July 2025

In 2017-2018 the UK government introduced its commitment to a ‘Equality diversity and Inclusion’ initiative in their employment structure for the HS2 project. This commitment incorporated an employment system known as ‘Blind Auditioning’ which is an Affirmative Action method of screening job applicants based strictly on the candidate’s skills and qualifications. Therefore, employers have no access […]

In 500 BC, in a relatively obscure kingdom in Italy, a noblewoman was raped by the son of the king. 2,200 years later, the American Constitution was enshrined into law after the success of the American Revolution. If you believe in the butterfly effect, you may think that the latter might have never happened without […]

Most of us love the presents, the seasonal films, the chance to spend time with family and friends. But for millions across Britain one of the most thrilling parts of the Christmas festivities takes place long after the presents have been opened. Christmas Dinner! Food at Christmas is a long, global and often surprising tradition […]

Colonialism is often defended as a moral mission, a mission to educate and civilise the non-western world, and often used Christian Missionaries to convey their message. However, this perspective stands to much debate, as through the years the Empires have often been questioned on what the true intentions behind colonialism were. Were they purely moral? […]

The 1960s were a period of cultural radicalism. During the civil rights era, counterculture became prevalent. From the hippie movement to London’s Notting Hill Carnival, cultural expression emerged not simply as a means of voicing oneself but also as a form of protest. Civil rights and music culture in America were notably intertwined and expressed […]

There are few bigger questions than that of the meaning of life. Why do we exist, possess aspiration, and abide by certain ethics? For centuries, the answers to these questions have been provided by something many now regard as simplistic and irrational: religion. In 1882, this orthodoxy was challenged by a new philosophical movement symbolised […]

During the Second World War, Adolf Hitler and Nazi leaders began to systematically remove historical pieces of art from occupied areas. The orders were to transfer the most precious pieces of European art to the Führermuseum, an unrealized museum in the Austrian city of Linz. Yet the war was beginning to strain the resources of […]

Al Murray is a writer and comedian famous for his alter ego The Pub Landlord. He has a keen interest in history having graduated from Oxford with a degree in Modern History. His new book, Watching War Films With My Dad, is out now. Where did your interest in history originally come from? Well, I […]

South Sudan is the newest country in the world, but it does not seem to hold much promise for a bright future. Desperately poor, unstable, and suffering from shockingly high infant mortality rates, the country suffers from problems that are fruit of its colonial roots. Through fear of losing control of the Nile and the […]

In 2017, the Declaration on the Common Language was signed. It marks a culmination of attempts to counter nationalistic factions in the Western Balkans and a move towards a discussion of language, independent of nationalist tendencies. Language politics has been an important factor in the creation of the new national identities which have emerged out […]

Why are women always excluded from the retelling of historical events? This overlooked segment of the population plays a far greater role in rebellions and the resistance than we are led to believe. In the Algerian revolution women proved indispensable, holding greater importance to the resistance than their male counterparts. This article aims to rectify […]

R. H. Macy’s department store, New York. Christmas 1910 (Bain Collection/Library of Congress) Binns department store, Newcastle. Christmas 1966 (Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums/Flickr) Lord & Taylor’s department store, New York. Christmas 1946 (State Archives of North Carolina/Flickr) Callers department store, Newcastle. Christmas 1964 (Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums/Flickr) Marshall Field & Company […]

In the month since issue 9 was published the trees have lost their leaves, the nights have drawn in and the days keep getting colder. At this time of year many of us turn to all kinds of sources for comfort and in this issue we’ve focused on one of our favourites – baking. We’ve […]

Throughout the lengthy development of historical academic fields, there has often persisted the notion of an underlying patriarchal bias. The scope of research being conducted has often had an institutionalized predisposition to focus upon male scholars, figures and ideas, leading to the neglect of the vital roles women have played throughout history. Women campaigning for […]