Don’t Judge an Olympia Press Book by its Cover
A Parisian pornographer who modernised literature with Olympia Press, Maurice Girodias concealed counter-cultural classics behind deceptively drab covers.
History Matters
Thoughts, opinions and commentary on all things historical.
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Roman Loans
Dealing with debt in the Roman Empire.
The Savagery and Civility of the Thanksgiving Feast
A celebrated image of the first Thanksgiving presents an idealised view of a troubled relationship.
A Blueprint for Byzantine Power
An embattled emperor offered guidance to his successors in the shape of a ‘mirror for princes’.
The Unusual Afterlife of Richard Parker
A tale of mutiny, scandal, post-mortem celebrity and repeated body snatching in the 18th century.
What Makes a ‘Good’ Migrant?
The division of migrants into those who are of benefit to British society and those who are not has a long history.
Weathering Storms
Even in the 19th century the effects of natural disasters like hurricanes were never entirely natural.
The Poisoned Will of Jean Meslier
A French priest’s shocking attack on religion called for the fall of altars and the heads of kings.
Remedies Against the Devil and Dementia
The medical advice in Bald’s Leechbook outlasted the language in which it was written.
‘The Turkish Lawrence of Arabia’
The dramatic life of the outlaw and special agent Eşref Bey epitomises the end of the Ottoman Empire.