History Today

Richard Almond deciphers the meaning of a set of illuminations illustrating an unusual Book of Hours made in Germany around the year 1500.

The Guinness Book of Records was first published on August 27th, 1955.

The Magyars of Hungary were defeated by an army led by Otto I, on August 10th, 955.

Paul Doolan visits a new museum in Geneva that presents the history of Reformed Christianity and Calvinism as a key and positive factor in European history.

Archaeologist Miles Russell describes recent discoveries which overturn accepted views about the Roman invasion of Britain.

George Orwell’s ‘fairy story’ on the USSR was politically inconvenient in 1945. Opinions on Animal Farm were soon revised, but its targets – and its author – are easily misunderstood.

Martin Evans mourns the loss of Douglas Johnson, doyen of French political history in Britain.

Mark Roodhouse finds a dark secret in one of the champions of the 1945 Labour landslide.

Daniel Snowman meets the historian of Poland, Europe and ‘The Isles’.

Claire Warrior, of the National Maritime Museum, previews the themes of the exhibition opening on July 7th.