Painting and History: Mantegna and the Lords of Mantua
Soldiers of fortune yet passionate lovers of art—the Gonzagas were a typical product of Renaissance Italy. By F.M. Godfrey.
History Today
Historians Reconsidered: Carlyle
Noel Annan examines the achievement of a great Victorian prophet.
Italy: The Papal Victory 1848-1948
Elizabeth Wiskemann re-examines a period of transition between the House of Savoy's reign and the dominance of the Pope in Italy.
British Diplomacy and the Giant Grenadiers of Frederick William I
The tall army recruits known as the Potsdam Giants, F.L. Carsten writes, played a considerable part in the British diplomacy during the early 18th century, and the efforts of the Prussian recruiting sergeants to procure men of the desired size extended to the British Isles.
Russia’s California Colony
The Russians were among the first Europeans to sense California's potential. Had they not sold their settlement there in 1841, the world could have been a different place.
A Conversation with Napoleon at St Helena, 1817
A discussion between Napoleon, exiled in St. Helena, and Henry Ellis, returning with Lord Amherst’s embassy to China, about England's international standing.
The Household Roll of Eleanor de Montfort, 1265
Joan M. Fawcett utilises the household records for the Countess of Leicester, sister of Henry III, to retrace a crucial year for the de Montfort fortunes.
British Towns and Cities: Lewes
Garth Christian appraised the “ancient character” of Lewes, taking in its Puritanical influence, its legacy of ironworks and its architectural highlights.
British Prime Ministers: Sir Robert Peel
Asa Briggs evaluates the impact of Sir Robert Peel, a great Prime Minister unwilling to become a popular politician.
Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
S.M. Toyne draws upon Guy Fawkes’ background in an effort to better understand his single-minded motivation.