England

Julia Lovell reappraises Leslie Marchant’s article on the Opium Wars, first published in History Today in 2002.

The pioneer of English travel writing was born on June 7th, 1662.

Richard Cavendish remembers the royal favourite who died on June 19th, 1312.

Two hundred years ago Britain was gripped by a wave of violent machine breaking, as skilled textile workers, invoking the mythical Ned Ludd, attacked factories and factory owners in an attempt to defend their livelihoods. Richard Jones looks at how the phenomenon affected the industrial heartlands of Yorkshire.

The debate on Scottish independence has been dominated by economic arguments, to its detriment, argues Tim Stanley.

The abdication crisis of 1937 forced a royalist magazine to present a different face to the world, as Luci Gosling reports.

The Tudor historian John Guy returns to his medieval roots to examine the true nature of the relationship between Henry II and his ‘turbulent priest’ Thomas Becket.

Mary Rose was the younger sister of Henry VIII. David Loades describes how this forgotten Tudor was something of a wild card.

Blair Worden revisits Hugh Trevor-Roper’s essay on the radicalism of the Puritan gentry, a typically stylish and ambitious contribution to a fierce controversy.

Rowena Hammal examines the evidence to assess civilian reactions to war in Britain from 1940 to 1945.

Jez Ross argues that Henry VII was more secure than he realised

The historical debate over the United Kingdom has been led by those who wish to bring the Union to an end. David Torrance believes the public deserves a more balanced discussion.

Kate Retford explains how the artist Johan Zoffany found ways to promote a fresh image of royalty that endeared him to George III and Queen Charlotte – a relationship he subsequently destroyed.