Feature

Mussolini, Abyssinia and British Imperialism

Mussolini’s colonial land grab in Abyssinia provoked a political storm in Britain. The links between fascism and imperialism were not lost on the British left nor by the empire’s black subjects.

Chekhov and Conservation

The great Russian author Anton Chekov drew inspiration from the countryside and explored the practical and spiritual impact of trees and the consequences of deforestation.

What Good Did the League of Nations Do?

The League of Nations has been much derided, but it laid the foundations for an international court and established bodies that the United Nations maintains today.

The Battle of Britain: The Many and the Few

Richard Overy looks behind the myth of a vulnerable island defended by a small band of fighter pilots to give due credit to the courage of the redoubtable civilian population.

South Africa: Remembering Sharpeville

The killing of 69 black South Africans on March 21st, 1960 was a turning point: the world judged apartheid to be morally bankrupt and the political agitation that ensued would eventually overturn white supremacy.

Napoleon’s Extraordinary Rendition

When Napoleon surrendered to a British naval captain after his defeat at Waterloo, the victors faced a judicial headache. Was St Helena Britain’s Guantanamo Bay?

The United Nations in War and Peace

President Roosevelt’s introduction of United Nations Day and his Four Freedoms boosted morale in the fight against fascism and set the stage for a post-war UN.

Bees for Keeps

The niches created for bees in some of Britain’s castles were an important source of food, lighting and even defence, writes Gene Kritsky.