The events that finally brought the Second World War to an end across the globe are not commemorated in quite the same way as the end of the war in Europe. This can be attributed in part to the way in which Japan was forced to surrender, but also to...

Summer holidays often tempt us to look further afield. Yet some of the most fascinating stories are hiding in plain sight: beneath our feet, behind garden walls, along harbour fronts and on windswept headlands. This year, why not slow down, look a little closer, and discover the history woven through...

In the Year of Reading, we've selected a few reads linked to the month, alongside some seasonal suggestions – all drawn from the riches of our own archive. Goethe (1749–1832) 28 August is the anniversary of the birth of Goethe (1749–1832), the German polymath who is often considered the most...

It is that time of year when school is out and the endless days of the summer holidays lie ahead. For children the thought of a long holiday might fill them with joy – for parents and grandparents the sensation might be more of how to fill time and supply...

Why did the the Maginot Line – that marvel of 1930s engineering with its miles of fortifications and bunkers to deter German invasion – fail so spectacularly in 1940? Its vast underground forts were designed to withstand artillery and chemical attack, yet France fell in just six weeks, leaving the Line as a symbol of...

The HA Conference will be held in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2027! This two-day conference on 14-15 May is a leading highlight of the history community's year. It brings together all those working in and who have an active interest in history and heritage. With top-level academics, pedagogical sessions and discussion panels, the...

Following a period of expanded sea exploration in the 15th century by European explorers the American continent started to be established as a trading opportunity but very quickly became something more permanent. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries Western European Powers expanded their reach into the Americas, establishing colonies and...

July is South Asian Heritage Month, an ongoing opportunity for those with a Eurocentric perspective to expand their horizons. South Asia is a large area of the globe with many different histories, cultures, languages and food that have travelled and dispersed far beyond their original subcontinent. To celebrate that geographic and demographic reality...

As we continue into the National Year of Reading, July offers many historical anniversaries to explore through literature – starting with the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776 on 4 July: ‘Independence Day’. Our upcoming American Culture webinar series (30 June–8 Sept) focuses on literature and...