I n 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. That, at least, is what the famous rhyme tells us. Memorising such dates is a common experience of being taught history – a cliché superbly lampooned by the w

Thomas Jones Barker completed this enormous painting to commemorate the Crimean War’s last major action

LONG MARSTON, YORKSHIRE 2 JULY 1644

I greatly enjoyed your interview with Alice Roberts about her new book Domination, (Books Interview, September), and its argument that the church was essentially Rome rebadged, with its structures and

So did Gerry and the Pacemakers. Still, suppose we should, after Portia in The Merchant of Venice, afford them some Quality of Mersey. I’ve previously [FT255:17] surveyed the archæology and history of

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, USA 11-15 DECEMBER 1862