Cold War Clem
Fiercely anti-Communist, Clement Attlee found Britain’s intelligence agencies to be invaluable tools.
Volume 67 Issue 9 September 2017
Counter Culture
History is at odds with our desire for simple certainties. Can its cultivation of complexity create a better future?
Opera for the Ordinary
Despite popular misconceptions and its aristocratic origins, for part of its history opera was inextricably linked with popular culture – no more so than in the 1920s.
The Sound of Silence
How and why did concert-going change from a raucous, noisy affair to one of hushed appreciation?
Points of Interest
Even the most obscure topic can be fascinating, and fascination can be found in the most unlikely places.
On the Spot: Jessie Childs
We ask 20 questions of leading historians on why their research matters, one book everyone should read and their views on the Tudors …
The Tragedy of Force Z
The sinking by Japanese aircraft of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse in December 1941 and the subsequent loss of Singapore was a grievous blow to British morale. But have historians misunderstood what really happened?
At Home with the Stoics
The writings of Seneca show how the model Stoic, relying on nothing but his own mind, can still be a loving family man.
The Myth of Mummy Wheat
Despite a total lack of evidence, the belief that grains of wheat found in Ancient Egyptian tombs could produce bountiful crops was surprisingly hardy.
The Map: Rome, 1942
The War Office’s map of cultural treasures in Rome, 1942.