The Scottish dream fades

The controversy surrounding the case of the release of the Lockerbie bomber has hit Scotland's minority SNP government hard. Polls suggest it has also damaged their dream for independence from the UK. Here is a discussion of this issue in this week's Economist.

Land Girls

BBC1 have dropped the Weakest Link in favour of drama called "The Land Girls" this week to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2. More details (and iPlayer links) here and here. If you watch it, please let us know what you think - proper historical drama, or daytime TV with turnips and 1940s fashions?

In other news, the BBC People's War archive is an excellent resource of people's memories of life in the conflict and on the home front. It can be found here.

UPDATE: Thanks for the comments so far - glad that people are enjoying it! If there are any interesting storylines, characters or historical situations please let us know.

The Tudors - Separating fact from fiction

Have you been watching the Tudors? It's an enjoyable way to spend an hour on a Friday evening, but its accuracy is making some historians rather cross, including David Starkey, as the Telegraph reports here. However, others suggest that all historical interpretations can be of use providing they are watched critically and it is remembered that their primary purpose is to entertain. This author writes that "complaints over shows like The Tudors are simply asinine assertions of imaginary intellectual authority". Meanwhile the BBC helpfully offers the chance research Henry VIII further using its new search facilities, shown here.

Welcome back

Hello and welcome back for the new term. We hope you have had a good summer and are ready for the challenges that lie ahead!

As you have probably noticed, a significant anniversary is already upon us with the 70th Anniversary of the Declaration of World War 2 on 3 September. The BBC have put together an extensive site about this here with lots of really good archive material. This includes Chamberlain's speech announcing the declaration of war, and contemporary footage of the evacuations and other preparations for war.

Fact v fiction?

An excellent special edition of Front Row on radio 4 here discussing the value of historical novels and history's place in today's publishing including famous writers such as Tristram Hunt, Antonia Fraser, Hilary Mantel and Margaret Macmillan.

American town hall madness

The Democrats have been holding town hall debates across the country to answer questions about the healthcare plan. It has not been very civilised however...
See here for the Daily Show's John Stewart's take on it with clips from the debates and the ever interesting view from the now unemployed Sarah Palin.

Battle of the Bogside 1969

It is the 40th anniversary this week of the Battle of the Bogside in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, which led to the British Army's involvement in 'The Troubles'. At first British troops were welcomed as a neutral force but fairly soon they became embroiled in the conflict themselves. Interesting comment here in the Times and some great footage and reports here from Panorama.

Radiohead and the First World War

Thom Yorke, from Radiohead, was so moved by an interview on the Today programme in 2005 with Harry Patch, the last surviving British soldier from the First World War that they composed a piece of music for him. Listen to it here.

Is feminism still needed?

Janice Turner argues here in the Times today that it most certainly is and uses what she describes as the 'pornification' of society to prove her point. It has provoked a heated debate on the issue and of course comes at the same time as Lubna Hussein is fighting for her rights to wear trousers in Sudan at risk of being whipped.

Spies, Torture & Terrorism

An excellent article by the Economist here which analyses the torture debate and controversy in the US as well as comparing American views with those of other countries.