Welcome
May 2023
A visit to one of Britain’s many castles can be the perfect way to spend a day, but it can be hard to imagine how these magnificent buildings – now frequently ruined and unadorned – might have looked in their heyday. For this month’s Essential Guide, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr Marc Morris to explore Britain’s castle history – from the tidal wave of castle-building that followed the Norman Conquest in 1066, to siege warfare, interior decoration, and the methods used to erect such huge structures.
Elsewhere, with the crowning of King Charles III just weeks away, we take a look at ceremonies of the past with an A-Z of royal coronations. We also investigate the fascinating life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the 18th-century French violinist and composer often hailed as the ‘black Mozart’, examine what might have happened had Richard the Lionheart retaken Jerusalem during the Third Crusade, and share seven fascinating facts about the Vietnam War.
Plus, with a new Bridgerton spin-off due to air on Netflix in early May, we also delve into some of the scandals of King George III and Queen Charlotte’s court, and examine a political painting by 20th-century American artist Alice Neel.
See you next month!
Charlotte Hodgman, Editor