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APRIL 2019

CONTENTS

Features

Every month

Read about Marilyn Monroe’s role in the rise of the drone, on p16

20 The Not-So Great Escape The famous Allied breakout from Stalag Lu III PoW camp was a awed exercise, argues Guy Walters

26 King John’s blood lust Nicholas Vincent reveals how the medieval king’s formative years turned him into a monster

31 Elizabethans in miniature Elizabeth Goldring and Catharine MacLeod introduce ve pocket-sized portraits from the 16th century

38 Houses through time David Olusoga explores Britons’ burgeoning fascination with the histories of their homes

45 Medieval rebel princesses Royal women in the Middle Ages had the power to shape court politics and international diplomacy, says Kelcey Wilson-Lee

50 The Amritsar aberration? Kim Wagner questions the theory that the 1919 massacre of Indian civilians was a monstrous anomaly

59 Tales from ‘Brexits’ past Historians explore ve schisms between Britain and Europe, including the Hundred Years’ War and the Reformation

6 ANNIVERSARIES 11 HISTORY NOW 1 1 The latest history news

1 4 Backgrounder: US Mexico border 16 Past notes: drones

17 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 18 LETTERS 65 BOOKS Thelatestreleasesreviewed,plus Hallie Rubenhold discusses her new

book on Jack the Ripper’s victims

77 TV & RADIO The pick of new history programmes

80 OUT &ABOUT 80 History Explorer: Medieval Jews

85 Five things to do in April 8 6 My favourite place: Peloponnese

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

98 MY HISTORY HERO KatieDerhamonLorenzodaPonte

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BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552)

(USPS 024-177) April 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.

31 What ve pocket-sized portraits can tell us about the Elizabethans

20 How Hollywood’s version of the Great Escape di ered from the reality

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