Pericles was the foremost statesman of Athens’ classical age, dominating the political sphere, and giving his name to the building programme that produced the architecture we see on the Acropolis today. But what was he really like beyond the orator and politician? Paul Cartledge, AG Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, honorary citizen of modern day Sparta and author of a new biography of Pericles.

We discuss Pericles’ mid-life crisis, his genius for giving speeches and we start with Paul’s experience of the BBC radio programme In Our Time on which Paul often appears as a guest.

Paul Cartledge Links⁠⁠⁠

Pericles: Statesman, Demagogue, Eccentric

BBCR4 In Our Time: The Delian League

History Book Club Book List

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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A bonus for listeners as we are blessed with an appearance by Helen Lederer, the comedian and actress. She and Giuseppe Albano join to discuss Trent Park, which was the large mansion used by the intelligence services to house senior German generals after their capture. They would be wined and dined so as to loosen their tongues, and all the while recording devices took down every word and translators searched for information to help the war effort.

Trent Park House of Secrets

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We are in the midst of Odysseymania as the new film by Christopher Nolan breaks records at the box office. Nolan’s interpretation of the poem has attracted criticism, from casting to armour but any anachronisms are simply the latest in a very long line that began in English with George Chapman’s translation in the 16th century.

Henry Power, author of Homer Haunted joins me as we discuss the new movie, why Homer will always be relevant, and we talk about some of the varied and entertaining translations that are out there.

Henry Power Links⁠

Homer Haunted: The Many Afterlives of an Ancient Poet

Christopher Logue: War Music

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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Today we’re demob happy as holidays are upon us, and I’ve teamed up with the fabulous History Book Buffs pod to discuss our favourite history or historical fiction books to read on the sunbed so do come in, relax and listen to Antonia Senior, Roger Moorhouse and myself as we chat our happy space for books – and all the time ably marshalled by Antonia.

The Trial of Alexander the Great

The Greatest Links - all found here

Black Sea – Neil Ascherson

Alexander the Great – Robin Lane Fox

God's Fury, England's Fire – Michael Braddick

The March of Folly – Barbara Tuchman

Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War – Robert K. Massie

Flashman and the Redskins – George MacDonald Fraser

Captain Corelli's Mandolin – Louis de Bernières

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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After the Second World War the SAS was disbanded, but when a communist insurgency broke out in the British Imperial possession of Malaya, the SAS was reformed. In the years following the Regiment came under the command of an extraordinary soldier, George Lea, veteran of Arnhem and known as the soldier’s General.

Joining today is Rupert Hague Holmes, author of Lea’s biography as we discuss the man and the Special Air Service as it evolved from a distrusted regiment to a finely tuned counter-insurgency unit, and the envy of the United States.

Don't forget, get in touch with Rupert here for a signed copy.

Rupert Hague Holmes Links

The Soldier's General

⁠The Soldier's General⁠ - Signed Copy

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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During the Second World War the cause of Indian independence was placed on hold for the Congress party, but one man, Subhas Chandra Bose was impatient for freedom, and so in a dramatic escape from a British prison, he travelled to Nazi Germany and Japan to throw his lot in with empires committed to fighting Britain.

When the Japanese threatened to invade the British Raj 2.5million Indians volunteered to fight against them, but Bose led around 40,000 of his own countrymen against them.

Joining today is Phil Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning – War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World as we chat about Bose, the great Indian general Timmy, the Bengal Famine and much more.

Phil Craig Links

1945: The Reckoning – War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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My guest today is the broadcaster and political commentator Iain Dale who has edited a new book, Generals, 69 commanders written by 69 different authors. So we find Montgomery; Napoleon; Patton; Gordon of Khartoum; Themistocles and plenty others.

We discuss the political situation in the wake of Kier Starmer’s resignation, the current British attitude to defence and plenty more.

Iain Dale Links

The Generals

Where Politics Meets History Podcast⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Bonus: History Book Club at Chalke

Chats with authors in 35 degree heat – we talk Cricket / Gout / U Boats and Espionage with:

Annie Chave – Cricket Changed My Life

Vic Marks – England Captains 1979-2025

Roland Butcher – Breaking Barriers

Simon Hughes – A Lot of Hard Yakka

Dorian Haskard – The Gout

Roger Moorhouse – The U Boat War

Charles Cumming – Icarus 17

Links to all these books at The ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠History Book Club Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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A quick bonus episode for my wonderful listeners, in the wake of the British Prime Minister resigning, I got Robert Lyman on to discuss the state of the country’s military. Robert is a former officer and now writes history books, and we chat the parlous state of our nation’s defences. I hope you enjoy, and if you have any comments, go ahead and let me know.

Links Discussed

The AJAX Saga

Mark Urban Substack

Robert Lyman Links

Victory to Defeat

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Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In 1347 Genoese merchants were holed up in Kaffa, in the Crimean peninsula as Mongols and Turks besieged the city. The invading army of Khan Djanibeg had been resisted for 2 years and so surely an end was in sight, especially as disease had ripped through the besiegers. But, in a final throw of the dice, the great King, using engines of war, hurled dead bodies, swollen from sickness and blackened from corruption, into Kaffa. A terrible plague ripped through the populace within, and the Genoese decided to leave by ship. They escaped, but so did the bacteria, and it would spread throughout the medieval world killing 100 million.

Joining today is Thomas Asbridge, author of The Black Death: A Global History as he discusses the terrible pestilence that had massive ramifications, and which still kills people today.

Thomas Asbridge Links

The Black Death: A Global History

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Oliver Webb-Carter Links

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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