“Always scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh, Mr. Gibbon?” These words, alternatively attributed to King George III and the Duke of Cumberland, make mocking reference to Edward Gibbon and his massive work, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” One wonders what these gentlemen might have thought of some historians of the 20th century. Along with his…

LONDON—British author, historian and journalist Paul Johnson, who shifted his allegiances from the left to support Margaret Thatcher and Conservative causes, died Thursday after a long illness, his son announced on social media. He was 94. A prolific writer, Johnson produced more than 50 books and numerous articles spanning history, biography and travel. Writing more…