Cultural

The Russian Mrs Beeton

Helen Szamuely explores the unprecedented success of a household manual and cookery book produced by a Russian housewife, Yelena Molokhovets, following the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861.

Madame de Pompadour’s Theatre

‘If ever a house radiated cheerfulness, that house is Versailles.’ Nancy Mitford on the royal palace in the middle years of Louis XV.

Witchcraft in Tudor Times

British attitudes to witchcraft during the Tudor era tended to be less extreme than those of contemporary Europeans, argues Victoria Lamb.

The Age of the Athlete

Each period has its heroes who inhabit the moment. Today we are living in the age of the sporting superstar.