On this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan speaks to Flora Fraser, author of 'Pretty Young Rebel: The Life of Flora Macdonald' and John Keay, author of 'Himalaya: Exploring the Roof of the World'.

To discuss the history of the Irish language through the lens of government policy is John Walsh, author of 'One Hundred Years of Irish Language Policy, 1922-2022'.

And why did it take so long for Rome to conquer Britain? Patrick speaks to Richard Hingley, author of 'Conquering the Ocean: The Roman Invasion of Britain' to discuss.

Best of September Books

This unique and lively history show delves into some of the world's most important political, social and cultural events and the intriguing personalities behind them.

Presented by Dr Patrick Geoghegan of Trinity College Dublin, Talking History unravels the gritty, sometimes uncomfortable, side of our past, and what we can learn from it.

History

Society & Culture

In this episode, we're telling the story of Ireland through its records with Orlaith McBride, Director of the National Archives of Ireland; we'll also find out about the life and legacy of Roger Casement, with Roland Philipps, author of Broken Archangel: The Tempestuous Lives of Roger Casement; we'll discuss the formation of the RNLI 200 years ago and its key early personnel with Helen Doe, historian and author of ‘One Crew: The RNLI's Official 200-Year History’; and we'll analyse the Anglo-French War of the late 13th century with David Pilling, historian and author of Edward Longshanks' Forgotten Conflict - The Anglo-French War 1294-1303.

Best of May Books

In this episode of Talking History, we're looking at the life and music of Tchaikovsky and debating his remarkable artistic legacy. Joining Patrick Geoghegan is Prof Philip Ross Bullock, Professor of Russian Literature and Music, University of Oxford; Dr Ciarán Crilly, Associate Professor, UCD School of Music, and Artistic Director of the UCD Symphony Orchestra; and Dr Tamsin Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Music and Head of the Centre for Russian Music at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Tchaikovsky

In this episode, we're exploring the Library of Alexandria and finding out how it became the ancient world's greatest repository of knowledge. Joining Patrick Geoghegan is Willeke Wendrich, Research Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Digital Humanities, UCLA; Prof Islam Issa, Professor of Literature and History at Birmingham City University; and Dr Cynthia Johnston, Senior Lecturer in History of the Book at the School of Advanced Study at the University of London.

The Library of Alexandria

In a new mini-series over the next year, Talking History explores the history of Ireland's political parties, from their achievements in office, to their failures, leaders and legacy. In this first episode, we look back the history of Fianna Fáil: the good, the bad and the ugly of the party which has been in power in Ireland for longer than any other. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Dr Eoin O’Malley, Associate Professor in Political Science at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Prof Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, Prof Eunan O'Halpin, Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Irish History, Trinity College Dublin, and Senator Lisa Chambers of Fianna Fáil. 

The History of Fianna Fáil

Marking the international touring exhibition 'Imagine: 100 Years of International Surrealism', Patrick Geoghegan finds out what this movement meant to the art world and its global significance still today. Joining him is Dr Felicity Gee, Senior Lecturer in Modernism and World Cinema at the University of Exeter, and Vice President of the International Society for the Study of Surrealism; Dr Matthew Affron, curator for modern and contemporary art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art who is leading the surrealism exhibition there; Professor Alyce Mahon, the University of Cambridge’s Department of History of Art specialist in Modern and Contemporary Art History and Theory; and Dr. Tara Plunkett, Lecturer/Assistant Professor at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, at University College Dublin.

Best of September Books

Download our free app to listen on your phone