Beyond Good and Evil
As a frontline soldier in the First World War, the German artist Otto Dix fell under the spell of the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche and his assault on Christian morality.
Feature
Holy Women and the Rise of Royal Power in France
Medieval French monarchs used – and abused – the charismatic power of religious women.
History in Ruins
The changing fates of one of France’s grandest castles are a microcosm for its history.
Enemies of the Habsburgs
An alliance between Louis XIV and a Transylvanian prince was just one aspect of the Sun King’s ambition to dominate Europe.
Himmler's Witch Hunt
The Third Reich’s obsession with a pure Germanic past led to a renewed interest in the witch hunts of early modern Germany.
Life on the Mississippi
Mark Twain painted an evocative vision of the Mississippi River, but he didn’t tell the whole story.
Keeping India Cool
Sweltering British imperialists relied on an army of fan bearers, whose stories are as invisible as the air they circulated.
A Liberal History
Liberalism became the dominant ideology of the West when it was adopted by Britain and the United States. But its roots lie elsewhere.
The Free Frenchman
A proud, pious aristocrat, loyal to General de Gaulle, Philippe Leclerc found a kindred soul among Britain’s wartime elite.
Memories of a Massacre
It is the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre. How have the events of that day been remembered?