The 1920s were a time of glamour, opulence, and indulgence, and nowhere was this more evident than on the French Riviera, the luxurious playground of the European elite. Among the international jet set of the era, the Maharaja and Maharani of Indore stood out as one of the most captivating and extravagant couples. Their life on the Côte d’Azur was the stuff of legend, filled with lavish parties, remarkable friendships, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of extravaganc

The 1800s was a century marked by significant changes in fashion, personal hygiene, and the concept of beauty. During this era, an array of grooming products and accessories became essential for both men and women. One such item was the vinaigre de toilette container, a small yet elegant vessel designed to hold scented vinegar. This aromatic elixir served multiple purposes, from masking unpleasant odours to providing a refreshing pick-me-up. The Origins of Vinaigre de Toilett

“Carefully weighing our chances my adjutant and I came to a disheartening result. We could only even give ourselves a very slight chance of success. But the order was there and we soldiers must carry it out. I went to my men and lined them up. I told them I was expecting in the next few days an order to undertake a most dangerous mission, and that we stood a damned small chance of ‘pulling it off’ and of surviving.” - Otto Skorzeny Describing 1943 as a tough year for Italian

The Berlin Wall stood as a powerful symbol both during its years of concrete reality and in the moment it finally fell. For nearly 30 years it split East and West Germany, shaping daily life so profoundly that many believed they would never witness its opening. When the borders finally eased and reunification followed, the shift was so significant that it reshaped the way people understood their own futures. This is how looked then, and how it looks now. An abandoned car at t

On 5 September 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked in Karachi by four armed men from the Abu Nidal Organisation. What followed was a 16-hour ordeal of terror, bravery, and tragic loss, remembered most for the sacrifice of flight attendant Neerja Bhanot.

James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger, born on September 3, 1929, in the tough, working-class neighbourhood of South Boston, rose to infamy as one of America’s most notorious criminals. His life was a convoluted tale of violence, corruption, and betrayal, played out against the backdrop of Boston’s underworld. A charismatic yet ruthless figure, Bulger became synonymous with organised crime in the city. His ability to evade justice for decades, while operating under the guise of an FBI

Alice Cooper shared cocktails with Salvador Dalí, midnight movies with Groucho Marx and bar tabs with Beatles. The Godfather of Shock Rock had the strangest address book in show business. Here’s the surreal story behind it.

In August 1922, Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins was killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth during the Civil War. His assassination shocked the nation, cutting short the life of one of Ireland’s most influential figures at a pivotal moment in its history.

A whiskey heir. A brutal expedition. A child murdered before a crowd. James Jameson’s Congo diary and the disputed sketches from Riba Riba still shock today. What did he pay for What did he witness And why did no one act Read the story behind the scandal that shadowed an era.

Public executions have long been a dark and controversial aspect of human history, serving as both a form of punishment and a macabre spectacle. The United States, like many other countries, once employed this practice. The last public execution in the U.S. marked the end of an era, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes towards capital punishment and the nature of justice. A crowd variously estimated at 10,000 to 20,000 gathered at Owensboro, Kentucky on August the 14th, 1

On the morning of 12 August 1895, at Invercargill Gaol, a woman walked with measured steps towards the gallows. She cast a glance at the executioner, her lips pressed together in quiet defiance. When asked if she had any last words, she simply declared, 'I have nothing to express except my innocence.' Moments later, the trapdoor beneath her feet opened, and Minnie Dean became the only woman ever executed in New Zealand.

Lizzie Borden walked free in 1892, but six other people had means, motive or opportunity. Here's the evidence the jury never fully weighed.

I was born in 1899 in the village of Pokrovskoe in the county of Tobolsk. My parents are peasants, simple people. Our family consists of: father, mother, grandfather (my father’s father), my brother, sister and myself. We all live happily together but sometimes I get cross with my brother and sister, but with my sister I get cross all the time. My father plays an important role because the Sovereign knows him and loves him.” As a young teenager, Maria Grigorievna Rasputin pen

"I have always loved your son, and I shall die still loving him." On a quiet summer morning in 1955, Ruth Ellis stepped through the doors of Holloway Prison for the last time. Just minutes later, she became the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Her crime was shocking—a point-blank shooting of her lover, David Blakely, outside a Hampstead pub. But what really grabbed the public’s attention was everything that came after: the trial, the headlines, and the growing sense that t

Ken Rex McElroy terrorised Skidmore, Missouri for two decades, beat 20 criminal charges, then was shot dead in front of 46 witnesses. Nobody saw a thing. The full story.

Before Paris sped up, Eugène Atget walked it slowly. With a wooden camera and endless patience, he recorded shop windows, empty streets, and everyday lives that modernity was about to erase. A quiet archive of a city in transition.

Roy Sullivan survived seven recorded lightning strikes, more than anyone in history, only to die alone after years of being shunned by people who feared he attracted storms.

I'm a little late to the party but I'm a big fan of Jessica Harrison 's take on the traditional porcelain doll. We all remember them. Maybe perched on your nan’s mantlepiece, or lined up behind the glass in your local charity shop, those prim little porcelain ladies, frozen mid-curtsy, eternally rosy-cheeked and sweet as sugar. Innocuous. Old-fashioned. Harmless. Until artist Jessica Harrison gets hold of them. In her series Broken , Harrison takes these mass-produced figurin

Cleopatra VII, the last reigning pharaoh of Egypt, was determined to continue the ancient Egyptian custom of passing power from parent to child. Her son, Caesarion, born from her relationship with the Roman general Julius Caesar, became the focus of her ambition. Cleopatra envisioned Caesarion as her successor, intending for him to rule Egypt and continue her dynasty’s legacy. However, the complex politics of Rome, especially the ambitions of Caesarion's adoptive brother, Oct

A rare photo of Thomson himself with two Manchu soldiers in Xiamen in 1871 In the mid-19th century, photography was still in its infancy, and images of distant lands were rare and inaccessible to most people. Few Westerners had ventured far into China, and those who had were among a privileged minority. It was during this time that John Thomson , a Scottish photographer, embarked on a journey that would not only capture the people and landscapes of China but also bring these

The death of two-year-old Caylee Anthony from Orlando, Florida, back in 2008, still stirs strong feelings and curiosity even now, more...

Medgar Evers was shot dead in his driveway in 1963. His killer bragged about it for decades. The state of Mississippi helped him walk free. It took 30 years to get justice. The full story.

In September 1956, a young John Lennon took home a dismal report card–the kind that many smart, wayward kids can probably relate to. French teacher: “An intelligent boy who could be very much better with a little concentration in class.” Maths teacher: “He is certainly on the road to failure if this goes on.” Physics teacher: “His work always lacks effort. He is content to ‘drift’ instead of using his abilities.” Religion teacher: “Attitude in class most unsatisfactory.” Hea