Today’s featured articles
The younger brothers of 16th- and 17th-century French kings could choose either to rebel or reconcile, but neither option was straightforward.
The Exclusion Crisis of the late 17th century posed a question of national importance: should the Catholic duke of York be allowed to succeed to the throne? And should he be subject to the same law as everyone else?
When widespread vaccination was introduced there were objections – some justified, some not.
Most recent
Following 16th-Century Seabirds
European mariners in the Atlantic in the 16th century used a reliable navigational aid: seabirds.
Isaac Newton on Laputa
Irked by both his character and his tendency towards corruption, Jonathan Swift spent years ruthlessly satirising Isaac Newton.
The Persecution of Finland’s Russian Peddlers
In the 19th century Russian peddlers became a scapegoat in Finland’s resistance against the tsar’s empire.
‘The Log Books’ by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith review
The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline That Listened by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith reveals unsung – but not unheard – LGBTQ+ heroes of Switchboard.
The Rise and Fall of Snake Oil
Over the course of the 19th century snake oil transformed from folk remedy, to industrial medicine, to notorious fake.
Beating the Bounds
May is a month for praying for a good harvest, enjoying the natural world – and reaffirming ancient boundaries.
‘Infanta’ by Magdalena S. Sánchez review
In Infanta: The Short, Remarkable Life of Catalina Micaela, Magdalena S. Sánchez discovers a 16th-century marriage documented in remarkable detail.
‘Centrists of the World Unite!’ by Adrian Wooldridge review
Whig is beautiful? Centrists of the World Unite! The Lost Genius of Liberalism by Adrian Wooldridge looks for signs of life in the liberal movement.
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In the May 2026 issue:
How the General Strike changed Britain, the Rif War, James II and the Exclusion Crisis, private investigators on trial, 15th-century Iceland, and more.
Plus: reviews, opinion, crossword and much more!
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