JULY 2014
CONTENTS
Features
Follow the quest to discover a method for calculating longitude on page 28
22 Robert Bruce’s fight for freedom Fiona Watson explains how the battle of Bannockburn was framed as an epic struggle for liberation
28 The quest for longitude Rebekah Higgitt describes the race to solve a maritime conundrum
37 How the West was spun Karen Jones paints a warts-and-all portrait of the Wild West – rife with poverty, hunger and violence 42 Cities of the British empire Tristram Hunt explores how great imperial metropolises have reinvented themselves as 21st-century powerhouses 50 The real Richard III Chris Skidmore analyses the controver- sial Yorkist monarch – and reveals a devoted, ruthless, generous bon vivant
57 Victorian letter scams Antonio Melechi introduces the ranks of professional scammers who duped the Duke of Wellington and Charles Dickens
60 “Our First World War” In part two of our series, Peter Hart reveals how the looming con ict impacted on Britons’ lives in July 1914
Every month
7 HISTORY NOW 7 The latest history news
10 Backgrounder: God and politics 13 Past notes
14 ANNIVERSARIES 18 LETTERS 21 MICHAEL WOOD’S VIEW 63 BOOKS Expertsreviewnewreleases,plus KwasiKwartengdiscusseshisbook aboutgoldandwar
77 TV & RADIO The pick of July’s history programmes
80 OUT & ABOUT 80 History explorer: Timothy Mowl on English landscape gardens 84 Ten things to do in July 86 Holidays: Mont Saint Michel
89 MISCELLANY 90 Q&A and quiz 91 Sam’s recipe corner 92 Getmore from BBC History magazine
98 MY HISTORY HERO SolCampbellselectsNelsonMandela
48 EVENTS History Weekend in Malmesbury
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34 SUBSCRIBE Save 27% when you subscribe* to the digital edition
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USPS Identification Statement BBC HISTORY (ISSN 1469-8552) (USPS 024-177) July 2014 is published 13 times a year under license from BBC Worldwide by Immediate Media Company Bristol Ltd, 9th Floor, 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, PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495.
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42 Why Britain’s imperial cities are the economic powerhouses of the modern world
37
The harsh reality of life in the Wild West
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