History Today

The Sagas of Iceland: Creating Terra Nova

Janina Ramirez, presenter of a new BBC documentary on Iceland and its literature, explores the country’s sagas, their wide-ranging legacy and what they tell us about the history and culture of the Arctic island and its peoples.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion

Perhaps the US-backed invasion of Fidel Castro's Cuba was inevitable, but its failure bucked the trend.

The Democratic Delusion

Much western commentary on the turmoil in the Arab world demonstrates historical ignorance, argues Tim Stanley.