AboutMichael FitzGerald Expertise I am an expert in German history between 1918 and 1945, particularly with regard to the Nazi era. I am also very knowledgeable about most areas of philosophy (I have an honours degree in the subject) and am able to answer questions on that subject too. In addition, I am very knowledgeable about poetry. One of my hobbies is also politics, mainly British and European though I follow the US political scene as well. Another one is the history of crime and punishment and British social history (the two often overlap!) I am willing to answer questions on all the above issues.
Experience Author of two published works, 'Storm Troopers of Satan,' an account of the lunatic fringes of Nazi ideology, and 'Adolf Hitler: A Portrait,' a biography of the German dictator. 'Adolf Hitler' was published in July 2006 by the top history publisher Spellmount and was named historical biography of the month by the Good Book Guide. I correspond with Ian Kershaw, Peter Stachura, Jeremy Noakes, Roger Moorhouse and Stan Lauryssens. I have undertaken research for radio, television, newspapers and magazines
Organizations Society of Authors
Education/Credentials I have an Honours degree in philosophy.
Awards and Honors LT prize for poetry
Historical Biography of the month, Good Book Guide
Question The inventor of movable type for printing was?
Answer Dear Tanisha,
Thanks for your question. I have been away for the last three days so please forgive me if I didn't answer you before.
Moveable type for printing was invented around 1450 by Johannes Gutenberg (hence 'the Gutenberg Galaxy,' as Marshall McLuhan refered to the revolution in the transmission of knowledge and the production of books introduced by Gutenberg's invention.)
Although in many ways printing has developed radically since his time, not least with the introduction in the 1980s of the digital pre-press system, essentially the process of printing itself is still unchanged since the days of Gutenberg. Unlike him, printers nowadays do not use hot metal to set their type, which is created on a computer using a programme such as Quark Xpress, In Design or Pagemaker, but the press and particularly the finishing process is still based on the same principles that were discovered by Gutenberg himself in 1450. I have personal experience of this as my wife used to run a printing business and I also have a certificate in the pre-press side of things (digital origination as they call it nowadays).
Hope this helps - though Gutenberg was German, not American!
If you need any more information please do not hesitate to ask me.
