The Stories Behind the Letters and Documents of Our Past

Secrets of The National Archives

With unprecedented access to the National Archives, Richard Taylor reveals an extraordinary collection of documents that helped shape the world we know today

Secrets of The National Archives provides a fascinating sample of the extraordinary and often unexpected treasures which are the essence of our history.

Richard Taylor (Author) Richard Taylor was born in 1967. He studied English at Cambridge University and Law at London University, and now lives and works as a lawyer in Sheffield. He is the author of the bestselling book How To Read A Church and presenter of the BBC4 series Churches: How To Read Them, inspired by his book. The National Archives (Author) The National Archives is the official archive and publisher for the UK government and for England and Wales. It is the guardian of a vast array of iconic national documents dating back over 1,000 years.

The National Archives is one of the most remarkable collections of documents in the world, holding over 120 miles of papers. In 2010 the staff at the Archives were asked to select their favourite document. The results of this poll form the basis of this book, skilfully curated by bestselling author Richard Taylor. Each of the documents has a timeless quality, acting as a true testament to a moment in history. The Magna Carta is a document sealed in a damp field in Surrey, yet is deferred to centuries later by Governments and Courts around the world; a parchment letter written by a terrified young girl pleading for her life paves the way for the girl to become Elizabeth I; the first example of musical notation is discovered on the back of another document; the actual telegram sent from a sinking Titanic remains heart-rending today; a ship's log written by Captain Cook, at anchor in Botany Bay, records his first encounter with Australian Aborigines. Far from being dusty documents from the past, these papers twinkle with life and resonate powerfully today. Fully illustrated, this book allows us to glimpse history as it really happened.

The National Archives

Gareth Moore

Laura Jayne Ayres

After Murdle comes Spydle… 
 
Following last year’s bestselling phenomenon, the National Archives and Britain’s leading puzzle master, Dr Gareth Moore, have teamed up to produce a brand new puzzle book, Spydle, which promises to perplex and excite with tales of espionage and intrigue drawn straight from official records of over five centuries of British spycraft and crpytography.

The National Archives

Spydle

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