Histories

Today in history: December 5

Ice, fog and an enduring mystery…

Dec 5 • 

Andrew Chapman

6

1

November 2025

A history of… hotels (Part 1)

The poet Horace's hotel nearly burned down due to the inept roasting of some "scrawny thrushes"

Nov 28 • 

Paul Lenz

15

8

6

Today in history: November 21

A flight, a marvel, a hoax…

Nov 21 • 

Andrew Chapman

6

5

1

A history of… shaving (Part 3)

Pretty much anything was better than injecting acid into hair follicles…

Nov 14 • 

Paul Lenz

6

2

Today in history: November 7

Three explosive events of very different kinds…

Nov 7 • 

Andrew Chapman

7

1

October 2025

A history of… shaving (Part 2)

At the start of the 12th century having a beard was said to have made you as filthily lascivious as a goat…

Oct 31 • 

Paul Lenz

12

1

Today in history: October 24

The Lost Colony, a daredevil plunge, and a master's last illusion…

Oct 24 • 

Andrew Chapman

8

1

A history of… shaving (Part 1)

It was important to shave before battle, lest your enemy hang on to your beard...

Oct 17 • 

Paul Lenz

12

Today in history: October 10

First contact, a devastating storm, and the winds of change…

Oct 10 • 

Andrew Chapman

7

3

A history of… typewriters (Part 2)

In the words of Mark Twain, "It piles an awful stack of words on one page."

Oct 3 • 

Paul Lenz

13

3

2

September 2025

Today in history: September 26

A tyrant at sea, a teenager in wartime, a gangster of legend…

Sep 26 • 

Andrew Chapman

8

6

1

A history of… the typewriter (Part 1)

An early device was "intended for the nervous"…

Sep 19 • 

Paul Lenz

16

3

2