The Historical Association Annual Conference is always an exciting time – an opportunity to listen to expert speakers, share ideas, discuss different approaches, learn something new, meet with  old friends, make new ones and generally embrace history geekdom. This year in Manchester was no exception. Over 350 people descended on...

This edition of The Historian sets out particularly to celebrate the life of Asa Briggs. It focuses on his work and achievements as an historian, in the widest possible sense of being someone who shaped the discipline as well as inspiring others through his research, teaching and writing. This is...

When the war started in August 1914, the USA led by President Woodrow Wilson pledged neutrality. Wilson was a man committed to peace and non-engagement in European conflicts suited the majority of the US population. There were groups that felt that Britain and France were the natural allies to the...

What are we trying to achieve through teaching history? What are we trying to achieve by teaching at all? As readers of this journal we practise our craft in a variety of educational settings and geographical locations – are all of our aims and purposes the same? Should they be?...

Following its successful launch last year, the Historical Association and Amberley Publishing are delighted to announce details of the competition for this year. The aim of the competition is to find the best unpublished history book either from an aspiring or an established author. Whether you have a completed manuscript...

Just before our "Good Evening Sweetheart" talk (9th February) was due to start in Hillhead Library a young lady librarian rushed in waving a sheet of paper, looking very excited - the Secretary wondered if we were double-booked and about to be asked to leave. But no! She announced that...

Answer: The Historical Association’s The Young Quills selection The Young Quills are awards for the best new historical fiction for children and young people. The emphasis is on new – each year lots of books are published for children, many of them covering historical themes. However, are they any good...

The year 2017 has ushered in a period of turbulence, both at home and abroad, where the one constant seems to be change. According to figures published by the United Nations, the number of refugees in the world has reached the highest level ever recorded, with a record 65 million...

We are very sad to announce the death of Professor Bill Speck. Bill was President of the HA from 1999 to 2002 and editor of the journal History from 1986 to 1992. Bill was a greatly admired and respected historian as well as a kind and much loved person. He...

The theme of this edition is ‘Journeys’. Our contributors have been asked to explore a journey, be it a journey through time or space. At the heart of each of their articles are people – bodyguards or commuters, historians or gardeners, mercenaries or nurses, queens or spies – and in...