Contents
CHRISTMAS 2011
FEATURES
20 In defence of Christmas Mark Stoyle describes how Puritan attempts to cancel Christmas were challenged in the mid-17th century
26 Guilty women? Julie V Gottlieb explains why female voters were blamed for the failed policy of appeasing Hitler
32 How George and Mary saved the royal family The Queen’s grandparents’ reforms averted a crisis for the monarchy, says Denys Blakeway
39 Red letter days Dominic Sandbrook picks out ten important milestones in the history of the Post Office
46 Drowning in Tudor England Steven Gunn and Tomasz Gromelski investigate the prevalence of drownings in the 16th century
50 Britain’s Pearl Harbor Evan Mawdsley details the raids on British colonies that took place before the bombs landed on Pearl Harbor
4
57 The men who escaped the Tower Nigel Jones on the prisoners who fled London’s best-known fortress
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EVERY MONTH
6 Letters
8 Milestones: It happened at Christmas
News 10 Breaking news 12 News from the journals 15 News round-up 16 World news in context: Iran and Israel
61 Books of the year 2011
Experts select their favourite reads of the year, plus the best historical fiction and DVDs
73 TV&Radio What’s on over Christmas
Out&About 76 Where history happened: Charles Dickens 82 100 places that made Britain: West Stow 84 Ten things to do at Christmas 86 Ye olde travel guide: Havana in 1959
Miscellany 91 Q&A: Your historical questions answered 95 Christmas prize crossword:
Win a copy of The Times Atlas of the World or The Times Extreme Survivors 96 Christmas Quiz 98 My history hero by Tim Smith
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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) Christmas 2011 is published 13 times a year by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK, under licence from BBC Worldwide. Distributed in the US by Evergreen Marketing, 116 Ram Cat Alley, Suite 201, Seneca, SC 296783263. 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.
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