History Today

Richard Cavendish describes the race in which Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile, on May 6th, 1954.

Susan Pedersen introduces Eleanor Rathbone who devoted her career as a politician and social reformer during the turbulent interwar years to improving the lot of women and refugees.

Patricia Pierce tells the tale of William-Henry Ireland, whose teenage angst led him to pull off an unlikely hoax.

Trevor Fisher examines the ongoing debate over how history is taught in the classroom.

Daniel Snowman meets the historian of 18th-century British art, culture, commerce, consumption – and a sensational murder.

Phil Chamberlain explains a Second World War plan to silence German double agents in the event of a German invasion of Britain.

Narrative historian and festival organiser Derek Wilson looks back over half a century of popularising history

Charles Allen challenges the accepted account of a tragic massacre that took place in Tibet a century ago this month.

Paul Shirley describes the freedom struggles of African Americans in the Bahamas after the American War of Independence.

William D. Rubinstein ascribes the bitterness of historians’ arguments to the lack of an agreed definition and to political agendas.