Today’s featured articles
A polarising poltergeist at the Epworth home of Methodist founder John Wesley sowed division in 18th-century England.
What makes a state? Is it its people, its borders, its government, or does it rest on recognition from international powers? Across the 19th and 20th centuries, the process by which states have been created and recognised has taken many forms.
The 19th-century craze for spiritualism ‘resurrected’ the dead through manipulated photographs, a practice that boomed with the trauma caused by war – though it was not without its sceptics.
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How Has Space Exploration Changed History?
In November 2025 we reach 25 years of continuous human presence in space. Did reaching orbit alter the trajectory of the planet below?
‘El Generalísimo’ by Giles Tremlett book review
El Generalísimo: Franco: Power, Violence and the Quest for Greatness by Giles Tremlett considers the making of the mediocrity at the heart of modern Spain.
The Transformations of Fernand Braudel
It is 40 years since the death of Fernand Braudel, the historian who sought the perspective of ‘God the Father’.
‘The Second Emancipation’ by Howard W. French
The Second Emancipation: Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism, and Global Blackness at High Tide by Howard W. French traces the line between civil rights in the US and decolonisation in Africa.
Educated Slaves in Ancient Rome
A literate slave was a must-have in wealthy ancient Roman households. Keen to capitalise on this taste for learning, masters and slaves alike turned education into profit.
The Worlds at the Earth’s Core
What sits beneath the planet’s crust? Scientists, writers, and conspiracy theorists have all had a guess, with Hollow-Earth Theory providing surprisingly resilient.
The Smog of War: The Battle for Britain’s Clean Air
The wartime government’s programme of deliberate smoke production was an attempt to protect Britain from the Luftwaffe; for the National Smoke Abatement Society, the decision was a disaster.
Was Dunsterforce a Disaster?
At the end of the First World War a British force under Major-General Lionel Dunsterville launched a daring campaign to cut off Ottoman oil supplies at Baku.
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In the November issue:
The Mongol khans of medieval Europe, the battle for Britain’s clean air, how states get recognised, the Tudor touring theatre, educated slaves in ancient Rome, and more.
Plus: reviews, opinion, crossword and much more!
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