History Book Club

In this month's bonus episode, I welcome a professional movie director onto the pod to discuss Top 10 Historical Movies. My list was discussed earlier here.

Ollie's Top 10

10 - Alexander

9 - La Reine Margot

8 - Breaker Morant

7 - Missing

6 - Katyń

5 - Culloden

4 - One Day in September

3 - The Civil War

2 - The Battle of Algiers

1 - Downfall

Tim's Top 10

10 - The Passion of the Christ

9 - Richard III

8 - The Bounty

7 - Ran

6 - Barry Lyndon

5 - United 93

4 - The Way to the Stars

3 - La Grande Illusion

2 - Hero

1 - Dances with Wolves

Tim Hewitt Links

Short Film: A Little Place Off the Edgware Road

Short Film: Broken Shelter

Tim on Twitter

Ollie Links

Geoff Dyer on Where Eagles Dare

Ollie on Twitter

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

This week's guest is Iain MacGregor, author of The Lighthouse of Stalingrad, and we discuss the mother of all battles, Stalingrad. The epic struggle between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union saw savage fighting throughout the winter of 1942. It's the 80th anniversary, so join us as we discuss the brutal fighting, Stalingrad and its hold on the Russian psyche, Putin's politicisation of the battle, and the personalities and units that fought there.

You can get 50% off an annual subscription to our e-mag on our website at Aspects of History using the voucher code HISTORY50%

Iain MacGregor Links

The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Centre of WWII's Greatest Battle

Iain on the Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on the Twitter

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

This week's guest is friend of the show Dr Tessa Dunlop, talking about the subject of her new book, Elizabeth and Philip and their early life. This couple both served during the Second World War. and Philip in particular had a hugely disruptive upbringing. His mother, Princess Alice, lived under German occupation and indeed saved a family of jews from the Holocaust. His sisters married into senior members of the German aristocracy, two of whom were Nazis.

This is in stark contrast to the more modern version of the royals, with the recent Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary which we inevitably discuss. But the story here is of Philip, looking for stability, and Elizabeth, for the man of her dreams, who united to build a family that now represents modern Britain: the good bits as well as divorce, social media and very public disagreements.

Listeners of the podcast has access to our e-magazine annual subscription for only £/$5 down from £/$9.99. Use code HISTORY50% at the checkout (don't forget to add the product first).

Dr Tessa Dunlop Links

Elizabeth & Philip: A Story of Young Love, Marriage and Monarchy

Tessa on the Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Books of 2022 From Aspects of History - Aspects of History

Ollie on the Twitter

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

My latest guest is Leanda de Lisle, author of Henrietta Maria: Conspirator, Warrior, Phoenix Queen. She was the wife of Charles I, the English king executed in 1649 after a bloody civil war. Poor old HM got the blame for many of Charles' blunders, even though she married him when she was 15, and he 24.

She grew up in an abusive household - we'll hear about her father, Henri IV's parenting methods, and she was treated very badly when in England.

But, despite her husband's killing, she rose again when her son, Charles II was restored, and her blood flows through Princes William and Harry.

Discount Code of 50% off an annual subscription to Aspects of History. HISTORY50%

Don't forget to add the magazine to your cart first.

Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine - Aspects of History

Leanda de Lisle Links

Henrietta Maria: Conspirator, Warrior, Phoenix Queen

The Trial of Charles I - Aspects of History

Henrietta Maria: Warrior Queen - Aspects of History

Leanda on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Charles II: A Thoroughly Modern Monarch - Aspects of History

Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine - Aspects of History

Ollie on Twitter

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

My guest this week is the distinguished historian Sir Lawrence Freedman. He is the author of a new book, Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine, and so we discuss the relationships and characters involved in conflicts post 1945. We talk Douglas MacArthur & Korea, the French in Indochina and Algeria, Kennedy and his generals, Ariel Sharon and his tyrannical tendencies, and the British approach.

Lawrence takes a high level view, and so this is not a military tactics discussion, more how important personalities are, as opposed to political persuasion.

Don't forget, you can claim your 50% discount on an annual subscription to the Aspects of History e-Magazine using the code HISTORY50% at checkout -remember to add the product first.

Lawrence Freedman Links

Command

Lawrence on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

Subscriptions @ Aspects of History

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

After speaking with Simon Sebag Montefiore a few weeks ago, I was inspired to list my top 10 families of world history. Join me as I list them from 10 to 1, with links to books that you can read if you'd like to explore further. Of course Sebag's book, The World is hugely recommended. I talk about families from the Mongol steppes to the shores of the Aegean, from the High Plains of the Midwest, to the mountains of Iran.

If you've got your own suggestions, let me know.

Links

Alexander the Great in the Dock - Aspects of History

Books of 2022 From Aspects of History - Aspects of History

Seizing Eichmann - Aspects of History

Debate on the Parthenon Marbles

Book Recommendations from the Top 10

The Mongol Storm, by Nicholas Morton

The Borgias, by Paul Strathern

The Medici, by Paul Strathern

Cleopatra's Daughter, by Jane Draycott

Nemesis, by David Stuttard

King of the World (Cyrus the Great), by Matt Waters

Flashman & the Redskins, by George Macdonald Fraser

Zulu, by Saul David

Abyss: The Cuban Missile Crisis, by Max Hastings

Alexander the Great, by Robin Lane Fox

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

In August 1939 the Nazi and Soviet regimes signed their non-aggression pact and the world was stunned. Within days, Poland had been invaded by Germany and Russia, and there then began 22 months of an alliance between Hitler and Stalin. Roger Moorhouse, author of The Devils' Alliance, joins me to discuss the negotiations, the reasoning behind the treaty, and the effects of it. We also discuss the lessons for today's conflict in Ukraine.

Roger Moorhouse Links

The Devils' Alliance Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941

First to Fight: The Polish War 1939

The Katyn Museum

The film, Katyń

Roger on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

Instagram

Aspects of History Home

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

Saul David is my guest this week. He's returning to chat about his new book, Devil Dogs, which follows a US Marines company throughout their campaign in the Pacific theatre of WW2. They fought from Guadalcanal all the way to the shores of Japan, and so were first in, last out.

We also go on to talk about Saul's podcast, Battleground Ukraine, and his thoughts on the current situation, and what options there are to end the conflict.

Saul David Links

Devil Dogs

Saul's Podcast, Battleground Ukraine

Saul on Twitter

Oliver Webb-Carter Links

Email: [email protected]

Ollie on Twitter

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

This week I have Mark Urban onto the pod. Newsnight presenter, historian, journalist and broadcaster, his new book Red Devils is just out. We chat about the Paras in WW2, and deal with booze and fighting, Operation Market Garden, the creation of the regiment and how he juggles writing and the TV work.

Mark Urban Links

Red Devils: The Trailblazers of the Parachute Regiment in World War Two

Mark on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

Email me at [email protected] to suggest your top 10 family from world history.

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

This week's guest is the worldwide bestselling historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, and he's joined me to discuss his new book, The World: A Family History. We look into the family and why that is a great lens to look at history, as well as focussing in on a few of the families featured, including Alexander the Great's, the Prophet Mohammed's family, the Romanov family and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. We also talk about recent developments in Iran and Ukraine and his musical playlist which is the soundtrack to his book. Links are below.

Simon Sebag Montefiore Links

The World: A Family History

Simon's Playlist on Spotify

Simon on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

Ollie on Twitter

Alexander the Great in the Dock - Aspects of History

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