Versus History Podcast

Inspired by the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Patrick was fascinated by the stories he saw on the news. In particular, he was stuck by the vulnerability of the young women travelling alone and the dangers that they might face when they arrive at their next destination. Patrick saw unique parallels between the war today and France of the Fourth Republic after WW2, a country haunted by the impact of the European War in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Alongside WW2 Lithuania, it is early post-war France that The Exile is set. Drawing on his own personal experiences, what he found out about early post war France, and his love for Lithuania which he has visited several times over the past 20 years as he has been happily married to a Lithuanian for that time - The Exile is Patrick’s take on what happens when the boundaries between state and organised crime breaks down and the threat that permeates around Europe - just as it does today. 

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In this episode of the Versus History Podcast, the editors discuss the UK's forthcoming General Election, announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for 4 July 2024. Sunak quickly announced that 'National Service' will be introduced for young people if the Conservative Party is returned to government by the British public. The last time this was part of British policy was 1948-1960. We discuss all ...

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In 1821 Afro-Native William Freeman found himself convicted of horse theft he vehemently denied and sentenced to five years of hard labor in Auburn State Prison (New York) — without pay and in total silence. It was the first prison built for solitary confinement, and it was in this oppressive environment that Freeman dared to challenge the system. Driven to extremes, he murdered a white family, explaining that "someone must pay." Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit, from distinguished Harvard Professor Robin Bernstein, unveils this gripping saga of defiance and its lasting effects on our penal system.

The forthcoming release of Bernstein's newest book from The University of Chicago Press in May 2024 is highly anticipated, on the heels of her previous book, which received numerous awards, including the Lois P. Rudnick Book Prize from the New England American Studies Association. As Chair of Harvard's doctoral Program in American Studies, Bernstein brings to bear her expertise in U.S. racial formation from the nineteenth century to the present. Through meticulous research, she tells an explosive story about the tangled web of oppression and racism that still underpins our society's institutions.

As civil rights icon Angela Davis aptly puts it, "Bernstein's compelling narrative provides insight not only into the institution of the prison in the United States but also into the lives of those whose newly experienced dreams of freedom were crushed by evolving intersections of punishment and racial capitalism. By disengaging the emergence of the prison from what has become its inevitable partner — 'rehabilitation'— Bernstein deftly reveals the deep connections between imprisonment, racism, and the development of the capitalist economy."

Bernstein follows Freeman's ensuing trial, examining how narratives intertwined race with criminality, deflecting attention from the exploitative practices of Auburn. These narratives not only permeated the trial but also became entrenched in culture throughout the US, perpetuating harmful notions such as the myth of inherent Black criminality and providing justification for racialized mass incarceration.

This timely and necessary story of Black resistance against the nexus of incarceration, racial capitalism, and slavery will further inspire the prison abolitionist movement. It's an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of our modern prison system from one of the most prominent experts on racism in America.

In this episode of the Versus History Podcast, the Editors tackle the subject of free trade, Brexit and the Teeside 'Free Port' initiative, making (sometimes errant!) comparisons and contrasts to the British acquisitions of yesteryear, including Singapore in 1819 and Hong Kong / Shanghai in 1842. 

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In this unique episode of the Versus History Podcast, we take something of a detour from the usual substantive history fest to indulge in some history teaching tales ...Co-Editior Elliott recounts tips, tales and home truths from over twenty years of teaching history worldwide. 

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In this episode of the Versus History Editors discuss a range of films that have flunked at the Box Office through time. Which films have flunked and why? From Heaven's Gate to Mario to Mr Nanny and many more besides... Find out in this episode!

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In this exciting episode, the Versus History team discuss the recent proposed smoking ban for UK citizens born after 2008 as well as the prohibition of alcohol in America in the early twentieth century and much, much more besides.

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In this episode of the Versus History Podcast, we discuss a serious miscarriage of justice which, between 1999 and 2015, saw over 900 subpostmasters prosecuted for theft, false accounting, and fraud for shortfalls at their branches when these shortfalls were in fact due to errors of the Post Office's Horizon accounting software.

The recent ITV drama has captured British imaginations' to such an extent that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to pass legislation to exonerate the innocent.

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In this episode of the Versus History Podcast, we were delighted to interview Halik Kochanski, the winner of the Wolfson History Prize for 2023.

Resistance: 'The Underground War in Europe, 1939-1945′

Across the whole of Nazi-ruled Europe the experience of occupation was sharply varied. Some countries – such as Denmark – were allowed to run themselves within tight limits. Others – such as France – were constrained not only by military occupation but by open collaboration. In a historical moment when Nazi victory seemed irreversible, the question ‘why resist?’ was therefore augmented by ‘who was the enemy?’.

Resistance is an extraordinarily powerful, humane and haunting account of how and why all across Nazi-occupied Europe some people decided to resist the Third Reich. This could range from open partisan warfare in the occupied Soviet Union to dangerous acts of insurrection in the Netherlands or Norway. Some of these resistance movements were entirely home-grown, others supported by the Allies.

Like no other book, Resistance shows the reader just how difficult such actions were. How could small bands of individuals undertake tasks which could lead not just to their own deaths but those of their families and their entire communities?

Filled with powerful and often little-known stories, Kochanski’s book is a fascinating examination of the convoluted challenges faced by those prepared to resist the Germans, ordinary people who carried out exceptional acts of defiance.

The Wolfson History Prize 2023 link is here.
The book can be purchased here.
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“Empathy in history is a noble but ultimately unobtainable endeavour.” How far do you agree with this statement?

This is the very question answered by one of the joint winners of the inaugural Versus History Essay Prize (#VHEssayPrize). In this episode of the Versus History Podcast, we enjoy an audio-long read from joint prize winner Anoushka Sood of St Albans High School For Girls. This is followed by analysis from the VH Editorial Team, who were blown away by the research, reflection and epistemological insight shown by Anoushka in her essay.

The Versus History Editors - Conal, Elliott and Patrick - would like to acknowledge the quite sublime support given to Anoushka and other students by the History Department at St Albans High School For Girls led by the Head of History. We also celebrate the support that families, parents, carers and friends give to students of history, such as Anoushka.

Bravo to Anoushka and all the other entrants to the Versus History Essay Prize 2023! Look out for the 2024 iteration!

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