Who was the man who became Henry VIII’s confidant after Thomas Cromwell?
In Henry VIII's famous reign the 1540s is a strangely neglected decade. Central to an understanding of it, argues Andrew Johnston, is William Paget – 'The King's Secretary'.
Features
Here you can explore our archive of long form pieces, written by expert historians. In these features, they explain where they found their ideas, how they crafted their stories, what new discoveries they have made and arguments they have proposed.
How Franco's Spain Reinvented Itself in 1959 – Reflections on the 'Spanish Miracle'
Franco's 36-year rule in Spain is a period that defies simple characterisation. Tommy Duxbury examines the 1959 political shift that led to the 'Spanish Miracle'.
'The Danger Paradox' – Thomas Cochrane’s Guide to War
Peter Moore explains what made Thomas Cochrane such a potent military force during the years of the Napoleonic Wars.
Six Enchanting Churches for Lovers of English History
Have you ever been tempted to indulge in a little church crawling? Here the author Rachel Morley selects six of her favourite destinations.
'Persuasion Not Coercion' – British Politics in the Second World War
Between 1939-45 Britain's politicians were confronted by a huge domestic challenge. Here Steven Casey analyses how Churchill's government 'sold the Second World War'.
Life at the Loneliest Farmhouse in the World
The author Tim Ecott is a regular visitor to the remote Faroe Islands. Here he takes us to one of the most sparsely populated of them all, Stóra Dímun, and its single, lonely farmhouse.
Hannah Durkin's Search for the Last US Survivors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
A decade ago Hannah Durkin began to search for the last survivors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Here she tells us about the Wolfson Prize winning book that emerged.
The Mysterious Origins of Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' is one of the most recognisable and beloved of all pieces of classical music. The author Hannah French investigates its origins
The Haunting Magic of Tudor Buildings
In the nineteenth century the Victorians sought to emulate the charm and beauty of the Tudor home. Jonathan Glancey, author of Where We Live, argues that we should do the same
‘History is the best guide to the future we’ve got’ – Murray Pittock on Scottish Identity
Louis D. Hall talks to Professor Murray Pittock about the challenges he confronted while writing 'The Shortest History of Scotland'
Who Was The Venerable Bede and Why Does He Matter?
The Venerable Bede is one of the most significant figures in Anglo Saxon history. As Edoardo Albert explains, he was a scholar, an historian and a visionary
Hans Welser and John Rayner: Experts of Cold War British Propaganda
Rory Cormac tells us about Hans Welser and John Rayner two British propaganda agents who operated from WW2 through the Cold War