Unseen Histories

The Past, Fully Present.

Welcome to Unseen Histories, a place where you can find out about the very best new history books, read author interviews and long-form pieces by the world’s leading historians. Our aim, as our name suggests, is to present history in an original, provoking and beautiful way. All our written pieces are accompanied by high quality visual material.

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Unseen Histories

The Last Emperor of Mexico by Edward Shawcross

A Disaster in the New World

January 18^th, 2022

Read Edward Shawcross' account of the short-lived reign of Emperor Maximilian I, as Mexico became the pivotal battleground in the global balance of power, between Old Europe and American imperialism.

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In Excerpts

A Very American Santa Claus

Remastered photographs from the American public archives

December 21^st, 2021

Contrary to popular belief, Fred Mizen’s classic Red Santa Claus featured in Coca-Cola’s advertising from the 1930s continues a long tradition of portrayals of the modern day Father Christmas.

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In Viewfinder

The Ruin of All Witches by Malcolm Gaskill

Life and Death in the New World

December 16^th, 2021

Read an abridged excerpt from Malcolm Gaskill's telling of a New England folktale of witch-hunting, when English settlers' dreams of love and liberty gave way to paranoia and terror, enmity and rage.

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In Excerpts

The Battle of Fredericksburg: Storming Marye's Heights

Saturday, December 13th, 1862

December 13^th, 2021

On December 13th, 1862, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War was fought on the slopes of Marye’s Heights. Unseen Histories presents eye-witness accounts of the battle.

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In Features

The Battle of Fredericksburg: Crossing the Rappahannock

Thursday, December 11th, 1862

December 11^th, 2021

Union Major General Burnside's failed invasion of the city of Fredericksburg began on December 11th, 1862. Unseen Histories presents eye-witness accounts of the first day of the battle.

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In Features

Samuel Pepys and the Strange Wrecking of the Gloucester by Nigel Pickford

A True Restoration Tragedy

December 10^th, 2021

An excerpt from Nigel Pickford's fascinating account from 1682 of a ship carrying the future King James II returned from exile which sank off the coast of Norfolk.

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In Excerpts