Jen Paton

Jen Paton is a graduate of Yale University, where she studied medieval history and wrote about cannibalism. She then moved to London to work at a small law firm, focusing on employment law. She is sure the next thing she does will be as seemingly unrelated.

Europe and its cannibals

A spell-binding history of cannibalism in the middle ages: its use as a propaganda tool, and place in Christendom's self-image; the cannibal as a philosophical hypothetical, and a justification for colonialism; and Richard the Lionheart's fondness for "Saracen's head's all hot"

By Jen Paton

/ 5 Feb 2010

The real story of Thanksgiving

In November 1863, President Lincoln made Thanksgiving Day (up till then rather unofficial and only vaguely celebrated) a National Holiday, inviting his "fellow citizens in every part of the

By Jen Paton

/ 27 Nov 2008