Survey reveals attitudes towards history

COVID-19 is the current event that will be of most interest to the historians of tomorrow, beating Brexit, climate change and the refugee crisis, 41% of Britons have said in a survey

conducted by the Wolfson History Prize

The results of the survey highlight the British public’s view of 2022 as a key year in history, with over 40% of those surveyed believing that the global pandemic will be the defining issue for historians when they study this period in the future.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Wolfson History Prize this year, the survey asked the British public which decade in the past half century was most historically significant, with the 2020s coming out on top at 39%.

The survey also showed that the classroom is not the only place to instil an interest in history: 62% of Brits reported that watching a historical drama had inspired them to find out more about the subject matter, demonstrating the importance of championing history in all formats.

In addition to the survey results, well-known historians, including Mary Beard, Dan Snow, and Antony Beevor, are lending their voices to the Wolfson History Prize 50th anniversary celebrations throughout 2022.

Activities for the 50th anniversary of the prize will include events, features and other content to mark half a century of the UK’S most prestigious and valuable history writing prize.

Website: www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk