SEPTEMBER 2014

CONTENTS

Features

Hilary Mantel reveals why she finds Thomas Cromwell so fascinating on p28

22 The rise and fall of Henry’s henchman Tracy Borman traces the ups and downs of Henry VIII’s explosive relationship with his chief adviser, Thomas Cromwell

28 Exclusive interview with Hilary Mantel The acclaimed Wolf Hall author tells Rob Attar why she believes Thomas Cromwell has been a victim of “intellectual shoddiness”

34 Rome in crisis Harry Sidebottom on how 250 years of imperial stability came to a bloody, chaotic end in the third century AD

43 James Bond: the spy who loved Jamaica Matthew Parker reveals how author Ian Fleming’s love a air with Jamaica was re ected in his famous spy novels

50 Fortress Britain: 1940 An array of terrifying weapons would have made Britain a tough nut for Nazi invaders to crack, says Leo McKinstry

57 The Anglo-Saxon who (almost) united Britain Nick Higham pro les Ecgfrith, the Northumbrian king who ranks among the most powerful men in British history

Every month

7 HISTORY NOW 7 The latest history news

10 Backgrounder: Iraq 13 Past notes

14 ANNIVERSARIES 18 LETTERS 21 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 32 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 63 BOOKS Experts review new releases, plus

Janice Hadlow talks about her book on George III and his family

75 TV & RADIO The pick of this month’s history programmes

78 OUT & ABOUT 78 History explorer: on the trail of Bristol’s smugglers 82 Ten things to do in September 84 My favourite place: Antigua

87 MISCELLANY 87 Q&A and quiz 89 Sam’s recipe corner 90 Prize crossword

98 MY HISTORY HERO HughBonnevilleonSamuelPepys

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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) September 2014 is published 13 times a year under license from BBC Worldwide by Immediate Media Company Bristol Ltd, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK. Distributed in the US by Circulation Specialists, Inc., 2 Corporate Drive, Suite 945, Shelton CT 06484-6238. Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, CT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BBC HISTORY, PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495.

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50 The deadly weapons designed to halt a Nazi invasion of Britain in its tracks

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BBC History Magazine