History Book Club

This week's guest is Nigel Biggar, the author of a new book, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, which deals with the British Empire. Nigel asks the question, is it all bad, or is there a more nuanced interpretation of around 300 years of history? We discuss slavery, famine, the Second World War and whether pride or shame are the right responses to the people and events of empire.

Nigel Biggar is Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford and he gives a balanced view of empire and colonialism which makes for an interesting chat.

Coming up on Tuesday, the Aspects of History Film Club with Director Tim Hewitt starts with Lincoln (2012).

Nigel Biggar Links

Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning

Nigel on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

Ollie's recent piece: The Great War: Was it a Waste?

You can email me [email protected]

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My guest this week is the writer and filmmaker Tom Petch, author of Speed, Aggression, Surprise: The Untold Secret Origins of the SAS. It's predominantly the story of Dudley Clarke, played by Dominic West in SAS Rogue Heroes. Clarke was the brains behind so many Special Forces units that sprung up in the War - necessity being the mother of invention. We talk about him, Eric Dorman Smith, T.E. Lawrence and the modern day SAS.

Tom is also a filmmaker, and directed The Patrol, a psychological drama about a platoon of British troops up against the Taliban, so we talk a bit about that and the West's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Tom Petch Links

Book: Speed, Aggression, Surprise: The Untold Secret Origins of the SAS

Tom's film: The Patrol

Article: Were the SAS Rogue Heroes? - Aspects of History by Tom Petch

Tom on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Article: Aspects of History The Birth of the SAS in WW2 by Gavin Mortimer

Ollie on Twitter

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This week's guest is the distinguished historian Gary Sheffield, author of Forgotten Victory: First World War Myths & Realities, and we explode some of those myths that have developed over the years. Thanks to the great TV show Blackadder, and it is great, a view developed that the generals, and in particular British generals, were callous upper class twits who drank fine wines as their .

Why did the war start, and who was to blame? Was it lions led by donkeys? What was Haig like as a general? All this and much more is answered.

Gary Sheffield Links

Forgotten Victory: First World War Myths & Realities

Gary on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Website

Ollie on Twitter

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This week's pod is a real treat - it's the 144th anniversary of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 which began in January. My guest is Saul David, author of Zulu: The Heroism & Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879.

The arrogance of the British Empire resulted in a humiliating defeat at Isandlwana, before recovering with the morale boosting defence at Rorke's Drift, made famous by Stanley Baker and Michael Caine in the 1964 movie, Zulu.

Saul and I discuss the build up to the invasion, the Zulu nation itself and its ancient antecedents, the personalities involved, the Zulu victories before their eventual defeat and what the conflict means for empire and colonialism today.

Saul David Links

Zulu: The Heroism & Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879

Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire

Military Blunders

Saul on Twitter

Ollie Links

Ollie on Twitter

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I continue my chat with Mark Turnbull on the execution of Charles I, which took place on the 30th January 1649.

Charles is guilty in a stitch up, but what is Cromwell's role? Did Charles crumble in the immediate aftermath of the guilty verdict? What were his final words, and was the chop itself executed (sorry) smoothly?

This is Part Two, so I do recommend going back to listen to Part One on the Trial.

Mark Turnbull Links

The King's Cavalier

Mark on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

The Trial of Charles I by Leanda de Lisle - Aspects of History

Ollie on Twitter

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This week's guest is friend of the show Mark Turnbull who returns to talk about the trial of King Charles I, which began on 20th January 1649. The trial was a sham, but Charles behaved admirably, and with great integrity and nobility.

We talk about the events leading up to the trial, the Rump Parliament, New Model Army, Cromwell and the events of the trial itself.

Part Two, the execution, is coming up on Tuesday.

Mark Turnbull Links

The King's Cavalier

Mark on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

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Gavin Mortimer joins me this week for a rollicking ride through the early days of the SAS with David Stirling, Paddy Mayne and Jock Lewes. We discuss the portrayals of Stirling and Mayne, what the show gets right, and what it gets wrong. Rogue Heroes stars Connor Swindells, Jack O'Connell and Alfie Allen.

!SPOILER ALERT!

Gavin is the author of The Phoney Major, a new book that examines both Stirling and Mayne closely, and one that has exploded the myth of David Stirling, so he's well placed to discuss the series.

Gavin Mortimer Links

The Phoney Major : The Life, Times and Truth about the Founder of the SAS

Paddy Mayne and David Stirling. By Gavin Mortimer - Aspects of History

Gavin on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Were the SAS Rogue Heroes? By Tom Petch - Aspects of History

Ollie on Twitter

TV Series

Rogue Heroes on BBC iPlayer

Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre

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This week's episode, the first of 2023, is with bestselling novelist Joanna Hickson discussing the subject of her new book, Joan Guildford. Lady-in-Waiting at the courts of Henry VII & Henry VIII. We discuss Henry VII, Henvry VIII, royal childbirth, women at court and plenty more.

As we've seen recently, being a lady-in-waiting isn't as easy as it sounds. When they aren't navigating their way through race rows, they're involved in the political machinations at court as reputations rise, and fall. In Joan Guildford, we saw one of the best, and Joanna describes her career.

Joanna Links

The Queen's Lady

Joanna on the Twitter

Ollie Links

Aspects of History, 2 Years On

Ollie on the Twitter

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In today's pod, the last of 2023, I welcome Peter Hughes back to the show to talk about his view on history, and society, today. He uses the stories of Confucius, the French Revolution, Frederick Douglass, the Statue of Athena at Palmyra and the death of the Queen to help frame his argument.

Peter's book, A History of Love & Hate in 21 Statues

Peter Hughes Links

Peter on Twitter

A History of Love & Hate in 21 Statues

Prevalence Induced Concept Change

The Social Dilemma Documentary on Netflix

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

The Managerial Revolution

Georges Lefebvre - The Great Fear

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

Aspects of History Website

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As we enter the Christmas period, I've listed out the top 10 Christmas historical events.

Merry Christmas from Aspects of History.

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