Plato’s Last Word to Dionysius
How to reform an ancient Greek tyrant? Plato’s final advice to Dionysius the Younger was not well received.
Political
‘Strike’ by Sarah E. Bond review
Strike: Labor, Unions, and Resistance in the Roman Empire by Sarah E. Bond assembles a case for the power of the worker in ancient Rome.
Did Germany Read Mein Kampf?
A huge bestseller and undisputed guide to the Nazi worldview, did Germans actually read Mein Kampf?
Thatcher’s Wordsmiths
Margaret Thatcher struggled to write her own speeches. Who put the words in her mouth?
‘America, América’ by Greg Grandin review
America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin finds a place for Latin America and its ideals in the story of the United States.
Why Did Rome Fall?
When it comes to the end of the Roman Empire three things are certain: death, taxes, and Goths. Were reports of its demise exaggerated?
Politicising Abortion in the United States
In 19th-century America abortion was weaponised as part of a culture war.
‘The World of the Cold War: 1945-1991’ by Vladislav Zubok review
In The World of the Cold War: 1945-1991 Vladislav Zubok argues that circumstance rather than ideology shaped the clash between communism and capitalism.
Medieval Queen by Grace of God
Queenship was transformed in the early Middle Ages, as power came to be derived not just from marriage, but from God.
Canada and the US: Sleeping with the Elephant
Canada and the US have often been uneasy neighbours; the roots of the latest political flare up can be found in their tangled history.