History Book Club

By Oliver Webb-CarterNews Arts Books Politics History

History Book Club episodes

August 27, 2022 Thomas Kendrick, the Spymaster who saved MI6 with Helen Fry
This week's episode is a chat with espionage author Helen Fry, about her new paperback Spymaster, the story of Thomas Kendrick. It's an extraordinary story of one man’s efforts against the Gestapo, and his incredible achievement in saving thousands from the holocaust.
He was also station chief of MI6 in Austria, and as we’ll hear, came across two of the great British double agents of the last century, Kim Philby and George Blake. Not only that, but he was also involved in the rather murky episode when Rudolf Hess, then Hitler’s Deputy, flew to Scotland, apparently on his own, in an attempt to make peace overtures with the British government.
Helen Fry Links
Spymaster: The Man Who Saved MI6
Vienna's Third Man Museum
Helen on Twitter
Aspects of History Links
Agatha Christie's Greatest Mystery - Aspects of History
Five Questions on War - Aspects of History
Ollie on Twitter

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55 min
August 20, 2022 Andrew Roberts on the Cliveden Literary Festival
Holiday Episode
Andrew Roberts joins me to chat about his creation, the Cliveden Literary Festival. This is the foremost literary event of the year, and is on over the weekend of the 15th & 16th October. The festival involves three wonderful attractions for AoH listeners, history, writers and books.
We chat about authors that will appear, talks at prior festivals, and Andrew's favourite discussion so far.
This chat took place before the horrific attack in upstate New York, and my thoughts are with Sir Salman and his family.
Cliveden Links
Festival Site
The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie
A Life in History: Antonia Fraser and Andrew Roberts
Andrew Roberts in conversation with Gen. David Patraeus
Women in History. with Saul David, Natalie Livingstone, Dan Jones & Hallie Rubenhold
Rise & Kill: Ronen Bergman & Gordon Carera
Aspects of History Links
Margaret MacMillan asks, and answers, 5 questions on War for AoH.
Historical Heroes: John le Carré - Aspects of History

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21 min
August 13, 2022 The Partition of India with Barney White Spunner
15th August 1947 saw Partition, independence of India and the creation of Pakistan. The author of Partition, Barney White-Spunner, joined me to chat about the terrible events that led to approx. 1 million deaths and 15 million refugees.
We talk about the key players: Nehru, Jinnah, Gandhi, Patel, Mountbatten and Auchinleck, key moments and the horrific religiously motivated attacks that took place in August and September of that year.
Barney White Spunner Links
Partition: The story of Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan in 1947
Barney is on Channel 4 on the 7th and 14th August. You can catch up here.
Aspects of History Links
Article on India's victory over Japan in WW2: India's Victory - Aspects of History
Me on Twitter

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1 hr 2 min
August 06, 2022 Mark Ellis on Crime in WW2 London, & My Top 10 Historical Movies
This week's pod features Mark Ellis, bestselling crime novelist and creator of DCI Merlin. We chat about the reality of London life, when not all its population joined together against the common foe. His latest novel, Dead in the Water, features American criminals, Nazis and stolen art.
In the second part of the pod, I give my top 10 historical films. This list is mine, and so a little bit different to the usual lists you'll see. You'll find links to both sections below.
Mark Ellis Links
The latest DCI Frank Merlin: Dead in the Water
Revolt in Cornwall, by Kate Werran - Aspects of History
Mark on Twitter
John Christie, serial killer
Walter H. Thompson
Aspects of History Top 10 Historical Films (Spoilers!)
My top 10 Historical Movies:
10 - Alexander
9 - La Reine Margot
Reel History
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
Reel History

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46 min
July 30, 2022 Elizabethan Secret Agents, Fédon's Rebellion and Operation Condor with Timothy Ashby
My chat this week is with Timothy Ashby, historian, novelist and author of Elizabethan Secret Agent: The Untold Story of William Ashby. Ashby was a spy working for Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster for Queen Elizabeth I. Stationed in Edinburgh, he ran a number of operations to further the Queen's cause against the Spanish.
We also chat about the subject of his novel, Ranger, Fédon's Rebellion in 1795, a slave rebellion on the island of Grenada against the British.
Finally we talk about Operation Condor and the American efforts against regimes and democracies in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Timothy Ashby Links
Elizabethan Secret Agent
Ranger
Fédon's rebellion
Sir John Moore
Operation Condor
Salvador - Oliver Stone Movie
Missing - Jack Lemmon Movie set in Chile
The US invasion of Grenada
Heartbreak Ridge - Clint Eastwood Movie
Aspects of History Links
Summer Holiday Reading Recommendations
@olliewcq

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57 min
July 23, 2022 Operation Pedestal, the mission to relieve Malta during WW2 with Max Hastings & Saul David
Max Hastings chats to friend of the show Saul David about the operation to relieve Malta in August 1942. The Axis powers had the island at their isolated and it was close to starvation. Churchill saw this as an opportunity for a heroic victory, in the mould of Dunkirk, and so ordered the Royal Navy to set sail from Gibraltar to relieve the island.
Max discusses the heroism, and actions that were less heroic, in this fascinating discussion with veteran historian Saul David.
Max Hastings Links
Operation Pedestal
In Which We Serve - David Lean Movie
Greyhound - Tom Hanks Movie
Saul David Links
SBS: Silent Warriors
Aspects of History Links
Homepage
Recommended Article: Hitler's Greatest Mistake - Aspects of History

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56 min
July 16, 2022 Free Speech in Comedy, the Soviet Union, and the West today with Konstantin Kisin
Konstantin Kisin, comedian, podcaster, writer and author of An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West, joins me to discuss his debut book. Konstantin was born in the Soviet Union, and both he and his family are well aware of what life was like outside the West. We discuss comedy today, how it's under threat, even from the police. We also go on to talk about his family's suffering at the hands of the Soviet system.
Where are we now as a society? We may think we're free, but are we really when we see countless examples of people who lose their jobs and reputations needlessly. Konstantin is one person who has seen life in East and West, and he knows which he prefers.
Konstantin Kisin Links
An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West
Triggernometry
Tom Holland on the Great Awokening
Roger Moorhouse on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Alistair Williams Brexit joke
Aspects of History Links
Website
Me on the Twitter

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55 min
July 09, 2022 Espionage during the Second World War with Alex Gerlis
Alex Gerlis joins me to discuss spying during the war, and, more importantly (!) football of the period. Alex supports Grimsby Town, and I support Southampton, but which team would the Nazis have taken an interest in? We also discuss Frank Foley, the man who saved thousands of Jews, and Klaus Barbie, the Nazi murderer based in France. Finally, Alex chats about his influences, and the man he has been compared to, John Le Carré
Alex Gerlis Links
Agent in Berlin
Agent in Peril
Alex Gerlis
Alan Furst novels
Klaus Barbie
Alex on Twitter
Aspects of History Links
Our Website
Me on Twitter

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1 hr 1 min
July 02, 2022 The English Civil War with Mark Turnbull
This week's pod is on the brutal English Civil War, or War of the Three Kingdoms. Historian and novelist Mark Turnbull joins me to discuss. Mark is the author of The Rebellion Series, a trilogy of novels set during the Civil War, We chat Charles I, Henrietta Maria, Prince Rupert, Cromwell and the Earl of Essex, as well as Edgehill and Naseby. Was Charles I really a tyrant? Were the Levellers the Corbynistas of their day? Am I a Roundhead or Cavalier?
Mark Turnbull Links
Mark's Trilogy of Novels: The Rebellion Series, the latest of which is The King's Cavalier.
Mark's podcast, CavalierCast, where you'll find more episodes with star guests discussing the Civil War.
Mark on Twitter
Cromwell, starring Alec Guiness and Richard Harris.
Aspects of History Links
Before the Civil War, by Leanda de Lisle - Aspects of History
Jonestown: Living through History - Aspects of History
Ollie on Twitter

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1 hr 4 min
June 25, 2022 Gretchen Friemann on the Irish Revolution and Anglo-Irish Treaty
"The Freedom to Achieve Freedom". Michael CollinsThis week's episode is with journalist and author Gretchen Friemann discussing the Irish Revloution. We discuss the whole shebang, from the Act of Union in 1801, through the Home Rule crisis, Curragh Mutiny, Easter Rising, War of Independence, the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Irish Civil War. Gretchen is the author of The Treaty.Gretchen Friemann LinksGretchen's Book: The Treaty: The Gripping Story of the Negotiations that brought about Irish Independence and led to the Civil WarPodcast series: The Irish Revolution Podcast on History Hub.IETwitter: @G_FriemannAspects of History LinksThe Assassination of Sir Henry WilsonOllie on Twitter: @olliewcqAspects of History Website
1 hr 8 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.