CATEGORIES

THE BIRTH OF THE YAKUZA

The Yakuza like to glamourise their samurai origins, but their real roots are in the gambling gangs of two centuries ago

BEYOND THE MYTHS TROY

Unearth the true history of this legendary city and discover what still remains

CHINA AFTER MAO

Frank Dikötter discusses the period of economic reform and social change in the wake of the Chairman's death

Historical Treasures - FIRST EDITION OF ROBINSON CRUSOE

Widely considered one of the first English novels, copies of this first edition are increasingly rare England, 1719

LEMON JUMBLES

A SPICED AND SUGARY KNOTTED BISCUIT, ENGLAND, 1485-PRESENT

What If...THE CHARTISTS HAD SUCCEEDED?

Winning the vote, and a voice, for the working man would change the political and social structure of Britain forever

TAKING THE GRAND TOUR

Professor Roey Sweet reveals why young British men journeyed to Europe as an important part of their education

THE FIRST SHOGUN

How an exile took power in an age of murderous intrigue and a teetering empire

HUNT FOR THE PHANTOM KILLER

Who was the masked man who held the region of Texarkana in a grip of fear?

The Life of GENTLEMAN JACK

Anne Lister was a true trailblazer, and today her story continues to inspire

The City of Peace

Perfectly situated between East and West, Baghdad became one of the Silk Road's leading centres of trade, science and cultural exchange

GETTING HIGH WITH THE ANCIENTS

From drinking parties to medicinal cures and religious rituals

THE CORRUPTION OF HENRY VIII

How the Tudor king went from Renaissance prince to blood-soaked tyrant

What If...GRANADA HAD NOT SURRENDERED?

A sophisticated centre for culture and learning that could challenge and change the face of Europe forever

BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF

PACIFIC OCEAN OFF THE PHILIPPINES, 23-26 OCT 1944

WELCOME TO GANGSTERS PARADISE

The American mob’s reign in pre-Castro Cuba is legendary, but have elements of mythos been spun into historical gospel?

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CONFUCIUS

How the ancient teacher, philosopher and politician laid down the foundations for Chinese culture

THE FIRST INCA

Who was Manco Cápac, the founder of the Kingdom of Cusco?

ANNIE OAKLEY American Heroine

How the female sharpshooter rose from poverty to become an icon of the Wild West

Decoding the Coronation

Historic rites, rituals and conventions explained

CHARLES II's CURSED REIGN

How the Great Fire and killer plague tormented the return of the Stuarts

Crusader Kings

Inside Europes quest to forge a holy empire in the Middle East through zeal and steel.

Bluffer's Guide

The Darien Scheme Panama, 1698-1700

Making The Man Of Steel Stalin

No one was safe from the Soviet Union’s terrifying tyrant, who would stop at nothing in his quest for absolute power

The Founding Fathers Of Civil Rights

Though their views frequently clashed, WEB Du Bois and Marcus Garvey pioneered the Civil Rights Movement at the dawn of the 20th Century

No Holds Barred The Sweet Science Of Bare-Knuckle Boxing

The blood-splattered truth behind Britain’s underground fight club that attracted crowds of thousands – including kings and prime ministers – even after it was outlawed.

What If Spain Conquered China?

In the late 16th century, Spain had made significant inroads in Asia – but a new generation of conquistadors thought Philip II should take on the Ming dynasty

To Hell And Back Again

During World War II, Corporal Roy Pagani dodged almost certain death in Dunkirk, Singapore and on the horrific Burma Railway

Galileo Versus The Church

From experiments to inquisition, discover the Renaissance scientist’s iconic clash with the pope and how he proved that the Earth goes around the Sun

Napoleon's Last Stand

How one reckless gamble ended an emperor’s career