Essays

Long-form writing from leading scholars and commentators on history, statecraft, warfare, philosophy and culture.

King Charles VI of France prepares for war.

Inside the world of medieval espionage

The long series of wars between England and France from the 13th to the 15th century perfectly illustrate the techniques employed by the last generations before the creation of Eur..

Jonathan Sumption January 16, 2025

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol shout slogans during a rally to oppose his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul.

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The roots of South Korea’s crisis

South Korea is gripped by a political crisis that is yet to run its course, with troubling ramifications both for its allies in Asia and beyond.

John Nilsson-Wright January 14, 2025

The Treaty of Versailles is finalised by delegates at the peace conference.

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The past, an enduring guide to the future

To navigate the uncertainty of 2025, historians should sift through the archives. By returning to the sources, we can make sense of our own tumultuous time.

Will Quinn January 10, 2025

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Ghosts of the old Middle East

The true cosmopolitanism of the old Middle East is in terminal decline. The travails of Syria’s Armenian community are its latest manifestation.

Hannah Lucinda Smith January 7, 2025

A new mural ofTaylor Swift in London designed by Kate Clayton.

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The era of Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift cultivates community through storytelling, a quality in which she far exceeds her contemporaries.

Duncan Wheeler January 3, 2025

A portrait of the English wrier Daniel Defoe.

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Daniel Defoe’s journeys of the mind

Three centuries on from the publication of Daniel Defoe’s A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain, the English writer's travelogue remains unsurpassed.

Malcolm Forbes December 30, 2024

Elon Musk's appearance at a pro-Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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How bro-world conquered America

The rise of bro-culture, all the way to the US presidency, is an unprecedented shift in America’s vision of itself and its projection upon the world stage.

Jenny McCartney December 27, 2024