NOVEMBER 2015

CONTENTS

Features

Every month

6 ANNIVERSARIES 11 HISTORY NOW 1 1 The latest history news

1 4 Backgrounder: the migrant crisis 1 6 Past notes: weather forecasts

Read about the princess who got on the wrong side of Henry VIII, on page 60

22 Anglo-Saxons vs Vikings Ryan Lavelle reveals how Alfred the Great confronted the marauding Danes

29 The Royal Navy’s American disaster SamWillis explains why Britain lost the naval war against the American colonies

38 Who were the Celts? Barry Cunli e traces the origins of this most enigmatic of ancient peoples

44 The Georgian craze for popular history Loyd Grossman investigates an 18th-century obsession with the past

18 LETTERS 21 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 36 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 63 EVENTS 65 BOOKS The latest releases, plus Andrea Wulf talks Alexander von Humboldt

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

80 OUT &ABOUT 80 History Explorer: the Brontës

85 Five things to do in November 86 My favourite place: Bali

93 MISCELLANY 93 Q&A and quiz 94 Samantha’s recipe corner 95 Prize crossword

98 MY HISTORY HERO BrianBlessedchoosesHypatia

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50 Spies who surprised me Max Hastings pro les some of the most remarkable agents of the 20th century

56 Ancient Egypt uncovered Joann Fletcher answers the big questions of this amazing civilisation

60 The lost Tudor princess Alison Weir explores the colourful life of Margaret Douglas, Henry VIII’s niece

USPS Identification Statement

BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE (ISSN 1469-8552)

(USPS 024-177) November 2015 is published 13 times a year under licence from BBC Worldwide by Immediate Media Company Bristol Ltd, 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 MAGAZINE, PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495.

56 Was Tutankhamun’s death mask originally made for Nefertiti?

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50 The British spies who outwitted the Nazis

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