History Today

Richard Cavendish marks the founding of a famous Victorian penitentiary, on March 20th, 1806.

Richard Cavendish marks the demise of an important Renaissance figure, on March 20th, 1656.

Cartoon historian Mark Bryant looks at two humorous takes on the same subject – the Siegfried Line, as the German defensive Westwall was known by the Allies, by cartoonists from both sides of the divide during the Second World War.

Roger Tolson introduces a new exhibition of Commonwealth war artists at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Brian Girvin explains the tensions between the Irish government and many of the Irish people in their attitudes to the war against Nazism.

What was the British empire’s contribution to the victory in the Second World War? What was the impact of war upon the empire?  A.J. Stockwell explores the interlocking questions of the costs of war and empire.

Eliane Glaser reveals a flaw behind the celebrations planned this year to mark the 350th anniversary of Cromwell's readmission of Jews to England – it never happened.

Joanna Laynesmith examines claims that Edward IV was a bastard and tells the dramatic story of his mother, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York.

Fransjohan Pretorius explains why the Boer War of 1899-1902 was a period of sustained and spontaneous creation of folk art, one of the most productive and creative times in the cultural history of the Afrikaner.

Long before Jamie Oliver’s crusade, the provision of food in schools aroused passionate debate. John Burnett remembers one hundred years of school meals in Britain.