Cultural

The Invention of the Flapper

More than a symbol of decadence, the flapper should be seen as a quest by women for agency, independence and escape from domesticity.

Colouring The Past

The development of interior painting schemes has a colourful, if hazardous, history.

Refining the Body Beautiful

There is beauty to be had from the smallest of objects. In the 18th century, tweezers, toothpicks and clippers became the signs of a polite, and beautiful, society.

The Language of the Roman Empire

What language did the Romans speak? Latin was used throughout the Roman Empire, but it shared space with a host of other languages and dialects...

A Simpler Time ...

It is tempting to adopt a black-and-white view of the past, but history is complex and should be judged on its own merits.

Buying British

From Elizabethan laws to modern food campaigns: the long history of Britain's patriotic consumers.

Newswomen in Revolt

New US equality laws in the 1960s meant a revolution in journalism, as the women of the press fought for their place.

Safe Spaces and Comfort Zones

Confronting the brutal facts of history can be difficult. But how far should we protect ourselves from them before it becomes censorship?