OCTOBER 2016

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I S H G E N E R A L F R A N C O O N O C T O B E R 2 6 T H 19 4 0

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Would you l ike to l ive in a Victorian slum? For a new BBC Two series, a group of Britons have agreed to do just that – albeit for only a few weeks and in replica 19th-century dwellings. Of course, for the inhabitants of Britain’s Victorian cities, slum life was rarely a choice and the conditions they had to endure could be bleak. In this month’s cover feature, historian Jerry White explores the underside of Victorian London and looks at how these areas were later transformed. Turn to page 22 for that.

One of the best-known legends from our early history is that of King Cnut, forlornly attempting to turn back the waves. On page 40, Eleanor Parker retraces the life and times of this remarkable Viking ruler, whose actions helped precipitate the Norman conquest half a century later.

King Cnut is one of the topics under discussion at our History Weekend in Winchester, which is now almost upon us. There are still some tickets available for both this and our later York event, so if you’re interested in coming along, do check out the details on pages 48 49 and at historyweekend.com

Finally, the autumn sees students beginning their school and university years. If you, or a member of your family, is planning to study history in the future then I am sure you will find plenty to interest you in the education supplement that’s included in the centre of this edition.

Rob Attar Editor BSME Editor of the Year 2015, Special Interest Brand

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

Richard J Evans The most fascinating and at the same time the most challenging part of writing a history of 19th-century Europe was covering unfamiliar topics such as the human impact on the environment and countries new to me like Portugal or Bulgaria. P Richard explores the century from Waterloo to the Great War on page 51

Eleanor Parker Cnut was the most successful Viking king, famous for both piety and ruthlessness. I’m fascinated by trying to understand how being part of his Scandinavian empire a ected Anglo-Saxon England. P Eleanor traces the exploits of a formidable Viking leader on page 40

Steven Gunn It has taken me 30 years and work in more than 60 archives to reconstruct the careers of the ‘new men’ who ran Henry VII’s government. But it has been a fascinating journey! P Steven profiles Henry VII’s henchmen on page 29

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KING CNUT: ENGLAND’S VIKING CONQUEROR

MAGAZINE

BRITAIN’SBESTSELLINGHISTORYMAGAZINE£4.99 • October 2016 • www.historyextra.com/bbchistorymagazine

Victorian slum life How mean were thestreetsof 19th-century London?

HenryVII’s hatedhenchmen

INSIDE 16-page Study History guide

POLITICAL WOMEN WhatTheresaMayowes the su ragettes PLUS

From Waterloo to World War One Europe’s golden century

The Nazi plot to seize Gibraltar

Facebook and Twitter twitter.com/historyextra facebook.com/historyextra

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