The Rise and Fall of Snake Oil
Over the course of the 19th century snake oil transformed from folk remedy, to industrial medicine, to notorious fake.
Volume 76 Issue 5 May 2026
Beating the Bounds
May is a month for praying for a good harvest, enjoying the natural world – and reaffirming ancient boundaries.
‘Infanta’ by Magdalena S. Sánchez review
In Infanta: The Short, Remarkable Life of Catalina Micaela, Magdalena S. Sánchez discovers a 16th-century marriage documented in remarkable detail.
‘Centrists of the World Unite!’ by Adrian Wooldridge review
Whig is beautiful? Centrists of the World Unite! The Lost Genius of Liberalism by Adrian Wooldridge looks for signs of life in the liberal movement.
The End of USAID
In the postwar era bounteous US foreign aid reshaped the world, for better or worse. With the culling of USAID those days are over.
The Discovery of Petroglyphs
Norwegian doctor Peder Alfsön died on 3 May 1663, having discovered – but misinterepreted – the prehistoric rock carvings at Backa Brastad.
Mourning the White Ship
The sinking of the White Ship was a disaster for England’s King Henry I, but it was also felt deeply by his subjects.
‘The Edge of Revolution’, ‘Britain’s Revolutionary Summer’, and ‘Nine Days in May’ review
What can three recent books – The Edge of Revolution by David Torrance, Britain’s Revolutionary Summer by Edd Mustill, and Nine Days in May by Jonathan Schneer – tell us about the General Strike of 1926?
Iceland’s English Century
In the 15th century Iceland was caught in a trade war between the Kalmar Union, the Hanseatic League, and England. Which power defined the island’s fate?
Why Did Britain Abolish the Slave Trade?
The Slavery Abolition Act was passed by Parliament in 1833. What was really behind Britain’s moment of moral enlightenment?