History Today magazine emerged from the ashes of the Second World War, founded in January 1951 by Brendan Bracken, a former Minister of Information and a close associate of Sir Winston Churchill. Bracken, who had also served as chairman of the Financial Times, envisioned a publication that would bring authoritative history to the widest possible public in a time when the world was desperately trying to understand its recent past. The magazine was not merely a collection of dates and battles but a deliberate attempt to foster a deeper understanding of human experience across all periods and geographical regions. Bracken recruited Peter Quennell, described by contemporaries as a dashing English man of letters, and Alan Hodge, a former journalist at the Financial Times, to serve as co-editors. Their task was to create a space where traditional narrative history could coexist with new research and historiography, bridging the gap between academic rigor and public interest. This founding vision set a tone that would persist for decades, establishing the magazine as a unique voice in the postwar landscape of British publishing.
The Editorial Lineage
The magazine's editorial history reads like a roll call of British intellectual life, with Peter Quennell and Alan Hodge steering the ship from January 1951 until October and June 1979 respectively. Their tenure spanned nearly three decades, during which they shaped the magazine's identity and ensured its survival through changing times. Following their departure, Michael Crowder took the helm from November 1979 to July 1981, followed by a brief stint by Michael Trend from August 1981 to April 1982. The magazine underwent a significant transformation in 1981 when it became independently owned, breaking away from its original corporate backing. Juliet Gardiner, who served from May 1982 to August 1985, brought a fresh perspective to the publication, followed by Gordon Marsden, who led the magazine from September 1985 to October 1997. The editorial succession continued with Peter Furtado from January 1998 to August 2008, Paul Lay from January 2009 to January 2022, and most recently, Rhys Griffiths and Kate Wiles, who have been editing since July 2022. Each editor left their mark, adapting the magazine to new audiences while maintaining its core mission of making history accessible and engaging.The Digital Renaissance
In the early twenty-first century, History Today faced the same challenges that many print publications encountered as the internet began to reshape how people consumed information. The magazine responded by launching a digital edition on a dedicated app in 2012, a move that allowed readers to access the entire archive of published content since 1951 from anywhere in the world. This digital transformation was not merely a technical upgrade but a strategic reinvention that ensured the magazine's relevance in an increasingly digital age. The app was re-released with improvements in 2015, incorporating new features that enhanced the user experience and made the vast archive more navigable. Alongside the main magazine, History Today also published a sister publication called History Review, which was launched in 1995 to cater to sixth form level history students. This tri-annual publication provided material specifically designed for younger audiences, fostering the next generation of history enthusiasts. The final issue of History Review was published in April 2012, marking the end of an era for that particular initiative but leaving behind a legacy of educational outreach.