‘Judgement at Tokyo’ by Gary J. Bass review
Pacy and even-handed, Judgement at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia by Gary J. Bass is unlikely to be bettered as a portrait of the Tokyo trials.
History Today
The Search for the Historical Buddha
Arriving in the West in the 19th century, the Buddha of legend was stripped of supernatural myth and recast as a historical figure. What do we really know about him?
Alternate Histories: The Last Supper, AD 33
The latest in Rob Murray's series of Alternative History cartoons.
‘With Her Own Hair’: A Victorian Prisoner’s Art
Arrested over 400 times, Annie Parker found redemption in intricate cross-stitch and crochet using her own hair.
‘American Journey’ by Wes Davis review
American Journey: On the Road with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and John Burroughs by Wes Davis falls short of examining the consequences that followed the wanderlust.
India’s Kuka Revolt Ends in Death
On 17 January 1872, 49 Namdhari Sikhs – dubbed ‘Kukas’ by the British – were executed by cannon, supposedly for spreading insurrection.
A History of Phantom Pain
For centuries, scientists and philosophers used phantom limbs to unravel the secrets of the human mind. While we know phantom pain exists, we still don’t know why.
Maria Graham and the Valparaíso Earthquake
An earthquake in Chile and the observations of eye-witness Maria Graham caused open hostility among 19th-century geologists.
Queen Victoria’s Stalker
Was the army captain in love with Queen Victoria a dangerous obsessive or an innocent man? His NSFW letters shocked but so did his treatment.
The True Knights Templar
The Knights Templar’s modern reputation is a myth that disguises their role as state-builders and diplomats.