‘The Brothers Grimm: A Biography’ by Ann Schmiesing review
The Brothers Grimm: A Biography by Ann Schmiesing brings folklore’s most famous double act out of the shadowy realm of legend.
History Today
Doing Business with Russia
Russia’s entry into the global economy was met with glee by international firms in the early 1990s. The exodus has been just as sudden.
The Englishman Who Cried ‘Let Ireland Go’
In 1920 the English writer Jerome K. Jerome set out the arguments in favour of Irish home rule.
‘The Price of Victory’ by N.A.M. Rodger review
The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815-1945 by N.A.M. Rodger looks above decks for the story of the modern Royal Navy.
‘Augustus the Strong’ by Tim Blanning review
In Augustus the Strong: A Study in Artistic Greatness and Political Fiasco, Tim Blanning looks for a legacy for the ‘incorrigible Saxon’.
How Does History Judge Prime Ministers?
Political reputations are forged by actions, but the long view of history can be hard to predict.
Following Threads to Colonial Barbados
Two rare textile discoveries connect 18th-century Barbadian schoolgirls to England.
Forgeries, Fakes, and Phantom Time
According to some, written history began in the 14th century. It may seem ridiculous, but the Phantom Time conspiracy theory has serious implications.
‘The Grammar of Angels’ by Edward Wilson-Lee review
The Grammar of Angels: A Search for the Magical Powers of Language by Edward Wilson-Lee finds in Giovanni Pico della Mirandola a case for the Rennaissance as a triumph not of individuality, but of universal experience.
The Mad Duchess Lives
Written into history as the ‘Mad Duchess’ of Albemarle, what brought about the downfall of Elizabeth Cavendish?