Charles in charge

Plus: Remembering Jean Luc-Godard and Barbara Ehrenreich |

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By Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Sep. 19, the world is getting to know her son Charles, formerly known as the Prince of Wales and now known as King Charles III. We’ve been publishing several explainers on everything you need to know about the historical significance of his burgeoning reign. Editor-at-Large Karl Vick digs into the complicated history of kings named Charles. Correspondent Charlie Campbell filed from Edinburgh on what the accession of King Charles III means for Scotland. I take a look back at some of the king’s past controversies . And in the TIME Ideas section, historians Caroline Elkins and Priya Satia provide discussions on how to view the Queen’s death in the context of the monarchy’s role in colonialism. As Satia writes, “Would it not have been more substantively decent for the Crown to make reparation for the colonies it violently held and profited from (many of which Elizabeth II herself proudly presided over), especially as they bear the brunt of the climate crisis unleashed by that exploitation?” On a lighthearted note, fans of trivia can check out past TIME.com articles on surprising biographical facts about the late Queen and Charles. Here's more history to know:

HISTORY ON TIME.COM Remembrance: Filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard Will Be Modern Forever By Stephanie Zacharek The filmmaker leaves us with a body of work so rich and provocative that no filmmaker has since replicated it Read More » Column: Remembering Barbara Ehrenreich, Acid Wit and Workers' Champion By Alissa Quart A remembrance of writer and moral force Barbara Ehrenreich Read More » We Are Still Living in the Political Arena Ken Starr Helped Birth By Philip Elliott Starr defined the culture wars of the late 1990s and, perhaps in ways Americans still don't grasp, shaped the path of the early twenty-first century for the country. Read More » If You Want to Humble an Empire "This was the bloodiest day on American soil since our Civil War, a modern Antietam played out in real time, on fast-forward, and not with soldiers but with secretaries, security guards, lawyers, bankers, janitors," wrote TIME's Nancy Gibbs after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "It was strange that a day of war was a day we stood still. We couldn't move — that must have been the whole idea — so we had no choice but to watch." Read More » 9/11 Is History Now. What Are American Kids Learning About It? By Olivia B. Waxman One study says 20% of teachers don't feel they have the materials needed to discuss 9/11 in class, but here's how they're tackling the topic Read More »

FROM THE TIME VAULT This week in 1961: J.D. Salinger “Salinger, at 42, has spoken with more magic, particularly to the young, than any other U.S. writer since World War II. The appearance this week of his new book, Franny and Zooey (Little, Brown; $4), actually two long, related stories that originally ran in The New Yorker , is not just a literary event but, to countless fans, an epiphany. Weeks before the official publication date, Salinger's followers queued up, and bookstores sold out their first supplies.” (Sept. 15, 1961) Read More » This week in 1974: Richard Nixon "’President Ford pardoned the anguished man whom he had succeeded only 30 days before…Supporters agreed with Ford that his predecessor had indeed ‘suffered enough.’ Critics, including many legal experts, charged that Ford had established a dual system of justice, that he had put Richard Nixon above the law. On all sides, there were grave questions about the ways in which the pardon would affect the men currently jailed or awaiting trial for Watergate-related offenses.” (Sep. 16, 1974) Read More » This week in 1992: Hillary Clinton “You might think Hillary Clinton was running for President…Rarely has the spouse of a presidential candidate been so closely scrutinized and criticized by the political opposition. To a large extent, the controversy swirling around Hillary Clinton today reflects a profound ambivalence toward the changing role of women in American society over the past few decades. Hillary, who personifies many of the advances made by a cutting-edge generation of women, finds herself held up against what is probably the most tradition-bound and antiquated model of American womanhood: the institution of the First Lady.” (Sep. 14, 1992) Read More »

HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE WEB Solidarity: For History News Network, Ellen Cassedy and Lane Windham go in-depth on the 1970s parallels to the present-day labor movement. Across the pond: The Guardian’s Caroline Davies talks to historians about where outgoing PM Boris Johnson fits in the history of British Prime Ministers. Living history: In a USA Today video, historians who have advised President Biden, like Sean Wilentz, explain why today’s politics echo the 1850s and the 1930s. Culture wars: NPR’s Dustin Jones reports on a Miami-Dade school board’s recent decision to not make October LGBTQ History Month in the county’s public schools. Food for thought: For the Financial Times, Julian Baggini reviews Norwegian chef Andreas Viestad’s new book on food’s role in major world events, including the biggest schism in Christianity.

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