SEPTEMBER 2018

CONTENTS

Features

Every month

Read about the history of Britain’s street gangs, on page 16

22 Medieval medicine Our ancestors took a far more sophisticated approach to their health than you might imagine, writes Elma Brenner

31 The Ripper nightmare Anne-Marie Kilday and David Nash reveal what the hunt for Jack the Ripper can tell us about society’s greatest fears

35 The war revolution Britain’s economic miracle in the 18th century was the product of its military machine, writes Priya Satia

42 Veggie Victorians From animal rights to abstinence, James Gregory explains why some Britons chose a meat-free diet in the 19th century

50 The other death railway Skeletal PoWs, rampant disease and Japanese brutality: Lizzie Oliver tells the grim story of the Sumatra Railway

8 ANNIVERSARIES 13 HISTORY NOW 1 3 The latest history news

1 6 Backgrounder: knife crime

19 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 20 LETTERS 46 OUR FIRST WORLD WAR 67 BOOKS The latest releases reviewed, plus LucyInglisdiscusseshernewbook on humanity’s relationship with opium

79 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes

82 OUT &ABOUT 82 History Explorer: homosexuality

87 Five things to do in September 88 My favourite place: Syracuse

95 MISCELLANY 95 Q&A and quiz 96 Samantha’s recipe corner 97 Prize crossword

98 MY HISTORY HERO CourtneyPinechooses Miles Davis

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55 Henry V’s Scottish protege Gordon McKelvie pro les the Scottish monarch who modelled his style of kingship on an enemy of his people

59 World-changing women We reveal the results of our poll to discover the 100 most in uential women in history

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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) September 2018 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.

50 The grim story of the Sumatra Railway

31 What the search for Jack the Ripper tells us about the British psyche

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35 How Britain’s wars powered the industrial revolution

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