Contents
JANUARY 2012
FEATURES
20 George VI: the everyman king Denis Judd tells the story of a monarch who overcame adversity to win the nation’s hearts
26 Wales – in search of a history Martin Johnes considers how past events have helped to shape a sense of Welsh identity
28 Beware what you buy Sheilagh Ogilvie, Markus Küpker and Janine Maegraith reveal the limits imposed on German consumers
32 The golden coast Gus Casely-Hayford reveals how a west African kingdom grew enormously rich through the trade of gold and slaves
35 Are these the most overrated people in history? A panel of experts selects the historical figures who don’t quite live up to their glowing reputations
46 The Wannsee protocol Roger Moorhouse asks whether this 1942 conference was really where the Holocaust was planned
4
50 How Islam crushed the crusaders Thomas Asbridge on how the Christian warriors finally met their match
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EVERY MONTH
6 Letters
8 Milestones: It happened in January
News 12 Breaking news 15 News round-up 16 World news in context: The Tea Party movement
41 Big Days in History by Dominic Sandbrook
49 Changing Times by Chris Bowlby
57 Book reviews 11 new history books reviewed
69 TV&Radio What’s on in January
Out&About 72 Where history happened: Joan of Arc 80 Neolithic Orkney 82 Ten things to do in January 84 Ye olde travel guide: Mainz in 1455
Miscellany 93 Q&A: Your historical questions answered 96 Prize crossword: Win a copy of The Great Global
Treasure Hunt on Google Earth 97 Puzzles
98 My history hero by Mary Beard
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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) January 2012 is published 13 times a year under license from BBC Worldwide by Immediate Media Company Bristol, 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
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