How French Was Medieval England?
The Norman Conquest brought French kings, language and culture across the Channel. What did that mean for medieval England?
France
The True Knights Templar
The Knights Templar’s modern reputation is a myth that disguises their role as state-builders and diplomats.
A Widow’s Vengeance in the Wars of Religion
In late 16th-century France, a powerful noblewoman stood up to soldiers’ violence during the Wars of Religion. Using her wealth and connections she was able to defend her interests in court.
France’s Long March Against Racism
In 1983 the March for Equality and Against Racism from Marseille to Paris marked the coming of age of a new French generation.
‘The Revolutionary Temper’ by Robert Darnton review
The Revolutionary Temper: Paris, 1748-1789 by Robert Darnton is a sweeping account of events from the Parisian perspective, from disastrous wars to fights for religious toleration.
How Henry II Survived the Great Rebellion
In 1173 the Angevin empire looked set to fall, facing rebellion on all sides. Against incredible odds Henry II won a decisive victory, silencing kings, lords – and his own children.
Signs of the Zodiac: The Dendera Dating Controversy
How ancient was ancient Egypt? How old is the world? And what happens when archaeology contradicts the Bible? When the Dendera Zodiac arrived in Paris, these questions exploded into the public sphere.
‘Bismarck’s War’ by Rachel Chrastil review
Bismarck’s War: The Franco-Prussian War and the Making of Modern Europe by Rachel Chrastil argues that German victory was a catastrophe for Germany and the world.
Pulp Fiction
Marketed as the taste of French summer, Orangina’s origins are complicated.
How to Make a Devil
The legend of Ravachol, the terrorist ‘mastermind’ of the fin de siècle.