Volume 55 Issue 7 July 2005

Norman Davies

Daniel Snowman meets the historian of Poland, Europe and ‘The Isles’.

Nelson & Napoleon

Claire Warrior, of the National Maritime Museum, previews the themes of the exhibition opening on July 7th.

Jolly Rodger

The journey that led N.A.M. Rodger from a schoolboy passion for warships to his becoming the historian of the British Navy took some unexpected turns. He regrets none of them.

Durham's Big Meeting

The twentieth anniversary this month of the 1985 Durham Miner’s Gala, the first to be held after the end of the miners’ strike of 1984-85, will be a time for reflection and pride. Hester Barron considers the history and social meaning of the Durham miners’ annual day out.

Nelson: Admirable Lord

Colin White uncovers a more complex and liberal side to Nelson than was previously appreciated.

General Braddock Defeated

Richard Cavendish describes how Major-General Edward Braddock arrived in Virginia to take command against the French in North America, but was defeated on July 9th, 1755.

Shopping for Britain

Maxine Berg looks at the commercial battle to dominate Europe that ran alongside the wars with France, and the product revolution that gave Britain the edge in this field.

Painting, Propaganda and Patriotism

David Welch looks at the way that public art was used in both France and Britain to celebrate Napoleon and Nelson as national heroes, during their lifetimes and after.