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FEBRUARY 2019

CONTENTS

Features

Every month

Rejuvenated Warsaw: Chandrika Kaul explores Poland’s capital on page 88

20 The Viking apocalypse In the 990s, England was brought to its knees by Norse raiders. Laura Ashe sees the invasion through the eyes of AngloSaxon bishop Wulfstan

26 Songs of the Holocaust Mark Burman on performer Aleksander Kulisiewicz, who recorded the music and memories of concentration camp inmates

30 An American in London In 1844, US businessman Elizur Wright recorded the highs and lows of a visit to Victorian Britain. Richard Sugg reveals what he found

36 Women of influence? Suzannah Lipscomb looks at the lives of Reformation France’s female residents

43 Killers who cheated death Elizabeth Hurren uncovers how Georgian hangings didn’t always go to plan

50 Fleeing Idi Amin Becky Taylor charts the stories of Asian families who le Uganda to begin new lives in 1970s Britain

56 A lady in the line of re Simon Boyd introduces Sybil Grey, an indomitable frontline nurse who witnessed the Russian Revolution

58 Studying history Four history graduates reveal how their degrees led to dream jobs

6 ANNIVERSARIES 11 HISTORY NOW 1 1 The latest history news

1 4 Backgrounder: Commuting 16 Past notes: Beatlemania

17 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 18 LETTERS 67 BOOKS Thelatestreleasesreviewed,plus Richard J Evans discusses his new

book on historian Eric Hobsbawm

77 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes

82 OUT &ABOUT 82 History Explorer: Bloomsbury

87 Five things to do in February 88 My favourite place: Warsaw

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

98 MY HISTORY HERO CarolineLucasonPetraKelly

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EVENTS 80 The full details of our Kings & Queens Weekend

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BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552)

(USPS 024-177) February 2019 is published 13 times a year under licence from BBC Studios 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 How criminals cheated capital punishment in Georgian Britain

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26 The musician who saved the songs of the damned

BBC History Magazine