Mantel's object may be to rescue Cromwell the man from his historical reputation as a black-hearted villain: He was a survivor, a pragmatist whose aim was always to further the interests of his master the king.

BBC: Can Mantel's Bring Up The Bodies match Wolf Hall?

Under the guidance of charismatic coach Jurgen Klopp, whose popularity has seen a pop song written about him, Dortmund's run to the final has left even the most hard-hearted of seasoned aficionados willing on the men in yellow and black.

CNN: Wieners to Wunderbar: How Germany became uber-cool

But all the debate over the architecture, the politics, the morality is irrelevant to the likes of Mr. Cunningham and the other old boys who tottered along to meet the queen, leaning on walking sticks or being pushed in wheelchairs, many with relatives proudly holding black-and-white photographs of them when they were young and brave-hearted.

WSJ: Bomber Command Memorial | They Were the Means of Victory | By Richard Holledge