BBC History UK 04.2020

Pamela Roberts

I was once told that many

black people choose not

to study at the University

of Oxford. This ignited my

interest into those that

have, and led to my

research into the

university’s first ever

black student, Christian

Frederick Cole.

Pamela charts Christian

Cole’s amazing life on page 46

COVER

IMAGE:

MARY

I,^

PAINTED

BY

ANTONIS

MOR

IN

1554-ALAMY/SEAN CONNERY AS

JAMES

BOND

IN

A

POSTER FOR

YOU

ONLY

LIVE

TWICE-GETTY

IMAGES/THIS

PAGE:

STEVE

SAYERS/JEFF

OVERS/FRAN

MONKS

WELCOME

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

Greg Jenner

Celebrity culture doesn’t

just titillate and entertain

us, it also sets the agenda

for what we think is

important to discuss,

and glues us together.

Greg chats about some of the

research for his new history of

celebrities on page 68

Henry Hemming

I’ve always been

fascinated by the

relationship between real

spies and their fictional-

ised counterparts, and in

particular the world of

espionage that produced

James Bond.

Henry shows how Ian Fleming

drew inspiration from

wartime spies to create Bond

on page 41

Early last year we received an unusual request. The producers

of the next James Bond film wanted permission to include a

copy of our August 2008 issue in one of the scenes of No Time to

Die. At the time of writing I don’t know whether we’ve made the cut,

but if you do happen to be heading to the cinema soon, there’s a

chance you’ll spy your favourite history magazine – hopefully not in

the hands of a diabolical villain. Even if we’re not in the film, there’s

still plenty of history to be found in the James Bond story and on

page 41 of this month’s magazine, Henry Hemming reveals the

true-life inspirations behind Ian Fleming’s most memorable characters.

Another character returning this month is Thomas Cromwell,

with the final instalment of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy now in

the shops, and quite possibly already on your bookshelves. For our

lead review, on page 72, Tracy Borman offers a historian’s view on

The Mirror & The Light and considers whether it matches up to its

phenomenally popular predecessors.

Sticking with the 16th century, our cover feature takes a fresh look

at Mar y Tudor, England’s first queen regnant. Despite her

achievements, to many, she’ll always be ‘Bloody Mary’ –

as ghastly a monster as anything Ian Fleming or Hilary

Mantel could devise. On page 31, Alexander Samson

explains why Mary has long been so reviled and offers his

assessment of one of our most controversial monarchs.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

Rob Attar

Editor

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BBC History Magazine, PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge,
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Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue,
Bristol BS1 4ST
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The website of BBC History
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april-
PamelaRoberts
I wasoncetoldthatmany
blackpeoplechoosenot
to studyat theUniversity
of Oxford.Thisignitedmy
interestintothosethat
have,andledto my
researchintothe
university’sfirst ever
blackstudent,Christian
FrederickCole.
PamelachartsChristian
Cole’s amazinglifeon page 46
COVER
IMAGE:
MARY
I,PAINTED
BY
ANTONIS
MOR
IN
1554-ALAMY/SEAN CONNERY AS
JAMES
BOND
IN
A
POSTER FOR
YOU
ONLY
LIVE
TWICE-GETTY
IMAGES/THIS
PAGE:
STEVE
SAYERS/JEFF
OVERS/FRAN
MONKS
WELCOME
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS
GregJenner
Celebrityculturedoesn’t
justtitillateandentertain
us,it alsosetstheagenda
forwhatwethinkis
importantto discuss,
andgluesustogether.
Gregchatsaboutsomeof the
researchforhisnewhistory of
celebritieson page 68
HenryHemming
I’vealwaysbeen
fascinatedbythe
relationshipbetweenreal
spiesand their fictional-
isedcounterparts,andin
particulartheworldof
espionagethatproduced
JamesBond.
HenryshowshowIanFleming
drewinspirationfrom
wartimespiesto create Bond
on page 41
Earlylastyearwereceivedanunusualrequest.Theproducers
of thenextJamesBondfilm wantedpermissionto includea
copyof ourAugust 2008 issuein oneof thescenesofNoTimeto
Die. Atthetimeof writingI don’tknowwhetherwe’vemadethecut,
butif youdohappento beheadingto thecinemasoon,there’sa
chanceyou’llspyyourfavouritehistorymagazine– hopefullynotin
the handsof a diabolicalvillain.Evenif we’renot in the film, there’s
stillplentyof historyto befoundin theJamesBondstoryandon
page 41 of thismonth’smagazine,HenryHemmingrevealsthe
true-lifeinspirationsbehindIanFleming’smostmemorablecharacters.
AnothercharacterreturningthismonthisThomasCromwell,
with the final instalmentof HilaryMantel’sWolfHalltrilogynowin
theshops,andquitepossiblyalreadyonyourbookshelves.Forour
lead review,on page72, TracyBormanoffersa historian’sview on
TheMirror& TheLightandconsiderswhether it matches up to its
phenomenallypopularpredecessors.
Stickingwiththe16thcentury,ourcoverfeaturetakesa fresh look
atMar yTudor, England’sfirst queenregnant.Despiteher
achievements,to many,she’llalwaysbe‘BloodyMary’–
asghastlya monsterasanythingIanFlemingorHilary
Mantelcoulddevise.Onpage31,AlexanderSamson
explainswhy Maryhas long beenso reviledand offershis
assessmentof oneof ourmostcontroversial monarchs.
I hope you enjoy the issue.
RobAttar
Editor
APRIL 2020 MORE FROM US
*Save67% offeris availableonly to UK DirectDebitorders.*Callsfromlandlineswill cost up to 9p per minute.Call chargesfrommobilephoneswill cost
between 3p and 55p per minute but are included in free call packages. Lines are open 8am–6pm weekdays and 9am–1pm Saturday for orders only
TheHistoryExtrapodcast
DownloadepisodesforfreefromiTunesandother
providers, orviahistoryextra.com/podcast
Ourdigitaleditions
BBCHistoryMagazineis availablefortheKindle,Kindle
Fire,iPad/iPhone,GooglePlayandZinio.Findusin
your app store or visithistoryextra.com/subscribe
FacebookandTwitter
twitter.com/historyextra
facebook.com/historyextra
BBCWorldHistories
Save67%whenyousubscribe
to thebimonthlyglobalhistory
magazine,producedbytheBBC
HistoryMagazineteam.Orderat
buysubscriptions.com/WHIP
orcalluson 03330160708 **
quoting WHIP
Ourspecialeditions
Discoverourrangeof collector’seditions at
historyextra.com/special-editions
Contactus
PHONE Subscriptions& backissues
03330162115 Editorial 01173008699
EMAIL Subscriptions& backissues
[email protected]
[email protected]
POST Subscriptions& backissues
BBCHistoryMagazine, POBox3320,3 Queensbridge,
Northampton,NN47BF.Basicannualsubscription
rates:UK:£48,Eire/Europe:£67,ROW:£
EditorialBBCHistoryMagazine, ImmediateMedia
CompanyBristolLimited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue,
Bristol BS1 4ST
IntheUS/Canadayoucancontactus at:
POBox37495,Boone,IA 50037
[email protected],
britsubs.com/history, Toll-free 800-342-
historyextra.com
ThewebsiteofBBCHistory
Magazineisfilledwith
excitingcontentonBritish
and world history.
Formoreinformationon
thecontentin thisissue,
gotohistoryextra.com/
april-