The Scandalous Success of the Daily Mail
In January 1944 the Daily Mail became the first transoceanic newspaper, having transformed the relationship between politics, the press and the people. How powerful is it really?
Volume 74 Issue 1 January 2024
On the Spot: Chris Clark
‘Which moment would I most like to go back to? I would prefer to stay in the present, thank you.’
‘Theoderic the Great’ by Hans-Ulrich Wiemer review
In Theoderic the Great: King of Goths, Ruler of Romans, Hans-Ulrich Wiemer fully reinforces his vision of Theoderic as a man grappling with challenges which still confront us today.
‘The Life & Death of States’ and ‘Vienna’ reviews
New books by Natasha Wheatley and Richard Cockett explain how for all its apparent anachronism the Hapsburg empire, and its capital, shaped the modern world.
Byzantine Bishops at War with Women
Early Christianity brought new opportunities for Roman and Byzantine women – it also brought new reasons to vilify them.
An Uyghur Chieftain in China’s Civil War
How did Uyghur chieftain Yolbars Khan come to be buried in a Chinese Nationalist grave in Taipei? The answer reveals much about China’s violent relationship with its most western province.
Preston’s Banana Boat Stowaways
In 1960, the arrival of a ship carrying Caribbean stowaways in Preston caused a political and diplomatic furore.
‘The End of Enlightenment’ by Richard Whatmore review
Richard Whatmore’s The End of Enlightenment: Empire, Commerce, Crisis takes the ideals of the 18th century on their terms.
Syphilis and Scurvy: Diagnosing Henry VIII
There is an enduring obsession with understanding the body and mind of Henry VIII, but how sound are diagnoses past and present – and do we need them?
The KGB After Stalin
In 1954 a new agency was founded: the KGB. While less violent and arbitrary than what it replaced, its insidious reach soon permeated Soviet society.