Contents
JUNE 2012
FEATURES
22 Dear Mr Hitler Victoria Harris analyses letters sent by ordinary Germans to their leader
26 A legacy of the Lionheart David Carpenter shows how Richard I created the notion of ‘regnal years’
31 The queen’s day Anna Whitelock discusses how Elizabeth I consolidated her reign with anniversary celebrations
38 “Does that mean you will be queen now?” Edward VIII’s troubled reign had a lasting impact on his niece, argues Kate Williams
42 How Napoleon was humbled Dominic Lieven claims that it was more than the Russian winter that halted France’s mighty army
50 The world in flames Antony Beevor talks to us about his new epic history of the Second World War
4
56 Fighting Scots Edward Spiers, Jeremy Crang and Matthew Strickland investigate the wild Scottish warrior stereotype
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EVERY MONTH
6 Letters
8 The big picture
10 Milestones: It happened in June
News 12 Breaking news 14 News from the journals 17 News roundup 18 World news in context: The Tuareg in Mali
41 Changing Times by Chris Bowlby
48 Opinion by James Holland
60 Big Days in History by Dominic Sandbrook
61 Book reviews 11 new history books reviewed
75 TV&Radio What’s on in June
Out&About 78 Where history happened: Pilgrimages 84 Ten things to do in June 86 Ye olde travel guide: Meknes in 1681
Miscellany 91 Q&A: Your historical questions answered 94 Crossword: Win one of four audiobooks of
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Our Times 95 Puzzles
98 My history hero by Chris de Burgh
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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) June 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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