Archive for the ‘History’ Category
Who was the Turkish leader Kemal Ataturk?
June 9th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
“It began as a small environmental protest against plans to redevelop Gezi Park, and Istanbul’s adjoining Taksim Square. But over the past two weeks it has morphed into a countrywide revolt. Three people have been killed, 4,000 injured and 900 arrested. The demonstrations have spread to more than 70 Turkish cities, including the capital, Ankara, and the […]
Posted in History, World current affairs | Comments (0)
Did Vasili Arkhipov save the world from nuclear destruction?
May 29th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I was 14 at the time of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and, like many millions around the world, I was scared that the world was about to enter a nuclear war. So I was fascinated by the sixth episode of the Sky Atlantic series “Oliver Stone’s Untold History Of The United States” which covers the period […]
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Why was Ann Boleyn executed in 1536?
May 23rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
This was the question examined in a fascinating BBC2 programme aired this evening. Seven different historians and historical novelists offered their views, including Suzannah Lipscomb who has blogged about the programme and the subject here. Another of the contributors was Man Booker Prize winning novelist Hilary Mantel. The death of Ann Boleyn concludes her new […]
Posted in Cultural issues, History | Comments (0)
Should the atomic bomb have been dropped on Japan in 1945?
May 8th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I am currently in the process of watching on Sky Atlantic the series “Oliver Stone’s Untold History Of The United States”. It’s a fascinating, if controversial, project and I have just seen the third of the 10 episodes. This deals with the end of the Second World War in the Pacific and the dropping of […]
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The North Korean spy who blew up a plane
April 22nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
In the current climate of international tension between North Korea and most of the rest of the world, it is no bad thing to be reminded of the true nature of this regime. Today the BBC web site publishes this remarkable story of outright terrorism in 1987. Of course, North Korea is more than capable […]
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A short history of coffee
April 18th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I am in my favourite cafe – “Gaby’s” in central London. I am drinking my favourite drink – cappuccino. I am browsing the web on my iPhone and I found this.
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One more view on Margaret Thatcher
April 9th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
In my time, I’ve met four British Prime Ministers. Given my politics, they were all Labour: Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I never wanted to meet Margaret Thatcher. This was not just a matter of ideology, but also an issue of personality. While I accept that she modernised Britain in some important […]
Posted in British current affairs, History | Comments (1)
A review of a new biography of Adolf Hitler
February 25th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
A N Wilson is perhaps more accomplished as a novelist than an historian, but I have just completed his short biography “Hitler” which I’ve reviewed here.
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Where did the United Nations have its first meeting?
February 23rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Everyone knows that the United Nations is headquartered in New York City where meetings of the General Assembly and the Security Council are held. But very few people realise that the first meeting of the General Assembly took place in my home city of London in the Methodist Central Hall opposite Westminster Abbey. I met […]
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When did Mississippi ratify the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery?
February 22nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
If you’re American, you probably know the answer to this question. But, if you live anywhere else in the world, the answer may well surprise you.
Posted in American current affairs, History | Comments (0)