On the Spot: Vladislav Zubok
‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? The collapse of the Soviet Union. I used to think it was a relatively peaceful event.’
Interview
On the Spot: Patricia Fara
‘Who is the most underrated person in history? Tupaia, the Tahitian navigator and translator who enabled James Cook to reach Australia and New Zealand’
On the Spot: Annabel Teh Gallop
‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? Orality. Historians search for ‘lost’ manuscripts which might never have existed.’
On the Spot: Geoffrey Parker
‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? I underestimated the role of women.’
On the Spot: Nicholas Radburn
‘Who is the most underrated person in history? Olaudah Equiano. His resilience in the face of adversity was phenomenal.’
On the Spot: Lucy Noakes
‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That the history of war is the same as military history.’
On the Spot: Gina Anne Tam
‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That China has “5,000 years” of continuous history.’
On the Spot: William Dalrymple
‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? The British in India, who I once looked upon as a benign force.’
On the Spot: Alice Hunt
‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That the republic was an absolute failure and the Restoration inevitable.’
On the Spot: Lori D. Ginzberg
‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That scholars who study elite white men are more objective.’