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A Visit to Russia, 1839

George Charles Henry Victor Paget, the 7th Marquis of Anglesey, shares the stories behind the trip that his ancestor, the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, paid to the Court of Russia with his sons during the summer of 1839.

Life in Ancient Crete II: Atlantis

Charles Seltman shows how Egyptian memories of Crete and its inhabitants may have given rise to the Platonic legend of the lost island of Atlantis.

Mozart After 200 years

Noel Goodwin argues that in the making of Mozart's music there is a key to understanding his form of art and way of life.

Marriage Guidance: Kissing and Telling

Deborah Cohen opens the archives of the Scottish Marriage Guidance Council, founded in 1946, and finds that couples in the postwar years were more than happy to air their dirty linen.

Ireland’s Path to Desolation

Tim Pat Coogan points the finger of blame for the Great Famine at ministers in Lord Russell’s government, which came to power in 1846, and sees echoes of the disaster in the Republic’s current economic plight.

Mental Illness: A Curse and a Blessing

Jerome Carson and Elizabeth Wakely explore the mental illnesses suffered by some famous historical figures and consider the impact on their lives and achievements.