History Today

'... a kind of Ken Livingstone of his day', Britain's great imperialist made his early reputation as a civic radical, promoting public control of local amenities such as water and gas.

Lost illusions and gung-ho patriotism have both featured prominently in Hollywood’s reaction to the Vietnam War, but not to date some of the more unpleasant aspects of the conflict.

In a controversial new study of Labour’s great post-war hero, John Campbell argues that Bevan was both more of a Marxist and a hard-nosed politician than his friends and admirers have portrayed.

Annette Bingham explores an ancient Indus city’s fight against floods, which could jeopardise her archaeological history.

Keith Nurse explores how archaeologists have managed to gain financial funding for excavations from the Department of Transport.

Richard Rathbone takes a look at the first African colonial state to gain independence.

Attempts by returning First World War servicemen to unionise were portrayed in intelligence reports as part of a sinister Bolshevik prelude to revolution in Britain.

A passion for self-improvement and enriched opportunity mark Lovett out as an archetypal Victorian – far more than a mere Chartist agitator.

Despite the aspirations of Disraeli and others for 'one nation', the dynamics and disparities of Victorian society inexorably sharpened the sense of class identity and its verbal expression.