History Book Club

This week's pod has legendary historian Max Hastings who has written a new book, published its 60th anniversary, on the Cuban Missile Crisis. In October 1962, the world looked into the abyss of nuclear annihilation. We talk about those events, JFK and lunatic American generals, but also about its relevance today, and what lessons we can learn.

Max Hastings Links

Abyss: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Aspects of History Links

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In this bonus episode in honour of Black History Month, contributors from previous AoH podcasts chat about significant historians and events.:

Steven Veerapen discusses John Blanke, one of the first black people living in England.

Then we move on to the experience of African Americans in the War of 1812 as sailors and POWs with Nicholas Guyatt.

Saul David explains why the British were destroyed at Isandlwana in 1879 during the Zulu War.

Damien Lewis talks about Josephine Baker and her rise from showgirl in America to superstar in Paris, before becoming an agent for the Deuxieme Bureau during WW2. Finally,

Tessa Dunlop chats about Ena Collymore, veteran of the Auxiliary Territorial Service during WW2.

Timings & Links

1m58s John Blanke - Steven Veerapen on Of Blood Descended.

7m40s African American Sailors during the War of 1812. Nicholas Guyatt on The Hated Cage.

19m16s The Battle of Isandlwana, 1879. Saul David on Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879.

23m56s Josephine Baker, superstar and French agent. Damien Lewis on The Flame of Resistance.

Wiki Page for Josephine Baker

41m27s Ena Collymore and the ATS in WW2. Tessa Dunlop on Army Girls.

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This week's pod is with the acclaimed classicist and historian, Peter Stothard. In his return to the show after our chat on The Ides of March, Peter discusses Marcus Licinius Crassus - the fabulously wealthy politician and commander who came a cropper at Carrhae up against the Persian Empire, after having defeated Spartacus.

Crass was a rival to Caesar and Pompey, and was of course played by Laurence Olivier in the Kubrick film. Peter's new book is out, it's super short, and I raced through it - it's always entertaining listening to Peter, and he knows the subject so well, and speaks with real flair.

Peter Stothard Links

Crassus: The First Tycoon

Peter's earlier pod Caesar's assassination: The Ides of March

Peter's earlier pod Caesar's assassination: The Ides of March Part Two

Aspects of History Links

Munda: The Battle to End Roman Civil War - Aspects of History

Cassius Parmensis, Caesar, Boris and Saddam - Aspects of History

Great Black Britons: Richmond and Molyneux - Aspects of History

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This week's podcast is with Ben Macintyre, the historian whose books read like thrillers. His latest is Colditz : Prisoners of the Castle , an account of the POW prison for those allied servicemen most troublesome for the Nazis. If you think you know the story, though, there is more to it than meets the eye.

We also go on to talk about his other books, which deal with the KGB agent Oleg Gordievsky, the spy who changed history and Kim Philby, the Cambridge spy and traitor.

Ben Macintyre Links

Colditz : Prisoners of the Castle

The Spy and the Traitor

A Spy Among Friends

Operation Mincemeat

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Aspects of History Links

Historical Heroes: John le Carré - Aspects of History

The Special Relationship - Aspects of History

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This week I'm joined by Tudor historian and novelist Steven Veerapen. We talk about his novels, and the Greatest Hits of the Tudors. Well known names such as Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Elizabeth I & Mary Queen of Scots, but also lesser known names such as Anthony Blanke and Kit Marlowe.

Steven Veerapen Links

Of Blood Descended

The Queen's Jewel

Black Tudors

Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall Trilogy

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, by Paul Delaroche

Aspects of History Links

The Courtly Code of the Tudors

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Robert Harris, the bestselling novelist and author of novels such as The Ghost, Munich and V2, joins me to chat about his latest, Act of Oblivion.

We're in 1660, and Charles II has ascended to the throne. Two of his father's killers, Puritans Whalley & Goffe, are pursued in an act of vengeance. The story goes from London, to mainland Europe to the as yet largely undiscovered America.

It's the Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of the 17th century.

Robert Harris Links

Act of Oblivion

Thomas Carlyle on Cromwell

Aspects of History Links

The Colourful Court of Oliver Cromwell - Aspects of History

The Bearer Party - Aspects of History

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This week's pod discusses the horrific events in Smyrna, Asia Minor, in 1922 - modern day Izmir in Turkey. On the centenary, Giles Milton and I discuss the horrific events that killed tens of thousands of Levantines living peacefully in the city, and caused a humanitarian disaster. If you don't know about this, you should. Giles is a friend of the show, and author of Paradise Lost, all about the tragedy.

After that, I chat briefly with Paul Lay, author of Providence Lost (you see what they're doing here?) about his Buckingham History Festival, which features many friends of the show and is on soon.

Giles Milton Links

Paradise Lost

Giles' Sky Documentary (for Greek speakers)

Paul Lay Links

Buckingham History Festival

Providence Lost

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On this bonus episode of the podcast, I chat with Dr Tessa Dunlop - royal historian and commentator, all about the Queen, her husband, and her son. We also chat about the media coverage, and what newspaper does King Charles read?

Tessa has been very kind in giving me her time, in between appearing on TV and Radio. If you want to explore more with Tessa, you'll find her links below:

Dr Tessa Dunlop Links

Latest book, Army Girls

Signed copies of Army Girls

Previous titles: The Century Girls, The Bletchley Girls

Tessa on BBC's Newscast

Tessa on BBC Radio: A Military Monarch

Aspects of History Links

God Save the King - Aspects of History by Robert Lyman

The Queen & the Crown - Aspects of History by Matthew Dennison

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The Queen is dead. I pay a personal tribute to her, involving a few Webb-Carter family faux-pas. In a soon to be released podcast, Royal Historian Tessa Dunlop will be joining me, but until then you can enjoy two articles on the Queen from our website below:

Aspects of History Links

God Save the King - Aspects of History by Robert Lyman

The Queen & the Crown - Aspects of History by Matthew Dennison

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If there is one man who can unite British monarchists and Irish nationalists, it is Oliver Cromwell, and so today I’m talking about this huge figure with the historian and novelist Miranda Malins, author of The Rebel Daughter, and The Puritan Princess, which involve Oliver’s daughters Bridget and Frances. We talk about how important women were in Cromwell’s life, and then we go on to talk about the man himself. His rise during the Civil War, His involvement in the trial and execution of Charles I, and his behaviour in Scotland, and most infamously Ireland. Many of you may already have a view of Oliver Cromwell, but Miranda makes the case that we need to step back and look at Cromwell dispassionately. History is nuance!

Miranda Malins Links

The Rebel Daughter

The Puritan Princess

Miranda on Twitter

Aspects of History Links

The Trial of Charles I - Aspects of History

Charles II: A Thoroughly Modern Monarch - Aspects of History

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