CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2021

FEATURES

EVERY MONTH

22 The modern Middle Ages From climate change to pandemics, Dan Jones looks at the issues that preoccupied our medieval ancestors – and keep us awake at night today

29 What is history in 2021? Suzannah Lipscomb and Helen Carr consider how we should tell the story of the past in the 21st century

34 Royals in the trenches The British royal family emerged from the First World War stronger than ever. Heather Jones explains why

42 The radical Wedgwood Tristram Hunt reveals how an English potter embedded activism into his celebrated earthenware

50 Romancing the Tudors Sarah Gristwood chronicles how Henry VIII and Elizabeth I used courtly love to further their agendas

60 In the shadow of 9/11 David Reynolds asks i f the events of 11 September 2001 really were a turning point in world history

69 The future for the past Four historians discuss the issues shaping the study of history in universities, from Covid-19 to calls to decolonise the curriculum

This month in history

7 History news 10 Behind the news: football’s problems with prejudice 13 Michael Wood on the

Tamils’ cultural universe 14 Anniversaries 18 Emma Dabiri’s

Hidden Histories 20 Letters

56 Q&A Your history questions answered

Books

76 Interview: Saul David reveals how the Special Boat Service helped change the course of the Second World War 80 New history books reviewed

Encounters

8 8 Diary: What to see and do this month 9 4 Explore: Gloucester’s rich heritage

96 Prize crossword

98 My histor y hero Reeta Chakrabarti chooses Janusz Korczak

60

50

4

42

69

/ E L E A N O R S H A K E S P E A R E

I M A G E S

A KG