Antiques Roadshow medal expert Mark Smith has always had a deep fascination with his dad’s wartime stories, which now take centre stage in his new book

Samurai rose to be global emblems of honour and courage, but their story doesn’t always match the myths they told about themselves, as a British Museum exhibition shows

Exhibition of the week Hawai‘i: a kingdom crossing ...

Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight

Best books… Roy Foster The emeritus professor of ...

Although I realise that it is a favourite pastime among historians, particularly the British, to demonstrate that our idols have feet of clay, I must protest at the inclusion of Winston Churchill in t