Welcome

Bath celebrated Austen this year with floral displays

JANE AUSTEN 'S ENGLAND

How Regency romance, society and family bonds inspired one of the nation’s greatest authors

HISTORY'S BIGGEST TOY CRAZES

THE GIFTS THAT WENT FROM NOVELTY TO SUPERNOVA ON THE SHELVES

Founder of the Persian Empire

How Cyrus the Great forged his kingdom using force and smart administration of his government

JINGLE HELL

TEN DARK STORIES FROM CHRISTMASES PAST

Empresses of Japan

The Land of the Rising Sun’s eight female rulers are all but forgotten, but their lives and reigns were filled with drama

Quest for the HOLY GRAIL

The search for the mythical relic unites the two strongest currents of European spirituality: Christianity and the legends of Arthur and his knights

Defining Moments

27 November 1978 HARVEY MILK ASSASSINATED Politician

73 EASTING

SOUTHEASTERN IRAQ 26-27 FEBRUARY 1991

ANNE BOLEYN AND HENRY VIII HAD A SON?

If she had given the monarch a male heir, the crowns of England and Scotland might never have been united

MARIE ANTOINETTE: FASHION ICON

A new exhibition explores the enduring style of the infamous 18th-century French queen

LEONARDO DA VINCI AN UNTRACEABLE LIFE

Deconstructing the mysterious life and work of the great Renaissance polymath

INK! FROM THE AGE OF EMPIRE TO BLACK POWER, THE JOURNALISTS WHO TRANSFORMED BRITAIN

Bringing seven fascinating voices back into the limelight

EL GENERALISIMO

A new biography explores the life of Francisco Franco – the dictator who ruled Spain for 39 years

FRANKENSTEIN

A faithful and beguiling retelling of the original science fiction epic

THE HURRICANE

Does this story of unjust incarceration stick to the evidence?

LEMON SYLLABUB

ENGLAND, 16-19TH CENTURY

Key Events

2000 BCE CONTINENTAL SPICE TRADE BEGINS The first

PORTUGUESE NAU

Portugal 14th -16th century

BAHRI MAMLUK SPICE MERCHANT

Egypt 13th-14th century

SPICE TOWER

This beautiful silver tower is one of many crafted for use during the Jewish ritual of Havdalah

SPICE ENTHUSIASTS

Meet some of the greatest ancient and medieval spice lovers

THE VALUE OF SPICES

Roger Crowley explains how spices transformed the world and why they were such a valuable commodity

HISTORIC SPICE MARKETS

Five of the oldest and most exciting places across the globe to restock your kitchen cupboard