Themes

What are themes?

The Oxford DNB offers many different theme articles that are your reference companion to British history:

  • Reference groups cover the groups, clubs, factions, and movements that shaped our past.
  • Reference lists of people from all walks of British history, from kings and queens to captains of the England cricket team.
  • Feature essays on topical anniversaries and interesting slices through the Oxford DNB.

Reference groups

These are regularly published public essays on well-known historical groups that make connections between individuals in the Oxford DNB.

More than 320 group essays are now available. Recent additions include the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the Erasmus Circle, participants in the Northern Rising of 1569-70, and the interwar Group Theatre of London. Who were they? How did they work together? What did they achieve?

> See all reference groups 

Reference lists

 The ODNB reference lists include:

> See all reference lists

Feature essays

The ODNB feature essays include:

> See all feature essays

Sample features

Military networks        

Scottish themes

Fishpond

Desert Rats

Sealed Knot

Wolseley Ring

Battle of Agincourt

Octavians

Kailyard School

Pentland Rising

Secretaries of State

Scottish Literary Renaissance