Making History

The coronation of Charles III was dense with meaning. It’s complicated; and easy to misunderstand. 

A valedictory column provides a chance to reflect on a decade grappling with what history is and how it should be written.

Menopause is an inescapable fact of life. Why is history silent on it?

Christmas in Tudor England was a time for fasting, feasting and poking fun at the status quo.

Lions are noble; unicorns pure. Knowing how to decipher heraldry reveals the aspirations – and humour – of the regal past.

Swear words are a constant, but their ability to cause offence is in flux. In the 1600s, today's obscenities were mundane.

There are several obstacles between Tudor women and their biographers. Bypassing them is a slow but necessary process. 

History books by men are bought in far greater quantities than those by women. Why?

The support and camaraderie of close-knit communities were a double-edged sword. Nothing was private and reputations could be ruined at the twitch of the curtain.