Issue 56 December 2006

Richard Wilkinson, Louis XIV’s new biographer, searches for the real Sun King.

Mike Wells argues that Russian decisions in July 1870 were of major significance for the history of Europe.

R. E. Foster surveys the changing interpretations and introduces the key facts.

Gervase Phillips points out the limitations in a common interpretation.

Once again Russel Tarr demonstrates how ICT can enrich and enliven the work of historians.

Marius Ostrowski explains why the Church was so dominant in the Middle ages, but also sees traces of a growing secularism.

F.G. Stapleton seeks to understand why the Pontiff of 1939-58 has been called ‘Hitler’s Pope’.

Fifty years after Khrushchev’s famous denunciation of Stalin at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, John Etty examines what was at stake.

Vincent Barnett reveals that there is more to Machiavelli than his notorious reputation.

Mark Rathbone assesses the degree of success achieved by one of the great Victorian Prime Ministers.