The Englishman Who Cried ‘Let Ireland Go’
In 1920 the English writer Jerome K. Jerome set out the arguments in favour of Irish home rule.
History Today
‘The Price of Victory’ by N.A.M. Rodger review
The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815-1945 by N.A.M. Rodger looks above decks for the story of the modern Royal Navy.
‘Augustus the Strong’ by Tim Blanning review
In Augustus the Strong: A Study in Artistic Greatness and Political Fiasco, Tim Blanning restores the ‘incorrigible Saxon’ to history.
How Does History Judge Prime Ministers?
Political reputations are forged by actions, but the long view of history can be hard to predict.
Following Threads to Colonial Barbados
Two rare textile discoveries connect 18th-century Barbadian schoolgirls to England.
Forgeries, Fakes, and Phantom Time
According to some, written history began in the 14th century. It may seem ridiculous, but the Phantom Time conspiracy theory has serious implications.
‘The Grammar of Angels’ by Edward Wilson-Lee review
The Grammar of Angels: A Search for the Magical Powers of Language by Edward Wilson-Lee finds in Giovanni Pico della Mirandola a case for the Rennaissance as a triumph not of individuality, but of universal experience.
The Mad Duchess Lives
Written into history as the ‘Mad Duchess’ of Albemarle, what brought about the downfall of Elizabeth Cavendish?
Who to Blame for Early Modern Climate Change?
The changing climate of the Little Ice Age forced radical thinkers to reconsider humanity’s place in the universe.
An Unreported Murder in East Germany
In 1981, a horrific murder case required police in East Germany to go door-to-door collecting handwriting samples. There was no public outrage, because they were not told about the crime.