The grisly fate of more than 16,000 soldiers and civilians during the First Anglo-Afghan War serves as a timeless lesson in hubris and bad leadership

Marcus Paul, editor John Buchan Reconsidered Thirty-nine years of war and peace 1901–1940 328pp. Handsel Press. £27. John Buchan The Strange Stories of John Buchan Edited by James Machin 256pp. Britis

A biography is a daunting task for any writer. How can you summarise a life? Can you realistically cover all of the source material? If the subject is well known, there are probably rival biographies.

One of the most consequential battles of the American Revolution was fought in the South Carolina backcountry

Leading historians share the texts that have inspired and informed their work

England in the 18th century had no love for its landscape, preferring instead Italianate views, until George Stubbs came and decided to paint his horses true to the setting in which they lived, as Bendor Grosvenor reveals