BBC HistoryExtra celebrates Luke Daly’s expertise in Medieval matters
By: Communications
"Being named in the HistoryExtra's 30 under 30 is a profound validation of all the hard work, late nights, and weekends I have invested in over the last few years. With this energy, I am very excited to not only dive back into my books, podcast, and research but also to see what new doors and opportunities may come."
Luke Daly is a Postgraduate Researcher at UEA who has recently been honoured as one of BBC HistoryExtra’s 30 under 30. This accolade recognises 30 of the most promising historians aged between 18 and 30 nationwide who are making significant contributions to the field, and Luke Daly’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.
Graduating from UEA with a History degree in 2022 and a Masters in Medieval History in 2023, Luke continues his studies at UEA, now embarking on groundbreaking PhD research on the financial records of 13th century Canterbury Cathedral. Reflecting on his academic journey, he shared:
“Having done my bachelors, masters, and now PhD all at UEA, I feel I owe a lot of this award to them. I was proud to have received an unconditional offer from UEA. The community, the city and the department are what have kept me here in my home city.”
Luke has recently published his debut book ‘Medieval Saints and their Sins: A New History of the Middles Ages Through Saints and Their Stories’. The book explores Luke's passion for medieval history, an endeavor which was forged at UEA.
He said: “I had never studied medieval history until coming to university. My first ever lecture was an introduction to the Middle Ages by Stephen Church in first year and from that moment nothing else mattered.
“This book dives into the Middle Ages. We hear from saints who witnessed the world around them, sharing their intimate thoughts, fears, and attitudes towards world-changing events. We discover how saints were then utilised as instruments of control to shape public order. In many ways it's a history of Christianity as much as it is about medieval history.
“Nevertheless, it has been overwhelming to see the positive responses from people who have read the book, and I am extremely appreciative to my publishers Pen and Sword, for taking a chance and turning this dream into a reality.”
Luke gives credit to his success to the support of UEA’s faculty, saying:
“My pure love for medieval history has carried me far, but each step to achieve my goal of being a historian has been helped along the way by the fantastic lecturers in the department who helped keep that flame alight and help direct my path - a special mention to Nicholas Vincent, Hugh Doherty, Stephen O’Connor, Oren Margolis, and Tom License."
Being listed on BBC HistoryExtra’s 30 under 30 is a testament to Luke’s hard work and dedication. Having begun his freelance career as a third year during his undergraduate degree, he now works full -time alongside his PhD. He said:
“I have worked tirelessly over the last three years developing and refining my books, the podcast, and my academic work, so it is extraordinary to have this validated and recognised and to know that I chose the right path despite the setbacks, rough times, and obstacles."
Alongside the success of his published book, Luke hosts The Daly Medieval Podcast, where he interviews renowned historians across various fields of expertise. He said:
“The podcast was born from an attempt to network more with the history community. I am very lucky to have a historian, archaeologist, or author come on every month to talk about their life story, their projects, and the history that they are passionate about.”
Beyond academics, Luke has been actively involved in campus life. He said:
“I was part of UEA Mountaineering for a few years, even being its President during Covid. I also started the UEA Day Walk Society in my second year.”
Looking ahead, Lukes ambitions continue to grow. He shares:
“In many ways this is only the beginning. I was fortunate enough to be part of filming a documentary and I am finishing a second book about medieval women.”
UEA is incredibly proud of Luke’s achievements and looks forward to seeing his continued success in the field of history.