Contents
OCTOBER 2011
FEATURES
18 Matilda: the Conqueror’s queen Tracy Borman hails the supreme diplomatic skills of William the Conqueror’s ambitious wife, Matilda
24 A war of words Mark Burman reveals why the Soviet author Vasily Grossman fell out of love with the communist regime
30 Simon Jenkins on England The journalist and National Trust chairman discusses the defining moments of a nation’s history
33 Postwar revolutionary? What led people to fear that Douglas Haig planned to lead a rightwing coup? Gary Sheffield investigates
41 Should historians comment on current affairs? Pat Thane on the fallout from David Starkey’s recent Newsnight interview
42 Elizabeth’s security chief John Cooper looks at the career of Tudor spymaster Francis Walsingham
50 A history of science in 10½ objects Patricia Fara explains how an apple, wedding ring and battery changed mankind’s perception of the world
58 Rugby warriors Gavin Mortimer profiles the men who excelled in war and on the rugby pitch
4
Contact us
PHONE Editorial 0117 314 7377 Subscriptions & back issues 0844 844 0250 Advertising 0117 314 8752
EMAIL Editorial his torymagazine@ historyextra.com Subscriptions & back issues bbchistory@servicehelpline.co.uk
POST Editorial BBC History Magazine, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN Subscriptions & back issues BBC History Magazine, PO Box 279, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8DF.
In the US/Canada you can contact us at: PO Box 421133, Palm Coast, FL 32142 bbchistory@emailcustomerservice.com Toll free 800-342-3592
EVERY MONTH
6 Letters
8 Milestones: It happened in October
News 12 Breaking news 14 News from the journals 17 News round-up
29 Opinion by Jerome de Groot
49 Big days in history by Dominic Sandbrook
57 Changing times by Chris Bowlby
61 Book reviews 11 new history books reviewed
75 TV&Radio What’s on in October
Out&About 78 Where history happened: Alfred and the Vikings 84 100 places that made Britain: Battle Abbey 86 Ten things to do this month 88 Ye olde travel guide: Venice 1500
Miscellany 93 Q&A: Your historical questions answered 96 Prize crossword: Win the book Shakespeare 97 Puzzles
98 My history hero by Alice Roberts
Subscribe 38
5 issues for £5 when you subscribe
ESTATE/JASTROW
EVANS/GETTY/GROSSMAN
IBRARY/MARY
LART
IDGEMAN
.ORG/BR
IRMAYNE
BLA
USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) October 2011 is published 13 times a year by Bristol Magazines Ltd., 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK. Distributed in the US by Evergreen Marketing, 116 Ram Cat Alley, Suite 201, Seneca, SC 29678-3263. Periodicals postage paid at Seneca, SC and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BBC HISTORY, PO Box 421133, Palm Coast, FL 32142-1133.
BBC History Magazine
