Recently published

Cold War Clem

Fiercely anti-Communist, Clement Attlee found Britain’s intelligence agencies to be invaluable tools.

Opera for the Ordinary

Despite popular misconceptions and its aristocratic origins, for part of its history opera was inextricably linked with popular culture – no more so than in the 1920s. 

The Tragedy of Force Z

The sinking by Japanese aircraft of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse in December 1941, and the subsequent loss of Singapore, was a grievous blow to British morale. But have historians misunderstood what really happened? 

Monuments to the Past

A nation built on symbols and a clear sense of history, the US increasingly recognises that it cannot defend the continuing presence of these statues in public spaces.

At Home with the Stoics

The writings of Seneca show how the model Stoic, relying on nothing but his own mind, can still be a loving family man. 

The Myth of Mummy Wheat

Despite a total lack of evidence, the belief that grains of wheat found in Ancient Egyptian tombs could produce bountiful crops was surprisingly hardy.