new turning-point and a fresh link. My brother was appointed secretary to the new Territory of Nevada, and he invited me to go with him and help him in his office. I accepted.

In Nevada, Circumstance furnished me the silver fever and I went into the mines to make a fortune, as I supposed; but that was not the idea. The idea was to advance me another step toward literature. For amusement I scribbled things for the Virginia City ENTERPRISE. One isn’t a printer ten years without setting up acres of good and bad literature, and learning—unconsciously at first, consciously later—to discriminate between the two, within his mental limitations; and meantime he is unconsciously acquiring what is called a “style.” One of my efforts attracted attention, and the ENTERPRISE sent for me and put me on its staff.

And so I became a journalist—another link. By and by Circumstance and the Sacramento UNION sent me to the Sandwich Islands for five or six months, to write up sugar. I did it; and threw in a good deal of extraneous matter that hadn’t anything to do with sugar. But it was this extraneous matter that helped me to another link.

It made me notorious, and San Francisco invited me to lecture. Which I did. And profitably. I had long had a desire to travel and see the world, and now Circumstance had most kindly and unexpectedly hurled me upon the platform and furnished me the means. So I joined the “Quaker City Excursion.”

When I returned to America, Circumstance was waiting on the pier—with the LAST link—the conspicuous, the consummating, the victorious link: I was asked to WRITE A BOOK, and I did it, and called it THE INNOCENTS ABROAD. Thus I became at last a member of the literary guild. That was forty-two years ago, and I have been a member ever since. Leaving the Rubicon incident away back where it belongs, I can say with truth that the reason I am in the literary profession is because I had the measles when I was twelve years old.

III Now what interests me, as regards these details, is not the details themselves, but the fact that none of them was foreseen by me, none of them was planned by me, I was the author of none of them. Circumstance, working in harness with my temperament, created them all and compelled them all. I often offered help, and with the best intentions, but it was rejected—as a rule, uncourteously. I could never plan a thing and get it to come out the way I planned it. It came out some other way—some way I had not counted upon.

And so I do not admire the human being—as an intellectual marvel—as much as I did when I was young, and got him out of books, and did not know him personally. When I used to read that such and such a general did a certain brilliant thing, I believed it. Whereas it was not so. Circumstance did it by help of his temperament. The circumstances would have failed of effect with a general of another temperament: he might see the chance, but lose the advantage by being by nature too slow or too quick or too doubtful. Once General Grant was asked a question about a matter which had been much debated by the public and the newspapers; he answered the question without any hesitancy. “General, who planned the the march through Georgia?” “The enemy!” He added that the enemy usually makes your plans for you. He meant that the enemy by neglect or through force of circumstances leaves an opening for you, and you see your chance and take advantage of it.

Circumstances do the planning for us all, no doubt, by help of our temperaments. I see no great difference between a man and a watch, except that the man is conscious and the watch isn’t, and the man TRIES to plan things and the watch doesn’t. The watch doesn’t wind itself and doesn’t regulate itself—these things are done exteriorly. Outside influences, outside circumstances, wind the MAN and regulate him. Left to himself, he wouldn’t get regulated at all, and the sort of time he would keep would not be valuable. Some rare men are wonderful watches, with gold case, compensation balance, and all those things, and some men are only simple and sweet and humble Waterburys. I am a Waterbury. A Waterbury of that kind, some say.

A nation is only an individual multiplied. It makes plans and Circumstances comes and upsets them—or enlarges them. Some patriots throw the tea overboard; some other patriots destroy a Bastille. The PLANS stop there; then Circumstance comes in, quite unexpectedly, and turns these modest riots into a revolution.

And there was poor Columbus. He elaborated a deep plan to find a new route to an old country. Circumstance revised his plan for him, and he found a new WORLD. And HE gets the credit of it to this day. He hadn’t anything to do with it.

Necessarily the scene of the real turning-point of my life (and of yours) was the Garden of Eden. It was there that the first link was forged of the chain that was ultimately to lead to the emptying of me into the literary guild. Adam’s TEMPERAMENT was the first command the Deity ever issued to a human being on this planet. And it was the only command Adam would NEVER be able to disobey. It said, “Be weak, be water, be characterless, be cheaply persuadable.” The latter command, to let the fruit alone, was certain to be disobeyed. Not by Adam himself, but by his TEMPERAMENT—which he did not create and had no authority over. For the TEMPERAMENT is the man; the thing tricked out with clothes and named Man is merely its Shadow, nothing more. The law of the tiger’s temperament is, Thou shalt kill; the law of the sheep’s temperament is Thou shalt not kill. To issue later commands requiring the tiger to let the fat stranger alone, and requiring the sheep to imbue its hands in the blood of the lion is not worth while, for those commands CAN’T be obeyed. They would invite to violations of the law of TEMPERAMENT, which is supreme, and take precedence of all other authorities. I cannot help feeling disappointed in Adam and Eve. That is, in their temperaments. Not in THEM, poor helpless young creatures—afflicted with temperaments made out of butter; which butter was commanded to get into contact with fire and BE MELTED. What I cannot help wishing is, that Adam had been postponed, and Martin Luther and Joan of Arc put in their place—that splendid pair equipped with temperaments not made of butter, but of asbestos. By neither sugary persuasions nor by hell fire could Satan have beguiled THEM to eat the apple. There would have been results! Indeed, yes. The apple would be intact today; there would be no human race; there would be no YOU; there would be no ME. And the old, old creation-dawn scheme of ultimately launching me into the literary guild would have been defeated.

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development .

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy , with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

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Elektrostal

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Elektrostal , city, Moscow oblast (province), western Russia . It lies 36 miles (58 km) east of Moscow city. The name, meaning “electric steel,” derives from the high-quality-steel industry established there soon after the October Revolution in 1917. During World War II , parts of the heavy-machine-building industry were relocated there from Ukraine, and Elektrostal is now a centre for the production of metallurgical equipment. Pop. (2006 est.) 146,189.

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The flag of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia which I bought there during my last visit