Articles by The BNA

Anthony Trollope, author of the ‘Chronicles of Barsetshire’, died in London on 6 December 1882 – he was 67.Trollope was the inventor of the post-box, or rather perhaps a leading campaigner for the idea of establishing a post-box, in the UK – it’s a matter of ongoing debate regarding whether he actually invented the post-box. Whatever, the post office and postal system was certainly a major muse on his writing.Here is a detailed newspaper obituary of Trollope that was published just eight days

The brilliant English crime writer, Agatha Christie, disappeared on 3 December 1926, following a row with her husband, Archie.After a massive man hunt (or rather woman hunt) lasting ten days, Mrs Christie was found at a hotel in Harrogate, Yorkshire, where she had registered under the nom de plume, ‘Mrs Teresa Neele’ of Cape Town.Agatha Christie never explained anything about her sudden sabbatical – so it remains a mystery.Here are two newspaper stories: the first story reports on the disappearance

Henri Desire Landru, the ‘The French Bluebeard’ who killed eleven women who he met via the lonely hearts advertisements in the Paris newspapers, was found guilty of these murders on 1 December 1921 and was sentenced to be executed.Here is a newspaper story from 2 December 1921 that reports on the trial of Landru – spookily, the newspapers reported that Landru had ‘hypnotic eyes’. Hmm.Landru’s story was the inspiration for the Charlie Chaplin film, ‘Monsieur Verdoux’.Western Times – Friday 2 December 1921Image © Local World

On 27 November 1944, the underground ammunition store at RAF Fauld in Staffordshire blew up, killing 70 people and also creating ‘the Hanbury Crater’.It’s said that the explosion, which is also rumoured to be the world’s biggest non-nuclear explosion (there is some debate regarding this point), was heard as far away as Geneva.Here is a newspaper report about the tragedy, published the day after the explosion took place.Nottingham Evening Post – Tuesday 28 November 1944Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of

‘Can you see anything?’ – Lord Caernavon‘Yes, wonderful things…’ – Howard CarterOn 26 November 1922, Howard Carter & Lord Caernavon peeked into Tutankhamun’s Tomb and glimpsed the pharoah’s treasure by candlelight.Here is a historical newspaper story that reports on this magical moment.Subscribe today and discover history as it happened

In Berlin on 25 November 1936, Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact.The alliance, which was renewed on 25 November 1941 (just two weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor), was designed to protect both countries againt an attack by the Soviet Union.Here is a newspaper story – published on 25 November 1936 – that reports on the signing of the pact.Gloucester Citizen – Wednesday 25 November 1936Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19361125/001/0001

Grace Darling was born in Bamburgh on 24 November 1815.Grace and her father, William, the lighthouse keeper at the Longstone Lighthouse, became national heroes in 1838 when they rowed through stormy seas to rescue passengers from the stricken vessel, ‘The Forfarshire’.To celebrate the birthday of this national heroine, here is a dramatic newspaper story (published in September 1838) that reports on the rescue.Dundee Courier – Friday 23 September 1892Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000269/18920923/065/0006West Kent Guardian – Saturday 15 September 1838Image ©

Merle Oberon, the Anglo-Indian actress who played Cathy in the 1939 version of ‘Wuthering Heights’, died in Malibu on 23 November 1979 – she was 68.Here is a newspaper profile of Merle Oberson from 1949 (it looks like she had a fascinating family tree), and also a review of ‘Wuthering Heights’ from 1939.Gloucester Journal – Saturday 08 January 1949Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000532/19490108/029/0015Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Friday 22 September 1939http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000512/19390922/085/0009

The Nuremberg War Crimes Trials started on 20 November 1945.Here are some historical newspaper reports that were published on the day that the trial started.Evening Telegraph – Tuesday 20 November 1945Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19451120/001/0001

‘Give us also the right to our existence’At Bow Street in London on 16 November 1928, Miss Radclyffe Hall’s novel, ‘The Well of Loneliness’, found itself in the dock on a charge of obscenity.The powers-that-be had decided that they did not like the novel’s ‘unnatural offences’ – hence the decision to prosecute.The magistrate eventually decided that the book was obscene and ordered that it be destroyed.Here is a newspaper story that reports on this famous literary court case.Image ©