Dr Seán Lang

Dr Seán Lang is a senior lecturer in history at Anglia Ruskin University, specialising in modern European history and the history of the British empire. He is a two-time former Honorary Secretary of the Historical Association, and was head of the Better History Forum, which advised the government on development of the history curriculum in schools. He is the author of several books, including <em>British History for Dummies</em> (2004), <em>European History for Dummies</em> (2011) and <em>First World War for Dummies</em> (2014). He is also a professional playwright, and a regular broadcaster on radio and television. You can follow Seán on Twitter @sf_lang

A portrait of King John of England

9 of the worst monarchs in history

Bust of Lucius Verus.

The worst Roman emperors: 8 of the bloodiest from ancient Rome's history

Prime minister Edward Heath

A brief history of U-turns. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Oscar Wilde with Lord Alfred Douglas in 1893

From Oscar Wilde to David Irving: 9 landmark libel & defamation cases through history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

10 quotations that defined the 20th century

Montage of three talented teenagers. From left to right: Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great, musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and chess player Judit Polgár

The flush of youth: nine talented teenagers from history

A line-up of girls ready to play football, somewhere in England during the First World War, c1917. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

First World War

10 facts you (probably) didn't know about the First World War

Retiring royals: 9 rulers and royals who stepped down through history

Rotten boroughs cartoon

9 general election curiosities through history

Charles I's great weakness was that he made a strict distinction between his role as king, in which he could not compromise, and his personal role, which was entirely pleasant and courteous, says Sean Lang. (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images)

8 of the nicest kings in history

9 notable ambassadors in history

Dornier 217 bombers of the Luftwaffe bomb London during the Battle of Britain. "The crucial role of the RAF in denying the Germans control of the air in 1940 and therefore persuading Hitler to abandon his invasion plans is so well known that it might seem almost sacrilegious to question it, " says Sean Lang. "But was it solely responsible for saving Britain from invasion? Not quite." (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

9 of the most overrated battles in history (and one underrated one)

A memorial tomb to King Æthelstan, the first Saxon king of all England, in Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire. (Photo by Geography Photos/UIG via Getty Images)

A brief history of England