History Today
Product brand
UnclaimedA monthly history magazine founded in 1951 that combines accessible narrative history with new research and historiographical debate.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
History Today is a British history magazine published monthly in London since January 1951. It was established in the period after the Second World War by Brendan Bracken, a former Minister of Information, chairman of the Financial Times, and associate of Winston Churchill. The publication was created with an ambition to make serious historical knowledge available to a broad public rather than limiting it to specialist academic circles. Its founding editorial partnership brought together Peter Quennell, a literary writer and editor, and Alan Hodge, a former Financial Times journalist. Together they shaped a publication that could present history in a readable magazine format while retaining an interest in evidence, interpretation, and the work of professional historians. The magazine covers all historical periods and geographical regions. Its editorial mix includes traditional narrative history, accounts of people and events, interpretations of political and social change, and discussion of newer research and historiography. This broad scope distinguishes History Today from publications devoted to a single period, country, or academic subfield. Its intended audience has historically included general readers, teachers, students, and people with a sustained interest in the past. The title's editorial identity rests on making historical scholarship understandable without reducing history to simple chronology or current-affairs commentary. History Today has had a long succession of editors. Quennell and Hodge jointly edited the magazine from its launch until 1979, after which Michael Crowder, Michael Trend, Juliet Gardiner, Gordon Marsden, Peter Furtado, and Paul Lay led the publication in successive periods. From 2022, the magazine has been jointly edited by Rhys Griffiths and Kate Wiles. The changes in editorship reflect continuity in the title's central mission alongside shifts in editorial priorities, publishing technology, and the wider history profession. The magazine has been independently owned since 1981. In addition to its monthly print publication, History Today has developed a substantial digital presence. Its website contains the magazine's published content dating back to 1951, making the archive an important part of the brand's offering and extending access beyond current issues. A digital edition distributed through a dedicated application was introduced in 2012 and relaunched in an improved form in 2015. These developments allowed the publication to retain its periodical identity while offering searchable and portable access to its historical content. History Today has also supported history education and public engagement beyond the main magazine. History Review, a sister publication aimed at sixth-form history students, appeared three times a year from 1995 until its final issue in April 2012. Since 1997, the Longman-History Today Charitable Trust has organized annual awards recognizing contributions to public understanding and enthusiasm for history. The awards include a Book of the Year prize for a first or second history book; since 2003, an undergraduate dissertation prize has been presented in association with the Royal Historical Society. A Trustees' Award recognizes a person or organization that has made a major contribution to history. Through its magazine, archive, digital edition, educational publishing, and awards activity, History Today operates as a public-facing historical publishing brand with a continuing emphasis on accessibility and intellectual authority.
History
History Today was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War and began publication in London in January 1951. Its founder, Brendan Bracken, had served as Minister of Information and was chairman of the Financial Times. The magazine was established to present history to a broad audience, combining the accessibility expected of a general-interest periodical with the authority associated with professional historical scholarship. The first editors were Peter Quennell and Alan Hodge. Quennell was a literary figure, while Hodge had worked as a journalist at the Financial Times. Their partnership established the magazine's characteristic breadth. Rather than restricting itself to one era or national tradition, History Today addressed historical subjects from across the world and from ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern periods. Its articles included conventional narrative accounts as well as work concerned with interpretation and historiography. Quennell and Hodge remained in editorial charge through most of the magazine's first three decades, with Quennell serving until October 1979 and Hodge until June of that year. Michael Crowder edited the publication from November 1979 to July 1981, followed by Michael Trend from August 1981 to April 1982. Juliet Gardiner then edited it from May 1982 to August 1985, and Gordon Marsden from September 1985 to October 1997. The magazine has been independently owned since 1981, a status that has continued to form part of its publishing identity. Peter Furtado became editor in January 1998 and served until August 2008. Paul Lay then edited History Today from January 2009 through January 2022. From July 2022, the editorial role has been shared by Rhys Griffiths and Kate Wiles. Across these transitions, the publication has maintained its emphasis on presenting serious historical work to non-specialist readers while adapting to changes in the ways people read magazines and access archives. The brand expanded its educational reach in 1995 with History Review, a triannual sister publication aimed at sixth-form history students. History Review continued until April 2012, when its final issue was published. The main magazine also developed a significant digital presence. Its website provides access to the magazine's published content from 1951 onward, turning the historic back catalogue into a continuing reference resource. A digital edition on a dedicated app was launched in 2012 and re-released in an improved form in 2015. History Today's public role also includes an awards program. Since 1997, the Longman-History Today Charitable Trust has held annual awards intended to encourage wider understanding of and enthusiasm for history. The program's principal Book of the Year award recognizes an author's first or second history book. Since 2003, an undergraduate dissertation award has been presented in association with the Royal Historical Society. The Trustees' Award recognizes a person or organization that has made a major contribution to history; named past recipients include David Olusoga. These activities complement the magazine's editorial work by supporting historical writing, student research, and public engagement with the past.
- 2022
Joint editorial leadership begins
[1]Rhys Griffiths and Kate Wiles become joint editors after Paul Lay's tenure.
- 2015
Digital edition is relaunched
[1]The digital edition and application are re-released with improvements.
- 2012
Digital edition launches
[1]History Today introduces a digital edition through a dedicated application. History Review also publishes its final issue in April.
- 2003
Undergraduate dissertation award added
[1]An undergraduate dissertation prize is introduced in association with the Royal Historical Society.
- 1997
Longman-History Today Awards begin
[1]The Longman-History Today Charitable Trust begins its annual awards program supporting public understanding and enthusiasm for history.
- 1995
History Review is launched
[1]The triannual sister publication History Review begins publication for sixth-form history students.
- 1981
Independent ownership begins
[1]History Today becomes independently owned.
- 1951
History Today begins publication
[1]The monthly magazine is launched in London in January, founded by Brendan Bracken and initially co-edited by Peter Quennell and Alan Hodge.
Products and positioning
An accessible but authoritative history publication serving general readers, students, teachers, and historically minded audiences. It combines narrative history with research-led interpretation and historiographical discussion across periods and regions.
Monthly history magazine · 1951
History Today magazine
The core History Today product is a monthly magazine published in London since January 1951. It covers all periods and geographical regions, combining readable narrative history with articles based on new research and discussion of historiography. Its broad editorial range is designed to serve general readers as well as teachers, students, and professional historians interested in communicating historical knowledge beyond specialist journals.
Digital magazine · 2012
History Today digital edition
The digital edition extends the monthly magazine into app-based reading. It was launched in 2012 and re-released in an improved form in 2015, giving readers an alternative to the print issue and supporting the magazine's broader transition into digital publishing.
Historical publishing archive
History Today online archive
The History Today website hosts the magazine's published content dating back to 1951. The archive makes the brand's long editorial record available as an ongoing research and reference resource, alongside current magazine content.
History education magazine · 1995
History Review
History Review was a triannual sister publication aimed at sixth-form history students. It provided history material for an advanced school audience and continued from its 1995 launch until its final issue in April 2012.
Brand decisions
2022
Transition to joint editorial leadershipStrategyBackground
Paul Lay's editorship ended after more than a decade, creating a change in the magazine's editorial leadership.
Action taken
Rhys Griffiths and Kate Wiles were appointed as joint editors.
Aftermath
The magazine continued under shared editorial leadership.
2012
Launch of the digital editionProduct launchBackground
History Today had a long-established monthly print format and a substantial back catalogue. Digital distribution created a way to make the magazine available through a dedicated application.
Action taken
The publication launched a digital edition in 2012.
Aftermath
The digital edition was subsequently re-released with improvements in 2015, while the website developed into an archive containing content published since 1951.
2012
Closure of History ReviewOtherBackground
History Review had served sixth-form history students as a triannual sister publication since 1995.
Action taken
The publication ended History Review, whose final issue appeared in April 2012.
Aftermath
No further outcome is specified in the available reference material.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/history-today · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled