I find it very hard to write about Jewish history. Simon Schama findhardhistory Change image and share on social
I actually think that history has fed off the restlessness of cyber space, of kind of the frantic, segmented nature of the way we lead our lives. People want to be connected. Simon Schama connectcyberfeed Change image and share on social
Growing up in Britain as a rather loose Jew, the two things that didn't belong together were freedom and religious intensity. In America, they do. The Founding Fathers made a bet that if you didn't force everyone to profess religion in their own particular way, you could protect intellectual freedom, and religion would flourish. Simon Schama americabelongbet share on social
I am not very relaxed about bad reviews. But I am resilient. I grieve, curse and swear, put on loud music, and get on with the next job. Simon Schama badcursegrieve Change image and share on social
It takes a perverse determination to drain that instinctive curiosity away and make history seem just remote, dead and disconnected from our contemporary reality. Conversely, it just takes skilful storytelling to recharge that connection to make the past come alive in our present. Simon Schama aliveconnectioncontemporary share on social
Jewish comedy doesn't come out of nothing. Jewish music doesn't come out of nothing... I don't want to be part of a story where Jews are just victims or bullies - and I'm not saying that's what the Israelis are. Simon Schama bullycomedyisraeli share on social
A generation without history is a generation that not only loses a nation's memory but loses a sense of what it's like to be inside a human skin. Simon Schama generationhistoryhuman Change image and share on social
I would want the British reader to feel that religion in America isn't an absurd thing - a sign of a pin head athwart a gigantic body. Simon Schama absurdamericaathwart Change image and share on social
I am passionately invested in the survival of Israel and everything Israel represents. But I am extremely critical of much of its policy. I believe that the occupation must end. And if it doesn't, it will end Israel. I'm not in favor of settlements. Simon Schama criticalendextremely share on social
I was conscious of being wordy as a child. I was a terrible talker. I memorised the Latin names of flowers at five; I was shown off as a freak. My father encouraged me to be wordier than I was: he'd been a street orator at the time of Mosley, and his ideal primary concert speech was Henry V's speech before Harfleur. Simon Schama childconcertconscious share on social