‘The Scapegoat’ by Lucy Hughes-Hallett review
The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett picks through the fragments of George Villiers, James VI & I’s favourite mistake.
England
The Fight for Mary, Queen of Scots’ Jewels
Who should claim Scotland’s royal jewels? After the forced abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots, the answer was not clear cut.
The Last Testaments of Richard II and Henry IV
Tyrant and usurper: the last wills of Richard II and Henry IV give rare insight into the medieval monarchs who wore the crown.
‘Straight Acting’ by Will Tosh review
Bard romance? Straight Acting: The Many Queer Lives of William Shakespeare by Will Tosh sets the stage for the next wave of accessible queer histories.
How to Rescue the Reputation of the Nasty Normans
The villains of British history, the Normans can be a difficult sell. But going off script has its rewards.
The Women who Forged Medieval England
Who were the female blacksmiths of medieval England?
King John’s Lost Treasure
The loss of his treasure on the road to war was said to have brought about King John’s demise. What happened to it?
Richard III and Kingly Justice for All?
Was Richard III a just king or just doing what a king should do?
Britain’s First Milk Bar Opens
Entrepreneur Hugh Donald McIntosh struck white gold when London’s Black and White Bar opened on 1 August 1935.
‘Cunning Folk’ by Tabitha Stanmore review
Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic by Tabitha Stanmore gives a human face to magic in medieval and early modern England.