History Today

W.A. Coupe explores the polarised opinions aroused by the 'Iron Chancellor', as revealed in the German press.

Roy Porter opens our new series on Picturing History, based on a series of lectures organised in conjunction with Reaktion Books, and shows how 18th-century images of the medical profession flow over into the work of political caricaturists.

Charles Saumarez Smith, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, reflects on some of the issues raised by the exhibition 'Painted Ladies: Women at the Court of Charles II'.

Richard Monte presents the forthcoming Polish film adaptation of Quo Vadis.

John D. Pelzer shows the connections between jazz, youth and the German Occupation.

John Laurence presents a Reporter’s View of Vietnam.

Phillipe Ariès once argued that childhood did not exist in the Middle Ages. The survival of toys and depictions of games in medieval manuscripts prove otherwise.

The election on 25 October 1951 marked the end of six years of Labour government. 

The Danish astronomer died on October 24th, 1601.

Churchill became PM for a second time on October 26th, 1951, only a month away from his 77th birthday.