Reading room

Retreat from the hurly-burly of the internet, ignore your email, and spend some time in our reading room, where you can browse Oxford DNB biographies and features—without a subscription.

On the open shelves

As well as 56,000 biographies, the Oxford DNB includes a wide range of companion articles—great ways into the dictionary, and expert introductions to popular historical topics. Here's a selection:

• Behind the portraits of William Hogarth
• America in the Oxford DNB
• Appeasement: Chamberlain vs Churchill
• Britain's greatest football team?
• Lloyd George and the Liberals
• The great fire of London
• Beyond the Industrial Revolution: from Trevithick …
• … to Brunel and Telford

> Visit the open shelves for the complete list of free material

> Magazine contents page

< Free Oxford DNB