DECEMBER 2017
WELCOME
H A M P S T E A D
O F
I N G
E N G R AV
. W O O D
I D G E M A N
B R
–
I C 15 7 5
I Z A B E T H
E L
, Q U E E N
I D G E M A N
B R
–
15 3 2 8 8
D U D L E Y
, R O B E R T
L O N G L E AT
–
K N O L LY S
I C E
L E T T
O F
I T
: P O R T R A
C O V E R
I M A G E S
/ G E T T Y
N O T T/J A N E M O O R E
IJ E N
:
I S PA G E
T H
.
I L L U S T R AT E D L O N D O N N E W S 18 7 1 – S H U T T E R S T O C K
I N T E R 18 7 0 -18 7 1 F R O M
I N G W
I TA L D U R
S M A L L P O X H O S P
With her ame-red hair and imposing Tudor attire, this month’s cover star could easily be mistaken for Elizabeth I. Yet , i n rea l i t y she i s one of the Virgin Queen’s greatest rivals: Lettice Knollys, the woman who stole Robert Dudley’s heart. The exact nature of Dudley and Elizabeth’s relationship continues to be debated, but what’s not in doubt is the queen’s anger on discovering that he had married one of the younger women who inhabited her court. On page 20 Nicola Tallis explores this Tudor love triangle.
Also this month, we’re exploring pain of a more physical kind, in an evocation of the hellish world of the Victorian hospital. As Lindsey Fitzharris reveals, these supposed houses of healing were home to dirt, disease and horrifying surgical procedures that o en did more harm than good. Turn to page 42 to read her fascinating article – assuming you have a strong enough stomach!
Thankfully modern hospitals bear little resemblance to their 19th-century predecessors, but in other areas, historical events are continuing to shape the world around us. A notable example is the Balfour Declaration, Britain’s statement of support for a Jewish home in Palestine. As David Reynolds shows in his article on page 28, the declaration con icted with promises that Britain made to Arabs and other groups in the heat of the First World War. One hundred years later, the contradictions in Britain’s actions in the Middle East have yet to be resolved.
Rob Attar Editor BSME Editor of the Year 2015, Special Interest Brand
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS
Simon Schama For over half a millennium, the life of a Jew was always one where you never knew whether you were going to be holed up in a ghetto or expelled from your country. P Simon discusses his new book on the history of the Jewish people on page 63
Nicola Tallis Elizabeth I’s little known relative, Lettice Knollys, forms the subject of my research. This is a tale full of drama, intrigue and ultimately a love story, but one that earned the enmity of the formidable Tudor queen. P Nicola describes the fallout from a Tudor love triangle on page 20
Charles Spencer The six weeks that Charles II spent as a fugitive a er his defeat at the battle of Worcester were the most exciting of his life. There’s no doubt what would have happened to him had he been caught. P Charles traces Charles II’s escape from Cromwell’s troops on page 80
*Subscribers to BBC History Magazine receive FREE UK P&P on this collector’s edition. Prices including postage are: £11.49 for all other UK residents, £12.99 for Europe and £13.49 for Rest of World. All orders subject to availability. Please allow up to 21 days for delivery **Calls from landlines will cost up to 9p per minute. Call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute but are included in free call packages. Lines are open 8am–6pm weekdays and 9am–1pm Saturday for orders only
MAGAZINE
historyextra.com The website of BBC History Magazine
History Extra podcast Download episodes for free from iTunes and other providers, or via our website: historyextra.com/ podcasts
Our digital editions BBC History Magazine is available for the Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad/iPhone, Google Play and Zinio. Find us in your app store or visit the website: historyextra.com/digital
Facebook and Twitter twitter.com/historyextra facebook.com/historyextra
World Histories Check out the new bimonthly global history magazine, produced by the BBC History Magazine team. You can order issue 7 at buysubscriptions.com/ worldhistories or call us on 03330 162115**
Collector’s Edition: Medieval Life Read about the realities of life for ordinary people in the Middle Ages in our Collector’s Edition written by expert historians. Buy it for £9.99 – subscribers get free UK P+P*. Order at buysubscriptions.com/medievallife or call us on 03330 162115**
FROM THE MAKERS OF BBCHISTORY MAGAZINE
Medieval life The stories of ordinary people in the Middle Ages
£9.99
FROM THE MAKERS OF
1 Shopping habits 1 The Black Death
1 Medieval lingerie 1 City stinks 1 Magna Carta 1 Working women 1 Faith and superstition 1 Sexand science 1 Daily dangers
CONTACT US P H O N E Subscriptions & back issues 03330 162115 Editorial 0117 314 7377 EMAIL Subscriptions & back issues bbchistory@buysubscriptions.com Editorial historymagazine@historyextra.com POST Subscriptions & back issues BBC History Magazine, PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF Basic annual subscription rates: UK: £40, Eire/Europe: £67, ROW: £69 Editorial BBC History Magazine, Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN
In the US/Canada you can contact us at: PO
Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037 BHIcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, britsubs.com/history, Toll-free 800-342-3592
3