Tag: British history
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Colonialist Legacies: Forced Virginity Testing of Indian and Pakistani Women in 1970s Britain
Many South Asian women migrating to Britain during the 1970s faced inhumane examinations based on racial prejudice. Sophie Whitehead examines Britain’s austere immigration policies during the 1970s and the colonial mentality which produced them.
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Princess on the Streets: How Catherine of Aragon Came to Live on the Strand
Following the sudden death of her first husband, Catherine of Aragon found herself thrust into poverty and turmoil regarding her consequent betrothal. Marnie Camping-Harris discusses the turbulent formative years of the future Queen of England.
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Henry VIII: The Spare Who Changed History
Whilst the phrase “spare to the heir” has dominated headlines in recent months, it is an appellation which also overshadowed the early years of the future King Henry VIII. Naomi Wallace discusses the events that shaped the monarch, and the history of England.
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Book Review – Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence
R. F. Kuang’s 2022 novel, “Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence”, holds a critical lens to the British Empire, examining the atrocities perpetuated by academic institutions. Naomi Wallace discusses Kuang’s work which combines fantasy with a powerful critique of imperialism, set in nineteenth-century Oxford.
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Revealing Royal Jewellery: The Chequers Ring
Once belonging to Queen Elizabeth I, the Chequers Ring has prompted intrigue – not least concerning the identity of the woman whose portrait sits alongside the monarch. Naomi Wallace discusses the theories surrounding this captivating piece.
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Migration and the Neocolonial ‘National Front’: British Post-war Immigration Policy and Culture
HMT Empire Windrush brought hundreds of migrants from Commonwealth countries with the promise of employment and prosperity; what greeted them was discrimination and racism. Ash Tomkins discusses the impact of Britain’s hostile post-war immigration policy, the effects of which are felt to this day.
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From the Slums of London to the Kings Court: The Story of Nell Gwynn
From an impoverished childhood to one of the earliest female stage actors in England, Nell Gwynn became committed to the annals of history for her relationship with King Charles II. Megan Crutchley explores the life of this central figure in Restoration London.
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Memorials and Memoirs: Piecing Together the Lives of Formerly Enslaved Women
Malvina Wells, born in Carriacou around 1804, was one of a number of enslaved persons brought to Scotland during the period of colonial expansionism. Verity Limond examines the stories of women freed from slavery in Britain, where sources are sparse, to help shed light on their lives and experiences.
Retrospect Journal 