History Book Club

By Oliver Webb-CarterNews Arts Books Politics History

History Book Club episodes

March 19, 2025 The Vietnam War, Part Two: Breakdown with Geoffrey Wawro
As the Vietnam War progressed, discipline among US troops began to deteriorate, to the stage where incidents of ‘fragging’ – the practice of killing officers and NCOs with grenades – became more widespread, as did the shooting of officers when out on patrol or during contact. This phenomena encapsulates the latter half of the American presence in Vietnam as soldiers refused to engage in operations when there was no discernible objective.
Joining to discuss Nixon’s Vietnam in this second episode following on from Saturday is Geoffrey Wawro, historian and author of The Vietnam War: A Military History. Geoff talks about the Vietnamese leadership as well as the reduction in troop numbers as Nixon’s secret plan is exposed.
Geoffrey Wawro Links
The Vietnam War: A Military History
Aspects of History Links
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44 min
March 15, 2025 The Vietnam War, Part One: Quagmire with Geoffrey Wawro
On 8 March 1965 at Da Nang in South Vietnam, 3,500 Marines landed thus marking the beginning of US combat troops in Vietnam. 8 years later the Americans would withdraw having lost more than 58,000 dead, and 300,000 wounded. The Vietnam War itself cost, and these numbers are approximate, around 300,000 South Vietnamese troops dead, 1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong dead and more than 3 million civilians killed.
Joining today is Geoffrey Wawro, historian and author of a new military history of this tragic conflict. This is the first of a two-parter as Geoff describes the background of US involvement, the mistakes made by the military leaders, and the Nixon administration’s involvement. Part two is out on Wednesday as we discuss the war from 1968 as US troops lose discipline and the American public lost faith in the war.
Geoffrey Wawro Links
The Vietnam War: A Military History
Aspects of History Links
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Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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44 min
March 12, 2025 Ukraine with Gordon Corrigan
A quick bonus episode and discussion on Ukraine with Gordon Corrigan for you as I was keen to get his thoughts in light of his successful Substack writing, and to follow on from Saturday’s episode.
Gordon is an acclaimed historian and the author of The Second World War: A Military History. Links are in the show notes.
Gordon Corrigan Links
Gordon's Substack
The Second World War: A Military History
Tessa Dunlop Links
Where Politics Meets History
Aspects of History Links
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Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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37 min
March 08, 2025 Putin's War with Philip W Blood
In 416BC, during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, the island of Melos was a non-combatant. Strategically located in the middle of the Aegean, The Athenians arrived and demanded Melos surrender and thus be absorbed into their empire. The Melians refused, and so one of the most famous and influential passages in Thucydides’ history as recounted by the delegates of Athens: ‘the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.’
We are returning to an era of empires asserting their dominance, and so joining to discuss Ukraine and its implications for Europe is historian and writer Philip Blood, author of Putin’s War as we discuss the war over the past three years and what can be done in the future.
As a brief little bonus for you, Tessa Dunlop joins to discuss the war as she launches a new podcast blending politics with history.
Philip Blood Links
Putin's War, Russian Genocide, Edited by Philip Blood
Fallout on Ghost - Writings on Ukraine from Philp and team
Philip on X
Tessa Dunlop Links
Where Politics Meets History
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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1 hr 4 min
March 05, 2025 Film Club: The Third Man (1949)
Welcome to a delayed Film Club and it’s The Third Man, Carol Reed’s 1949 masterpiece starring Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard and of course, Orson Welles from a script by Graham Greene. Joining Ollie we have director Tim Hewitt and historian Roger Moorhouse.
There are plenty of links in the show notes including Tim’s film based on the Greene short story A Little Place on the Edgware Road which you can watch for free.
Links
A Little Place Off the Edgware Road, directed by Tim Hewitt
The Third Man Special Collector's Edition
The Third Man
Touch of Evil
Journey Into Fear
The Criterion Collection
Ollie on X
Tim on X
Roger on X
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Aspects of History on Instagram
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1 hr 9 min
March 01, 2025 Churchill's Right Hand Man with John Kiszely
In late 1941 Winston Churchill lost his temper with his top generals over their disagreement in supplying Stalin with tanks and aircraft. Their obstruction caused a furious row at the heart of the British government.
The man who resolved it? General Hastings Pug Ismay, Churchill’s right hand man throughout the war, who later played an important role in the Partition of India and became Secretary General of the newly formed NATO.
Historian and former senior commander John Kiszely joins to discuss Ismay and Churchill, the Partition and we speculate as to how Ismay would have dealt with Donald Trump.
John Kiszely Links
Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat, by John Kiszely
Aspects of History Links
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Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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48 min
February 26, 2025 The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part Two, Lancaster & York
In this second and concluding part on the Causes of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI fails in his kingly duties, and rival factions were gain strength across England. Two houses had emerged: The House of Lancaster with Henry at its head, and the House of York with Richard Duke of York the main man. The Yorkists were joined by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and known as the kingmaker, though my guests today are sceptical as to his political achievements.
Derek Birks and David Pilling return and we discuss the two houses, the rise of York and the faltering Lancasters, and the Kingmaker himself as momentum builds to the street fight that was the Battle of St. Albans in 1455.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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34 min
February 26, 2025 Film Club: The Third Man (1949)
Welcome to a delayed Film Club and it’s The Third Man, Carol Reed’s 1949 masterpiece starring Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard and of course, Orson Welles from a script by Graham Greene. Joining Ollie we have director Tim Hewitt and historian Roger Moorhouse.
There are plenty of links in the show notes including Tim’s film based on the Greene short story A Little Place on the Edgware Road which you can watch for free.
Links
A Little Place Off the Edgware Road, directed by Tim Hewitt
The Third Man Special Collector's Edition
The Third Man
Touch of Evil
Journey Into Fear
The Criterion Collection
Ollie on X
Tim on X
Roger on X
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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1 hr 6 min
February 22, 2025 The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part One, Henry VI
On 31 August 1422 Henry V, England’s finest king, died aged 35. His successor, Henry VI was only 9 months old and so his uncle, and Henry V’s brother, John, Duke of Bedford, became regent and continued the war in France. The young Henry was a gentle child, and most worrying for England he lacked a monarch as mentor, and so little understanding of how to handle the politics of kingship in the 15th century. The consequences would be severe as the Wars of the Roses would erupt in 1455 for a number of reasons, chief among them Henry VI.
Joining to discuss the causes is historian and author Derek Birks, whose new book A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is out, and David Pilling, also a historian and author and his latest novel is Kingbreaker, set during the Wars of the Roses. So we look into why it broke out, a clash so catastrophic it chewed up four kings as well as countless nobles and peasants. In part one we discuss Henry VI. Part two, out on Wednesday, examines the factions involved.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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35 min
February 15, 2025 The Nazi Mind with Laurence Rees
During Nazi rule it is estimated that 8 million Germans were members of the party, that’s around 10% of the population. The ideology they believed in was responsible for the deaths of 6 million jews, as well as gypsies, homosexuals and the infirm. Millions more were murdered via slave labour and in the invasions east and west.
So what about the mindset of the people who carried out these crimes against humanity? Were they brainwashed by Hitler? Were they mentally ill, or were they simply all psychopaths? Joining the podcast today is author and broadcaster Laurence Rees to discuss his new book, The Nazi Mind. Laurence is responsible for the hugely powerful TV documentary Nazis: A Warning from History and his insight into the psychology of Nazis is illuminating.
Laurence Rees Links
The Nazi Mind
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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55 min

About History Book Club

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Welcome to the History Book Club - the club for all lovers of history, presented by writer and historian Oliver Webb-Carter. Oliver interviews authors of the best historical writing, to draw out the stories that you'll be interested in.