We are now in an age of nuclear uncertainty, as wars have broken out around the globe and great powers realign. Britain is apparently a nuclear power but relies on the United States for its deterrant, and should the worst happened, would the Prime Minister really authorise a launch of the trident missiles?

And what about the number of nukes? There are over 10,000 in the world today, but should there be?

Joining today is David Holloway, author of Nuclear Weapons: An International History, as we discuss bombs in the 20th century, and more recently, and I ask the questions that perhaps you always wanted to, such as why are there so many of the damn things?

David Holloway Links

Nuclear Weapons: An International History

Link to the Wargame discussed

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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Themistocles was a leading Athenian politician and general in the early 5th Century. He fought at Marathon in 490BC, and played a leading role during the Greco-Persian Wars and was the lead admiral at the Battle of Salamis in 480BC when the Persians were defeated, thus ending their chance of conquering Greece.

But it was his decision in the intervening years between Marathon and Salamis to direct the revenue gained from silver mines at Laurium that would set Athens on a course that would lead to its Empire, war with Sparta, and the Classical Age which saw Pericles’ building programme including the Parthenon.

Michael Scott joins, Professor of Ancient history at my old university Warwick, author of a new book, Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens’ Naval Mastermind.

Michael Scott Links

Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens’ Naval Mastermind

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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The great historian Antony Beevor joins today to discuss his new book, Rasputin, so we talk the mad monk, Russia then and now and Putin’s grip on history.

Antony Beevor Links

Rasputin And the Downfall of the Romanovs

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This is the first movie to appear on the History Book Club pod. It's the greatest naval film of all time, the Russell Crowe flick, Master & Commander.

In this episode we discuss the lesser of two weevils, cowardly French, the better of two Maxes and much much more.

Master & Commander Links

⁠Bixby Letter⁠⁠⁠James Holland on Saving Private Ryan

⁠⁠Our Awards

Best Performance

Most Egregious Overracting

Biggest Plot Flaw

Historical Inaccuracy

What if Tarantino Made It?

Who won the film?

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A quick bonus for my club members. There has been talk among certain literati that podcasts are replacing books. This is a chat with Roger and Antonia where we address the question head on. Do get in touch I’d love to hear from you.

Ukraine Links

⁠⁠⁠Convoy for Ukraine, run by my friend Ian Wilson-Young⁠⁠⁠

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The Troubles may be over, but the legacy lives on, as ongoing legal cases revive past incidents, but one area that has continued to capture the imagination of those interested in this period of British and Irish history is Bandit Country. That is South Armagh and the IRA’s relatively successful campaign against the British Army.

Toby Harnden joins today as we talk about his book, published in 1999 but republished recently and the seminal account of the South Armagh Brigade of the IRA throughout the Troubles. We kick off the chat over whether podcasts are replacing books.

Toby Harnden Links

Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh

Ukraine Links

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Europe is in a bit of a fix, with a belligerent Russia to its East, and the traditional ally and protector disinterested to the West, governments are only starting to think about maybe increasing defence spending. In Britain, we are behind our continental allies and still trying to find excuses not to improve defence capability.

So who better to get on than a former General, Barney White-Spunner, who has written a book about five armies that saved Europe (spoiler alert, one of them is American), and so we chat about what that means for the present.

BWS Links

Nations in Arms: Five Armies That Made Europe

Ukraine Links

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Herodotus is known as the father of history, and the next historian out the blocks, Thucydides, took the idea, and it was very much an idea in infancy, and produced a work that is still discussed by politicians and generals 2,500 years later.

There is a new translation of the History of the Peloponnesian War by the great translator Robin Waterfield, and he enters the club with historian Polly Low to discuss Thucydides, his style as a historian, the Peloponnesian War and plenty more.

Thucydides Links

The History of the Peloponnesian War, Translated by Robin Waterfield

Ukraine Links

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Today’s episode is a subject that has been prominent in the last few years, the Atlantic slave trade, and today’s book, Survivors is a quite brilliant one that focusses on one voyage in particular, the Clotilda.

Joining is Hannah Durkin who tells the harrowing tail of one boat’s enslaved people, from when they are capture in West Africa, through to their journey across the Atlantic, to Mobile Alabama, and then the story of the descendants.

Hannah Durkin Links

Survivors: A History of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade

Ukraine Links

Convoy for Ukraine, run by my friend Ian Wilson-Young

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This is the first movie to appear on the History Book Club pod. It's perhaps the most influential film to depict combat in the last thirty years. Steven Spielberg's epic captures the pathos of warfare.

In this episode we discuss

Saving Private Ryan Links

Bixby Letter

Best Performance

Most Egregious Overracting

Biggest Plot Flaw

Historical Inaccuracy

What if Tarantino Made It?

Who won the film?

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