Vanuatu achieved independence from France and Britain in 1980. It had previously been known as The New Hebrides, a name bestowed on this...

There is much talk today, and some action too, regarding re-wilding. Re-wilding in the sense of bringing back extinct indigenous British...

Operation Barbarossa: German Invasion of Russia Operation Barbarossa 1941 Glantz Operation Barbarossa 1941-45 Christian Hartmann War...

When I looked again at what I intended to speak about tomorrow I began to feel it was inadequate, and dare I say a bit boring - so I have...

Semi-detached to Detached? Falling out of love with Europe - politically Falling in love with Europe - holiday-wise Political divisions...

From Ottoman to Turk In the midst of war - Gallipoli 1915 One Man - Mustafa Kemal Armenian Massacre and Genocide 1915-16 The Arab Revolt...

Books relating to the war 1939-41 The Second World War Antony Beevor Britain's War: Into Battle 1937-41 Daniel Todman *Last...

Paths to War Boyce & Robertson Neville Chamberlain's Legacy Nicholas Milton The Hollow Years [1930s France] ...

Another Empire Falls City of two faces: Orientalism and medieval brutality A city living in fear of the Greeks Chios and Chaos City of...

Re-engaging with Europe 1945-73: A Tortuous Process 1 Introduction: 1945 Failing to come to terms with new status 2 Defence: BAOR,...

Introduction History is in the news; but not always for the best of reasons. We read in the media of 'culture wars', of the 'woke...

To create the modern nation state a common language was often seen as a prerequisite. Whereas in previous times there was a multiplicity...

European Holidays : All Our Yesterdays 1. Holidays begin to be seen as a right for all 2. Railways and aircraft pave the way for mass...

From a Great Power to 'The Sick Man of Europe' This week is quite a pot pourri of history Rise and Fall of Empires Ottomans in Europe...

My friend John, in a former life my Deputy Principal at The City Lit, wrote to point out that the shell associated with St James of...

Perhaps all of you knew, especially Londoners, that the Undercroft (now used for receptions etc) of The Banqueting Hall in Whitehall once...

Germany: An old friend, a new enemy Introduction : We are all related 1714 - 1815 -1914 1841 : Albert, The Good German 1858 : Vicky, the...

This week we shall take our first look at The Ottoman Empire with some social and cultural history. 1 The Fall of Constantinople 1453. ...

First, some fiction: The Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel Hawthorne's marvellous expose of Puritan society in 17th century New England (1850). ...