Literature

Shakespeare was born into an England rejoicing in the peace and prospects of a new reign, but anxious about the future, writes Joel Hurstfield.

I.F. Clarke describes how the eighteenth century saw the beginnings of popular predictive fiction that attempted, in terms of politics or science, to forecast the life of later centuries.

In the latest of his occasional surveys of historical fiction, Jerome de Groot casts a critical eye on the often disparaged genre of romance.

George Pendle finds that the authoress of Little Arthur's History of England was also an inquisitive and adventurous traveller.

Sean McGlynn reconsiders the origins of the popular myth and suggests a new contender for the original folk hero; not an outlaw from Nottingham but a devoted royal servant from Kent, who opposed the French invasion against King John in 1216.

The Vikings are back with a vengeance, writes Jeffrey Richards

H.G. Nicholas reconsiders the influence of this famous book on American opinion in the years preceding the Civil war, and on its world-wide public outside the United States.

Max Thompson profiles the oddest and most original of 17th century political thinkers.

John Clive records how, during the opening years of the 19th century, Edinburgh added to its European reputation by producing one of the most famous critical magazines of the age.

In our latest survey of historical fiction Jerome de Groot finds a remarkable breadth of books that address our need for present-day certainties to confound the chaos of the past – and revisits a timeless classic.

Christopher Dawson profiles the historical writing of "the last of the encyclopaedists".

Hugh Trevor-Roper attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding authorship of Charles I's purported last testament.

The French poet was ordered to leave his city on January 3rd, 1463.