FEBRUARY 2016

CONTENTS

Features

Every month

Meet the woman who set her sights on the White House in 1872, on page 28

22 Henry IV: usurper king Chris Given-Wilson shows how the medieval monarch’s reign was dogged by the killing of his predecessor

28 A one-woman revolution Jad Adams introduces the rst female candidate for the American presidency

30 Dad’s Army Leo McKinstry challenges the view that the Home Guard were bumbling idiots

38 Benjamin Franklin George Goodwin explains why a British patriot became an American hero

45 British failures Stephanie Barczewski explores our celebration of gallant losers

51 Castrated opera stars Anna Maria Barry delves into the lives of some remarkable Georgian performers

56 Verdun: hell on Earth David Reynolds narrates a bloody clash that could have decided the First World War

6 ANNIVERSARIES 11 HISTORY NOW 1 1 The latest history news

1 4 Backgrounder: terrorism 1 6 Past notes: skiing

18 LETTERS 21 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 54 EVENTS 62 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 65 BOOKS The latest releases, plus Simon Sebag

Monte ore discusses the Romanovs

77 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes

80 OUT &ABOUT 80 History Explorer: King Arthur

85 Five things to do in February 86 My favourite place: Xanadu

93 MISCELLANY 93 Q&A and quiz 94 Samantha’s recipe corner 95 Prize crossword

98 MY HISTORY HERO Justin Webb chooses Ronald Reagan

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USPS Identification Statement

BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552)

(USPS 024-177) February 2016 is published 13 times a year under licence from BBC Worldwide by Immediate Media Company Bristol Ltd, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK. Distributed in the US by Circulation Specialists, Inc., 2 Corporate Drive, Suite 945, Shelton CT 06484-6238. Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, CT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE, PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495.

51 “Castrati were seen as a sexual threat. They caused great unease”

56 The ‘Stalingrad’ of the First World War

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BBC History Magazine