Contents
SEPTEMBER 2012
FEATURES
22 The Vikings at home Cameron Balbirnie considers the origins of the Vikings and reveals the extent of their travels
31 “In my spare time I win Olympic Golds” Gavin Mortimer profiles 10 notable characters who in their earlier lives had been Olympic competitors
36 Germany’s naked truth George Hull explains how political ideologies influenced German nudism in the 19th and 20th centuries
42 Women of the Wars of the Roses Sarah Gristwood introduces seven women who played a crucial role in the 15th-century civil wars
50 The father of modern geography Jerry Brotton examines the legacy of Ptolemy, an ancient geographer who influenced Columbus
56 D-Day dress rehearsal Tim Benbow tells the story of a bold British invasion of Madagascar that anticipated the Normandy landings
4
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EVERY MONTH
6 Letters
8 The big picture
10 Milestones: It happened in September
News 12 Breaking news
17 News roundup 18 World news in context: Jersey
29 Big days in history by Dominic Sandbrook
49 Changing times by Chris Bowlby
61 Book reviews 10 new history books reviewed 71 TV&Radio What’s on in September
Out&About 78 Where history happened: The home front 84 Ten things to do in September 86 Ye olde travel guide: Sydney in 1848
Miscellany 93 Q&A: Your historical questions answered 96 Crossword: Win The Treasures of Queen Elizabeth 97 Puzzles
98 My history hero by Vera Lynn
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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) September 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 669, Selmer, TN 38375-0669.
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