Contents
MAY 2012
FEATURES
22 A popular murder? Gordon Pentland looks at why the assassination of a British prime minister was welcomed by some
26 Why did Shakespeare revile Richard III? Paulina Kewes explains how the king became a Shakespearean monster
34 The history of you and me Michael Wood champions the ordinary people of the past
39 Trouble in Palestine Matthew Hughes analyses Britain’s unsuccessful attempts to quell a Jewish uprising in the 1940s
46 The Thames triumphant Robert J Blyth explores a long history of royal pageants on the London river
50 When Washington burned Andrew Lambert challenges American claims to have emerged victorious from the 1812 war with Britain
4
58 The midwife of Islam Tom Holland reappraises a seventhcentury Muslim warlord whose legacy is still felt today
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EVERY MONTH
6 Letters
8 Milestones: It happened in May
News 12 Breaking news 14 News from the journals 17 News roundup 18 World news in context: Mexico
37 Big Days in History by Dominic Sandbrook
45 Changing Times by Chris Bowlby
61 Book reviews 11 new history books reviewed
75 TV&Radio What’s on in May
Out&About 78 Where history happened: The Luddites 84 Ten things to do in May 86 Ye olde travel guide: Paris in 1802
Miscellany 93 Q&A: Your historical questions answered 96 Crossword: Win A History of Food in 100 Recipes 97 Puzzles
98 My history hero by Mark Easton
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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) May 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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