Volume 56 Issue 4 April 2006

Chris Smallbone explains the effect of United States expansion on the native Americans of the Great Plains in the mid-19th century.

Anthony Fletcher uses the papers of his artistic great-aunt, who, as a young nationalist, wrote an eyewitness account of the Easter Rising, to explore her youthful patriotism and vigorous activism.

Michael Hunter, an authority on the natural philosopher Robert Hooke, describes his excitement at the recent discovery of an unknown manuscript in Hooke’s hand. He explains its significance and why every effort should be made to keep it in Britain.

Krista Kesselring describes how coroners in the Early Modern period tried to establish the cause of death in disputed cases.

Juliet Gardiner reviews the current exhibition at Tate Liverpool that celebrates the British flair for documentary film-making.

Richard Vinen ponders the political significance of two of France’s most potent female icons and finds there is more to them than meets the eye.

The great Victorian engineer was born on 9th April, 1806.