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Witness the rise and fall of history’s greatest empire in the new adventure from the master of historical fiction ‘Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction’ Daily Mirror ‘One of our finest historical novelists’ Daily Express ConnIgguldenAuthor
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WELCOME SEPTEMBER 2020 . I M A G E S G E T T Y – TA P E S T R Y B AY E U X T H E , F R O M T H R O N E I S HO N I N G KS A X O N A N G L O , T H E C O N F E S S O R T H E : E D WA R D I M A G E C O V E R I M A G E S / G E T T Y S AY E R S , S T E V E PA G E I S T H When we think of King Edward the Confessor today, two images probably spring to mind. One is the elderly presence in the Bayeux Tapestry whose death sets the scene for the dynamic figures of Harold and William to do battle for the throne. The second, is a man of extreme piety – “little more than a monk in a crown”, as Tom Licence writes in this month’s edition. By focusing on these two aspects, however, we miss a different side of Edward, whose successful 24-year reign was testament to his diplomatic vigour and military acumen. In this month’s cover feature, Tom offers a more rounded picture of Edward and also tackles the ongoing debate about whether he offered William the crown. You can read his piece on page 46. Earlier this year we marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day, but of course that didn’t spell the end of the Second World War commemorations. In this issue, we explore the finale to the war against Japan, beginning with Diana Preston’s feature on the development of the atom bomb, followed by Jonathan Fennell on how British and Commonwealth forces turned the tide in the east after the disasters of 1942. Turn to page 20 for those. You’ll also find articles on medieval marginalia, African attempts to move beyond the legacy of colonialism, the historical roots of Trump’s policy agenda, and how the potato became one of the world’s most successful crops. It’s a veritable historical feast. Rob Attar Editor THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Tom Licence Legitimacy, holy mystique, prioritising peace but crushing enemies – these were the ingredients of a successful reign. We admire the warrior Harold of 1066, but Edward the Confessor teaches us more about kingship. Tom re-evaluates the reign of Edward the Confessor on page 46 Afua Hirsch Each African country we explore in my new series had a story to tell that we felt was a little bit different to what people are used to hearing. Africa has so much to offer the world, including the sheer brilliance of the art it’s producing now. Afua reveals how Africa is looking beyond its traumatic past on page 39 Diana Preston While researching the development of the atom bomb, I was fortunate enough to interview survivors of Hiroshima, the last living chemist to work with Marie Curie, and Nobel laureate Joseph Rotblat, who quit the Manhattan Project on moral grounds. Diana chronicles the race to develop the atom bomb on page 20 MORE FROM US Subscription offer Receive this brand-new history book* when you subscribe. Turn to page 36 for details WORTH £20 For more information on the content in this magazine, scan the QR code (right) with the camera on your smart phone or tablet historyextra.com The website of BBC History Magazine is filled with exciting content on British and world history, and includes an extensive archive of magazine content The History Extra podcast Download episodes for free from iTunes and other providers, or via historyextra.com/podcast Our digital editions BBC History Magazine is available for the Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad/iPhone, Google Play and Zinio. Find us in your app store or visit historyextra.com/subscribe Facebook and Twitter twitter.com/historyextra facebook.com/historyextra Our special editions Discover our range of collector’s editions at historyextra.com/special-editions Contact us PHONE Subscriptions & back issues 03330 162115 Editorial 0117 300 8699 EMAIL Subscriptions & back issues www.buysubscriptions.com/contactus Editorial historymagazine@historyextra.com POST Subscriptions & back issues BBC History Magazine, PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF. Basic annual subscription rates: UK: £48, Eire/Europe: £67, ROW: £69 In the US/Canada you can contact us at: PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037 BHIcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, britsubs.com/history, Toll-free 800-342-3592 *Available to UK Direct Debit orders only 3

Page Text

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WELCOME

SEPTEMBER 2020

.

I M A G E S

G E T T Y

–

TA P E S T R Y

B AY E U X

T H E

, F R O M

T H R O N E

I S

HO N

I N G

KS A X O N

A N G L O

, T H E

C O N F E S S O R

T H E

: E D WA R D

I M A G E

C O V E R

I M A G E S

/ G E T T Y

S AY E R S

, S T E V E

PA G E

I S

T H

When we think of King Edward the Confessor today, two images probably spring to mind. One is the elderly presence in the Bayeux Tapestry whose death sets the scene for the dynamic figures of Harold and William to do battle for the throne. The second, is a man of extreme piety – “little more than a monk in a crown”, as Tom Licence writes in this month’s edition.

By focusing on these two aspects, however, we miss a different side of Edward, whose successful 24-year reign was testament to his diplomatic vigour and military acumen. In this month’s cover feature, Tom offers a more rounded picture of Edward and also tackles the ongoing debate about whether he offered William the crown. You can read his piece on page 46.

Earlier this year we marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day, but of course that didn’t spell the end of the Second World War commemorations. In this issue, we explore the finale to the war against Japan, beginning with Diana Preston’s feature on the development of the atom bomb, followed by Jonathan Fennell on how British and Commonwealth forces turned the tide in the east after the disasters of 1942. Turn to page 20 for those.

You’ll also find articles on medieval marginalia, African attempts to move beyond the legacy of colonialism, the historical roots of Trump’s policy agenda, and how the potato became one of the world’s most successful crops. It’s a veritable historical feast.

Rob Attar Editor

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

Tom Licence Legitimacy, holy mystique, prioritising peace but crushing enemies – these were the ingredients of a successful reign. We admire the warrior Harold of 1066, but Edward the Confessor teaches us more about kingship. Tom re-evaluates the reign of Edward the Confessor on page 46

Afua Hirsch Each African country we explore in my new series had a story to tell that we felt was a little bit different to what people are used to hearing. Africa has so much to offer the world, including the sheer brilliance of the art it’s producing now. Afua reveals how Africa is looking beyond its traumatic past on page 39

Diana Preston While researching the development of the atom bomb, I was fortunate enough to interview survivors of Hiroshima, the last living chemist to work with Marie Curie, and Nobel laureate Joseph Rotblat, who quit the Manhattan Project on moral grounds. Diana chronicles the race to develop the atom bomb on page 20

MORE FROM US

Subscription offer Receive this brand-new history book* when you subscribe. Turn to page 36 for details

WORTH

£20

For more information on the content in this magazine, scan the QR code (right) with the camera on your smart phone or tablet

historyextra.com The website of BBC History Magazine is filled with exciting content on British and world history, and includes an extensive archive of magazine content

The History Extra podcast Download episodes for free from iTunes and other providers, or via historyextra.com/podcast

Our digital editions BBC History Magazine is available for the Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad/iPhone, Google Play and Zinio. Find us in your app store or visit historyextra.com/subscribe

Facebook and Twitter

twitter.com/historyextra facebook.com/historyextra

Our special editions Discover our range of collector’s editions at historyextra.com/special-editions

Contact us PHONE Subscriptions & back issues 03330 162115 Editorial 0117 300 8699 EMAIL Subscriptions & back issues www.buysubscriptions.com/contactus Editorial historymagazine@historyextra.com POST Subscriptions & back issues BBC History Magazine, PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF. Basic annual subscription rates: UK: £48, Eire/Europe: £67, ROW: £69

In the US/Canada you can contact us at:

PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037 BHIcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, britsubs.com/history, Toll-free 800-342-3592

*Available to UK Direct Debit orders only

3

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