AUGUST 2016
CONTENTS
Features
Every month
6 ANNIVERSARIES 11 HISTORY NOW 1 1 The latest history news
1 4 Historians give their views on Britain’s relationship with Europe
Historians offer their perspective on Britain’s vote to leave the EU, on page 14
24 Holidays with Hitler Roger Moorhouse reveals how the Nazis tried to win over Germany’s masses with cheap vacations in the sun
28 Eleanor of Aquitaine Lindy Grant examines the extraordinary and colourful life of one of the medieval world’s most powerful women
38 Soldiers of the apocalypse Robert Hutchinson investigates the Fi h Monarchists, the religious fanatics bent on murdering Charles II in 1661
43 Ancient encounters Trade, education, religion and politics: Michael Scott looks at ve of the ancient world’s most important cultural exchanges
50 The running revolutionary Superstar Czech athlete Emil Zátopek ran into the record books – and into trouble with the communist authorities. Richard Askwith nds out more
54 The year without summer Endless months of freezing temperatures and torrential rain. What on earth was happening in 1816? asks Robert Hume
58 Reign of the red terror Robert Bickers describes how Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution unleashed years of hell on China’s citizens
20 LETTERS 23 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 34 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 65 BOOKS New history titles reviewed, plus Anne Sebba talks about her book onwomen’slivesinoccupiedParis
77 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes
80 OUT &ABOUT 80 History Explorer: the Cold War
85 Five things to do in August 86 My favourite place: Vézelay
93 MISCELLANY 93 Q&A and quiz 94 Samantha’s recipe corner 95 Prize crossword
98 MY HISTORY HERO PrimeministerDavidCameronpicks yingaceDouglasBader
36 SUBSCRIBE Save when you subscribe today
USPS Identification Statement
BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552)
(USPS 024-177) August 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.
43 What happened when ancient civilisations collided?
58 The terrible cost of the Cultural Revolution
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50 Zátopek – the Olympian who stood his ground
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