Tag

British history

Hamlet. Poster for W. S. Hardy Company, 1894

When Did the Verb “To Be” Enter the English Language?

A Curious Reader asks: To be or naught to be?

The Gunpowder Plot, Redux

The cultural meaning of Guy Fawkes’ conspiracy to blow up the House of Lords has shifted, from countercultural symbol to HBO drama.

Editors' Picks

Politics & History

What Affects Our Trust in Government?

Government distrust has been on the decline for decades, but a recent poll shows a slight increase.

Politics & History

Aaron Burr: Most Hated Man in American History

A more sympathetic look at Aaron Burr, the man who killed Alexander Hamilton.

Arts & Culture

Alfred Jarry and the Angsty Artist Archetype

French playwright Alfred Jarry and his famous play, "Ubu Roi" may have created the angsty artist archetype we know today.

Education & Society

What Makes a Fair College Admissions Process?

In the wake of the college admissions scandal, scholars go back to the drawing board to answer this most central question.

Science & Technology

How Opium Use Became a Moral Issue

In the 19th century, England's working classes frequently used opium. But there weren't laws against the drug until the middle classes started using it.