History Book Club

By Oliver Webb-CarterNews Arts Books Politics History

History Book Club episodes

May 01, 2024 Shardlake and Thomas Cromwell with Peter Wagstaff
A bonus episode sees the historical consultant of the new Disney series Shardlake join to discuss disability and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the history behind the new show. Based on the novels written by C.J.Sansom who died on Saturday 27th April.
Shardlake Links
Shardlake on Disney
Dissolution by CJ Sansom
Antonia Senior tribute to CJ Sansom

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24 min
April 27, 2024 Iran & Britain with Ali Ansari
Iran & Britain are old friends, they've had ups and downs, and it's probably fair to say we're going through a difficult patch right now, but who better than Ali Ansari to talk about the historical relationship through much of the 20th century. Ali is a child of Iranians, but lives and was brought up here in Britain, where he is Professor of Modern History at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. We talk the Constitutional Revolution of 1906, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Mossadegh and the Coup of 1953, and the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979.
Those of Iranian descent, and of course any others, please do get in touch: [email protected]
Ali Ansari Links
Ali's Book: Iran
Ali on X
Aspects of History Links
Ollie on X
Get in touch: [email protected]
Latest issue: Aspects of History Issue 21

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1 hr
April 25, 2024 William Adams & Shogun with Giles Milton
On the 19th April 1600, after nearly two years at sea, William Adams, one of only nine surviving crew members, made land at modern day Usuki, on the east coast of Japan. He was starving, scurvy ridden and close to death. So began an extraordinary story as Adams rose up the ranks to become a revered figure in Japan even today. So much so that a new Disney TV series, Shogun has been making waves starring Cosmo Jarvis as Adams and Giles Milton joins to tell his story.
Giles Milton Links
Samurai William
Shogun
Giles on X
Aspects of History Links
Episode on the Japan of Shogun
Ollie on X

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35 min
April 23, 2024 Film Club: The Passion of the Christ (2004)
The release of The Passion of the Christ in 2004 caused outrage, fury and accusations of antisemitism and sadomasochism. With Easter recently celebrated, we thought it time to re-examine Mel Gibson's passion project (sorry), as director Tim Hewitt joins to talk Jim Caviezel, controversy and even a QAnon.
Links
The Passion of the Christ on Wikipedia
The Passion of the Christ on IMDB
Interview with Mel Gibson
Christopher Hitchens on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ
Ollie on X
Tim on X

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50 min
April 20, 2024 The Berlin Wall with Iain MacGregor
The Berlin Wall stood for 28 years, but up until the very end, on the 9th November 1989, the whole world thought it was permanent. It's now 35 years since the Wall fell, but how did it get built, what was its impact, and how did it fall?
Iain MacGregor, author of Checkpoint Charlie, joins as we go back the dark days of the Cold War through to its end.
Iain MacGregor Links
Checkpoint Charlie: The Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth
Iain on X
Aspects of History Links
Berlin Wall - OIlie at the Wall
Ollie on X
Get in touch: [email protected]

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54 min
April 13, 2024 Patrick Leigh Fermor with Artemis Cooper
On a dark night in April 1944 a German general was returning to his villa on the Nazi occupied island of Crete. Suddenly, two men, dressed as Wehrmacht soldiers, emerged from the darkness and stopped the car. The two men were British officers, and together with Cretan resistance fighters, they bundled the general into the back, and drove through Heraklion and 22 checkpoints. So began one of the most audacious operations of World War Two, orchestrated by Patrick Leigh Fermor, autodidact, writer and war hero.
Artemis Cooper, biographer of Paddy, joins to discuss his early life, the operation, his walk through Europe and his writing.
Artemis Cooper Links
Patrick Leigh Fermor: An Adventure
Cairo in the War: 1939-45
Patrick Leigh Fermor Links
3 Books Collection Set (A Time of Gifts, Between the Woods and the Water, The Broken Road)
Abducting a General: The Kreipe Operation and SOE in Crete
Mani: Travels in the Southern Peloponnese
Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece
Aspects of History Links
Ollie on X
Get in touch: [email protected]

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1 hr
April 05, 2024 James I with Steven Veerapen
On the 24th March 1603 at Richmond Palace Elizabeth I died. She had not named a successor, but James VI of Scotland was proclaimed king in London that same day, and he headed south to accede to the English throne. What sort of man was he, and how had his rule in Scotland shaped his character?
Steven Veerapen joins to discuss James, his rule, the union of the crowns of Scotland and England and the new show Mary & George which has been making waves in its depiction of the Stuart court.
Steven Veerapen Links
The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI/I
Steven's episode on Elizabeth I
Steven on X
Aspects of History Links
Ollie on X
Get in touch: [email protected]

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51 min
March 30, 2024 Colonial Kenya & the Mau Mau with Nicholas Rankin
The Mau Mau Uprising ran from 1952 to 1960 in a Kenya administered by Britain. The conflict was a brutal one, with atrocities committed by both sides and it remains controversial to this day.
Nicholas Rankin grew up in Kenya from the of 3 to 13, arriving in 1954 and he has written a moving and powerful book that addresses the questions of rebellion and colonialism.
Nicholas Rankin Links
Trapped in History: Kenya, Mau Mau and Me
Telegram from Guernica: The Extraordinary Life of George Steer, War Correspondent
Nicholas on X
Aspects of History Links
Clash of Empires: The Anglo-Ashanti Wars - Aspects of History
Ollie on X

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59 min
March 23, 2024 Women's Secret Diaries with Sarah Gristwood
Sarah Gristwood returns to talk about the secret diary entries of women's diaries, from the 1st January all the way to the 31st December. There are many great names, and some less well-known, but we delve into some heart-breaking, funny, tragic and shocking accounts written with stunning honesty.
Sarah Gristwood Links
Secret Voices: A Year of Women’s Diaries
Sarah on X
Aspects of History Links
Subscribe to the magazine: only £/$9.99 per year
Ollie on X
Get in touch: [email protected]

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33 min
March 16, 2024 The Rise of the Mafia with Louis Ferrante
This week's guest is a man who has lived about what he writes. Louis Ferrante was a former member of the Gambino crime family, one of the Five Families of New York. He rose up the ranks until he was convicted of crimes and sent to prison where he became a changed man.
He has now written a fantastic first volume of three on the history of the mafia, Borgata, and he chatted with our editor on the rise of the mob from their humble beginnings in Sicily through to the 1930s prohibition in the US.

Louis Ferrante Links
Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia
Mob Rules: What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman
Louis on X

Aspects of History Links
Subscribe to the magazine: only £/$9.99 per year
Ollie on X

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56 min

About History Book Club

From the publisher's feed

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.