Origins

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The concept of Blythe Smart Publications had its origins in an idea that was started some fifteen years ago. There were many books available regarding the history of sport and other more general historical subjects, but on occasion these lacked a deeper insight resulting from detailed research in the field, studies in the archives, an inquisitive mind, and the use of new perspectives. In particular there was a need to combine a  broader history with local history and genealogical detail.

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The first attempt to carry out such research was regarding the Founders of Soccer, when an investigation into clubs and their histories revealed that the men behind the game were connected to every aspect of the British Empire and Victorian innovation. The research, including overseas, appeared in The Wow Factor: How Soccer Evolved with a book launch in period costume, an appearance on Radio Solent, and through Sports Pages in London the book reached the Top Ten in the Independent.

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Development

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With such encouragement for this kind of work Blythe Smart Publications was born, and three more books were produced with a similar historical perspective. In particular there was the amazing story of Arthur Pember the first president of the Football Association and undercover reporter in New York using disguises. His significance was long forgotten, but there was clearly an appetite to read of such adventurers, as witnessed by the prevalence of history programmes on the T.V. such as Who Do You Think You Are?  No stone was left unturned in following his footsteps as he was pursued across New York State to the heart of the American nation.

 

This was followed by the biography of Colin Blythe the  Kent and England cricketer, which revealed the truth of the assertion that there are indeed different versions of history! Meanwhile Blythe Smart Publications also explored other forms of writing such as poetry, and fiction with stories of wizards and European adventures but with an historical element. Most of the books were entirely by the author including page layout, typesetting, pictures, indexing and covers up to print ready pdf standard.

 

Latest Updates

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These were just the beginning and the same research was applied to the London Churches and to New Zealand, creating a series of volumes that provide the reader with many salient facts and fascinating historical discoveries. These detailed studies involved travel to the every corner of London and tramping the bush with a tent. The resulting books are not just dry historic records, but provide a new insight and are the result of some degree of adventure. They show that the present is just a moment in time and that former lives and landscapes are still with us today.

 

The books not only reconsider the rich and famous but also reveal the lives of the common man in history, and the historical quotes by famous people listed below provide an insight into the ethos behind the work. To find out more, read the fascinating stories behind each book's research, and learn how genealogy and local history can be inter-combined.

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Historical Quotes

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"A people without history is like wind on the buffalo grass," Sioux proverb, indeed the writer met a descendant of Crazy Horse during the work

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"Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi" or "Without foresight or vision the people will be lost,"  Tawhiao, the King of the Maoris

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"History with all her volumes vast, hath but one page," Lord Byron who was mad, bad and dangerous to know, according to Caroline Lamb

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his transcendentalist pose

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"The farther backward you  can look, the farther forward you are likely to see," Winston Churchill, perhaps during an antithetical mood

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"A generation which ignores history has no past and no future," Richard Heinlein, the dean, who wrote during the golden age of science fiction