Britain

The Courtesies of War

During the Peninsular War, writes Michael Glover, British and French often treated one another with humanity and courtesy.

Meals on the Mess Deck

David Lance on the history of food in the Royal Navy, from canteen messing to professional catering.

Gibraltar: A Rock and a Hard Place

Since ownership passed from Spain to Britain in 1713, the Rock of Gibraltar has played an ambiguous – sometimes unwelcome role – in British history.

Jahangir’s Turkey-Cock

‘Larger than a peahen and smaller than a peacock’, Jahangir wrote in 1612. Geoffrey Powell describes how the bird reached England from America some decades before the Indian knew it.

The British Embassy in Paris, 1714-63

J. LaVerne Anderson describes how the post of British Ambassador to the rulers of France has been a difficult assignment, and not only in the eighteenth century.

Peace with Spain, 1605

Robert W. Kenny describes how, on the death of Elizabeth I, an appeasing spirit entered British diplomacy.