This former industrial base is on the rise again, says Harriet O'Brien

Nick Ross appeared to claim that rape victims were partly responsible if they were drunk or provocatively dressed

The gingko became a ubiquitous presence in modern life – whether in sculpture form or as a smart drug.

Why is ambergris worth so much money? Simon Usborne holds his nose and finds out

This sequel revisits the rackety life of a 17th-century physician who can teach us new tricks

Rose Tremain makes a welcome return to the 17th century in this riotous but wistful sequel to her 1989 best-seller

Panama wreck might solve mystery of the 17th-century buccaneer

Two decades ago I invented a pair of detectives, Arthur Bryant and John May. A reader pointed out that a real-life counterpart, Sir Arthur Wynn Morgan Bryant, spoke at my alma mater, and the choice of nomenclature suddenly seemed no coincidence. Had I met him and forgotten? He was a historian of the old school, a columnist for The Daily Telegraph and The Illustrated London News, much admired by Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson. Why did he fall from favour?

The British Library has acquired a copy of the Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas "The Earth Platinum". Weighing in at a whopping 200kg, it takes six people to carry it and measures 1.8m x 2.7m.

Unlike in 1977, when the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" reached number two in the charts, there seem to be few republican voices prepared to stand out today. And however much you might like to resist it, everyone has gone crazy for bunting. It's everywhere (not least on the pages of the magazine you're holding in your hands).

David Starkey, your time is up. For restoring women to Restoration history, I love Dr Lucy

The capable author of The Mitford Girls tackles a dynasty – probably the dynasty – with entertaining results.