History Book Club

At the end of the First World War in 1918, the British Army had achieved victories that matched any of their predecessors from the previous two centuries, and was a highly motivated, efficient fighting machine. So why then, just over twenty years later, were they routed on battlefield in France in 1940 against their humiliated foe, the German Army. What lessons does the experience of the Army teach us today, as we face new threats, not only from Russia, but also now with terrorism.

General Lord Dannatt, former Head of the Army, and historian Robert Lyman join our editor to discuss how the Victory to Defeat happened, who were the characters involved, and what about the British Army today as Ukraine rumbles on.

General Lord Dannatt & Robert Lyman Links

Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918–40

Could the Holocaust have been prevented, along with WWII?

Our armed forces risk their lives for the nation, but is Grant Shapps willing to risk his career to fight them?

Robert Lyman on X/Twitter

Ollie Links

Ollie on X/Twitter

Contact Ollie: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the 29th September 1923 the British Empire reached its largest territorial extent with Britain's responsibility for the Mandate of Palestine. The Empire now covered a quarter of the globe and governed nearly 500 million people. But not all was as it seemed, because soon key colonies were demanding autonomy and the Empire was soon on the decline.

Joining Ollie, historian Matthew Parker talks about not only the colonists, but also the colonised covered in his new book One Fine Day that spans every corner of the vast expanse that was the Empire. As Matthew says, you cannot generalise about the Empire.

Matthew Parker Links

One Fine Day: Britain's Empire on the Brink

Matthew Parker on AoH

Matthew on X/Twitter

Ollie Links

Ollie on X/Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's pod sees the alternative view on the Parthenon Marbles. Our editor, firm proponent of their reunification, chats with Dr Mario Trabucco della Torretta, strong believer in their retention in the British Museum.

Mario is a classical archaeologist and historian, who is writing a book on the Marbles himself, although he would call them the Elgin Marbles.

Dr Mario Trabucco della Torretta Links

Mario on X/Twitter

Mario's links

Mario's profile

New material from the Ottoman archives and discusses the firman

Lord Elgin's Firman - Dyfri Williams

Ollie Links

Ollie on X/Twitter

British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This month's Film Club sees Director Tim Hewitt join our editor to discuss the Munich Olympics epic, Munich. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig.

It's the anniversary of the Olympics attack which took place in September 1972 and Munich asks serious questions around the cycle of violence prompted by revenge. We have a guest appearance on the Pod from one of the stars of the film.

Munich

Munich on IMDB

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part Two of our Hundred Years War series, we deal with Poitiers, and the lead up, the Black Death, the Black Prince and of course the battle itself. Gordon Corrigan, author of a number of histories of the Hundred Years War joins me to chat all things medieval warfare. And there's the small matter of a financial claim against France that Gordon is keen to pursue.

You can listen to Part One here:

The Hundred Years War with Gordon Corrigan. Part One: Crécy

Film Club is out on Tuesday with Steven Spielberg's 2005 thriller Munich, starring Eric Bana and Daniel Craig, and next Saturday we have Part 2 of my Parthenon Marbles series when I deal with the other side.

Gordon Corrigan Links

Poitiers: Finest Hours Book 3

Crécy: Finest Hours Book 1

England Expects:The Battle of Sluys

A Great and Glorious Adventure: A Military History of the Hundred Years War

Ollie Links

Ollie on Twitter

Gordon Corrigan on Poitiers - Aspects of History

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's guest is Robin Lane Fox, Ancient Historian and author of Homer & His Iliad. He joins Ollie to chat about who Homer was, when he was writing, why it's better than the Odyssey and what Alexander the Great thought of the Iliad.

Robin was the historical consultant on Oliver Stone's Alexander (2004) so he discusses his experience with Hollywood.Coming up, part 2 of the Hundred Years War with Gordon Corrigan, and the other side of the argument of the Parthenon Marbles.

Robin Lane Fox Links

Homer & His Iliad

Alexander the Great

Robin on his book

Ollie Links

Alexander in the Dock

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's guest is the bestselling historian Tom Holland and he talks Ancient Rome - from Nero to Hadrian with our editor. Their discussion goes into Sex and Gender, Hadrian's Wall, Greeks and Rome and then a few light-hearted questions as well as Tom's view of history today.

Tom's latest book is Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age.

Subscribe for plenty more great history coming up on the pod including Part 2 of the Parthenon Marbles, the Battle of Poitiers, the Film Club returns with Spielberg's Munich and much much more.

Tom Holland Links

Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age

Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic

Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind

Tom on X

Ollie Links

Aspects of History home - Aspects of History

Ollie on X

Email us: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode sees Paul Lay join to discuss his book, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of Cromwell's Protectorate. Ollie and Paul chat about the period between the execution of Charles I and the restoration of Charles II when Britain saw a new ruler, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector.Paul's book is our Non Fiction Book of the Month and is highly recommended.

Paul is Senior Editor at Engelsberg Ideas and a friend of the show, he runs his own podcast with Miranda Malins called 1666 and All That.

Paul Lay Links

Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of Cromwell's Protectorate

Podcast: 1666 and All That

Ollie Links

Ollie on Twitter / X

Contact Ollie: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This month's Film Club sees Director Tim Hewitt join our editor to discuss the Australian New Wave movie, Gallipoli. Directed by Peter Weir and starring Mark Lee and Mel Gibson.

It's the anniversary of the Battle of the Nek which took place in August 1915 and Gallipoli depicts that attack in the Dardanelles, Turkey, when the British Empire attempted to knock the Turks out of the war.

Gallipoli

Gallipoli on IMDB

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's guest is historian and author Paula de Fougerolles, discussing the Dark Ages. As the Romans departed, Britain and Ireland underwent a hugely tumultuous period as Christianity developed, but also natural phenomena caused mayhem.

Paula clears up the murky past, and describes life in the period, and talks about some of the prominent figures from a time when history merges into myth.

Paula de Fougerolles Links

The Chronicles of Iona: Exile

Saint Columba & Aedan: To Dunadd, Citadel of Kings - Aspects of History

Ollie Links

Ollie on Twitter/X

[email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices