In the week leading up to Bastille Day we are celebrating one of the most enduring of Anglo-French cultural exchanges. Anna Maria Grosholtz!

We follow Anna Maria as she navigates the decadence of Pre-revolutionary Paris, the uncertainty and paranoia of 'The Terror' and the absolute horror of marriage (Though it did provide a snappier name). It is a story of death, extortion and above all lies upon lies upon lies. Though how can a successful business be built upon anything else?

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a slightly longer episode we are covering two teachers who influenced educational practices in late Georgian / early Victorian England, for all the wrong reasons. Joseph Lancaster and Thomas Hopley both started out as idealistic young educators, convinced that they would be the person to bring good quality education to the poor of the industrialised cities.

However the near absolute power they were given over their students did eventually corrupt each man leading to a missed opportunity and a completely avoidable tragedy.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are talking about a half Scottish, half Indian gentleman who had the misfortune to be the chosen successor to one of the most formidable leaders India has ever produced.

With no discernible skills in diplomacy, war or financial management David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre would have found the transition from heir to ruler hard at the best of times, but at a time of East India Company expansion it was virtually impossible. At least he could appeal to the English Courts for justice though...

... right?

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are heading about as far north as it is possible to get on mainland Britain this week, to the shores of a lake near John O Groats to meet a young Scottish inventor who had the misfortune of having to travel south to London in order to try and make a go of his passion for electrified clocks.

Alexander Bain was a man with hundreds of good ideas but an unfortunate habit of encountering people determined to steal the credit (and cash) that came with them. Join us as we discover if he was able to survive the cutthroat world of the upper class Victorian Gentleman-Engineer.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes a truly awful person can find themselves in the right place at the right time to become a hero. This was definitely the case for Harold Cole, a career fraudster who found himself behind enemy lines in Northern France in 1940. Presented with a chance to save hundreds of British Soldiers by organising a clandestine people smuggling network it looked like he was destined to be remembered as a true patriot.

So long as he could suppress his urges to commit crimes....

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are in the Stuart Era this week to look at a few generations of the Herbert family, holders of the title 'Earl of Pembroke'. Specifically the 4th Earl and his incredibly cosy relationship with James I and the 7th Earl who was once described as 'a homicidal maniac.'

But don't worry, it is very unlikely that anyone in this story will face any consequences for their actions*

Guest host: Ollie Green

*Aside from Charles I, obviously.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are heading back to the early part of the 20th Century to meet Emily Davison, a woman who believed in action. After being shafted once too many times by the patriarchal society she lived in Emily joined the cause of the Suffragettes, quickly becoming one of the most notorious members.

Starting out writing pamphlets for the group she quickly progressed to taking part in direct action, engaging in ever more daring and dangerous protests before eventually creating one of the the most enduring images of the struggle for women's votes in 1913.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's go North of the border to Glasgow to meet an engineer and football superfan called Archie. Disillusioned with building factories, Archie wanted nothing more than to somehow contribute to his beloved Glasgow Rangers. But what could an engineer specialising in large-scale functional buildings possibly offer to a football team who had more fans wanting to attend than their stadium could hold?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are learning all about the Pacific theatre of WWII this week as we discuss the Japanese invasion of China and the impact this had on the British Empire; looking at the counter offensive through the eyes of one particular sergeant in the Indian Artillery Division, Umrao Singh. Umrao was the son of a farmer who had an affinity for big guns and when he was given a big gun all of his very own he was damned sure that no one was going to take it away from him.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about female empowerment, Tudor England style.

Meet Elizabeth, a young daughter from a family that barely classed as nobility. Not satisfied with the idea of being married off to incrementally improve her family's standing Elizabeth set out to climb the social ladder right to the very top using a carefully blended mix of good business sense, keen political instincts and of course aggressive marriage contracts.

She also loved building country houses, because everyone needs a hobby.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.