Plus life as a POW in Colditz, what if 9/11 had been stopped, Elizabeth II’s fashion and much more!
The concept of alchemy likely brings to mind rather frantic, grey-bearded men of a certain age, gingerly adding drops of unknown substances into a beaker or vial over a flame in the hopes of triggering some miraculous transformation. That image isn’t necessarily too far from the truth, but there’s a bit more to it than that. It was certainly a strange concoction of religion, superstition and arcane ritual, but behind all of that was some real science… or at last the beginnings of real scientific methodology of testing, adjusting and repeating an experiment in controlled conditions.
That’s what we wanted to get to the bottom of in the latest issue of All About History, available now at a newsstand near you and available to order from MagazinesDirect. Here’s a closer look at our age of alchemy feature and the other fascinating stories you can explore in All About History 169.
age of alchemy
Was there method to the madness of alchemists? The simple answer is yes. Kit Chapman helps guide us through the methods and innovations that a hunt for gold and long life helped to unlock that would go on to form the basis of modern chemistry.
Deciphering Marilyn
As we approach Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the Hollywood icon has lost none of her mystique, but behind that is a lot of conspiracy and controversy that still surrounds her tragically short life. We dig into the details and debunk the myths this issue.
History of the world cup
Did you know that the World Cup was born of a desire to make football available to all? Did you know that Mussolini used it as a propaganda tool to project his power in 1934? Did you know that we almost had a World Cup in Nazi Germany? Learn about all this and more in our interview with Jonathan Wilson.
Life in Colditz
It was one of WWII’s most notorious German-controlled prisoner of war camps, a repurposed castle originally constructed in the 11th century. But what was it like for the officers and their aids who were held there and what chances did they have of escape? Find out in our in-depth feature.
What if 9/11 had been foiled?
The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 had a massive impact on America and geopolitics for these last 25 years, but was there anything that could have been done to stop it? Subsequent investigations and government inquiries have exposed the intelligence failings, but what could have happened? Plus, be sure to check out our new ‘What If’ podcast, Almost History, wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Plus much more
Also in this issue of All About History:
- How did a formerly enslaved child rise through the Viking ranks and not only become King of Norway, but bring Christianity to his people? Find out as we explore the life of Olaf Tryggvason.
- Today the work of the impressionists are seen as some of the finest artistic expressions in the world, but how did the world react to their revolutionary new take on form and style?
- There’s a lot more to the history of Belgium than chocolate and beer. We take a look at the role the European state has played, from cultural icons like Tintin to being the home of NATO and the EU.
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Jonathan is the Editor of All About History magazine, running the day to day operations of the brand. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Leeds. He has previously worked as Editor of video game magazines games™ and X-ONE and tech magazines iCreate and Apps.
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