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This week on the podcast, historians Robert Lyman and Phil Craig move between modern Britain and the interwar years to ask a disturbingly familiar question: why do we keep repeating the same mistakes when it comes to military preparedness?   Drawing on Robert Lyman’s recent book Victory to Defeat (written with General Lord Dannatt), the discussion explores how Britain’s formidable military machine of 1918 was allowed to waste away, even as other powers - most notably Germany - absorbed and applied the lessons of British success. The failure to prepare for war, or to apply credible deterrence in the 1930s, would have grave consequences.   Are we witnessing a similar pattern today? And should we rethink the balance between being ‘good global citizens’ and exercising hard national power? Episode Links ⁠Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40 Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠online⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠ Robert Links Robert on ⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠ Robert on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ Phil Links Phil on ⁠Twitter /X⁠ Phil on ⁠⁠Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We think we know about gladiators, toned biceps on show during a deadly bout in the arena. But is that Hollywood depiction less interesting than the actual truth? We’d venture so… Joining Zeb Baker-Smith, Editor of Aspects of History, on the podcast is Harry Sidebottom, whose day-at-the-games account shines light on the life of a gladiator and the realities behind Rome’s most enduring spectacle in his book, Those Who Are About To Die. Episode Links Those Who Are About To Die: Gladiators and the Roman Mind Aspects of History Links AoH online AoH on ⁠Twitter /X⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on Twitter /X Zeb on ⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A round-up of the best 2025 Tudor books - Joining host Nathen Amin are guest contributors, and authors extraordinaire, Sarah Gristwood and Steve Veerapen. Sarah Gristwood Links: Website: https://sarahgristwood.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B00IVN1JM6 Steven Veerapen Links Website: https://www.stevenveerapen.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B07PBBLPRL Nathen Amin Links: Website: www.nathenamin.com Substack: https://nathenamin.substack.com/ Aspects of History Links: Website: www.aspectsofhistory.com Email: [email protected] ⁠⁠Aspects of History on Instagram⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When his queen Eleanor of Castile died in 1290, how did Edward I demonstrate his love for the woman 'whom in life we dearly cherished, and whom in death we cannot cease to love'. Joining Aspects of History today for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, history titan Alice Loxton adeptly explains how she followed, quite literally, in Edward's grief-stricken footsteps not just to commemorate his grief but to celebrate love. Alice Loxton Links: Website: https://aliceloxton.com/ Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen Nathen Amin Links: Website: www.nathenamin.com Substack: https://nathenamin.substack.com/ Aspects of History Links: Website: www.aspectsofhistory.com Email: [email protected] ⁠⁠Aspects of History on Instagram⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello and welcome to the Aspects of History 2025 books of the year podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IWM Live on Saturday 1st November, Ollie spoke with Tessa Dunlop in front of a live audience discussing how we memorialise war. Thanks to the Imperial War Museum Tessa Dunlop Links ⁠Lest We Forget: War and Peace in 100 British Monuments⁠ ⁠Alfred the Great - The Telegraph (£)⁠ Aspects of History Links ⁠Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99⁠ ⁠Ollie on X⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Latest film club is to celebrate the publication of Roger Moorhouse's latest book, ⁠Wolfpack⁠, and it's Das Boot, the Wolfgang Petersen masterpiece. Links ⁠Wolfpack⁠ ⁠Das Boot on Wikipedia⁠ ⁠Ollie on X⁠ ⁠Tim on X⁠ ⁠Roger on X⁠ ⁠Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the West’s dominant golden age at an end? What can the past tell us about the future? Joining today is Johan Norberg who poses these and many more questions in his fascinating book Peak Human. Episode Links ⁠Peak Human⁠ Ollie Links ⁠⁠Ollie on Twitter / X⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On 9th February 1981 a novel was published that would reinigerate historical fiction, begin a series that would sell millions of copies, and inspire a certain Shefflield born actor to take on a role that would lead him to Hollywood as a Bond villain and the star of Lord of the Rings. Sharpe’s Eagle was that novel, and Sean Bean the actor. There is a new Sharpe out, Sharpe's Storm, set in late 1813 during the British invasion of southwest France. Today I have the great pleasure of speaking with Bernard Cornwell in a wide-ranging chat which starts off with my mention of his publisher, Susan Watt who very sadly died recently. Episode Links Sharpe's Storm Ollie Links Email me: [email protected] Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the build up to World Cup 98 in France, Glenn Hoddle pondered the selection of England’s greatest and most skilful player. A mercurial genius capable of turning a game with one drop of the shoulder or defence splitting pass. His free kick ability was legendary. A scorer of great goals as well as a great goalscorer. I am of course talking about Matthew Le Tissier, and England went out on penalties, a skill Le God had perfected having scored 48 from 49. But we’re not here to talk about the Channel Islands’ greatest export, but instead the World Cup Finals that he sadly never graced, as Jonathan Wilson, football writer for the Guardian and author of The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup, joins to discuss his new book. Episode Links The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup Ollie Links Get in touch:: [email protected] Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On 27th September 1943, in German occupied Naples, an uprising began that lasted four days. By the 29th the Germans had lost the city and so made the decision to leave, heading north for safety as the victorious Neapolitans and Partisans celebrated in the streets. On 1st October the Allies arrived, and the city was secure. Or was it? Within months starvation descended on Naples, and with it disease, prostitution and misery. Joining today is Keith Lowe, author of⁠ Naples 1944⁠ as we delve a little bit deeper into this piece of Italian and WW2 history, including the notorious Camorra. I’ll be at the ⁠Imperial War Museum on Saturday 1st November⁠, so it would be great to see you there. Episode Links Links ⁠Naples 1944: War, Liberation and Chaos⁠ ⁠IWM Live⁠ Ollie Links Email me: ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠Ollie on Twitter / X⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Latest film club is to celebrate the publication of Roger Moorhouse's latest book, ⁠Wolfpack⁠, and it's great sub movie ⁠Hunt For Red October⁠, starring Sean Connery & Alec Baldwin. We talk crazy Ivans, safety measures on torpedoes and an egregious example of mansplaining. Links ⁠Wolfpack⁠ ⁠Hunt For Red October on Wikipedia⁠ ⁠Caterpillar Drive⁠ ⁠Ollie on X⁠ ⁠Tim on X⁠ ⁠Roger on X⁠ ⁠Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99⁠ ⁠Aspects of History on Instagram⁠ Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1562 the Witchcraft Act was passed in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Act stated that anyone who should "use, practise, or exercise any Witchcraft, Enchantment, Charm, or Sorcery, whereby any person shall happen to be killed or destroyed", was guilty of a felony without benefit of clergy, and was to be put to death. The Scottish Witchcraft Act followed a year later. Joining today is Steven Veerapen, author of⁠ Witches: A King’s Obsession⁠ as we explore the reign of James VI of Scotland and I of England and its attitude to so called witches. James wrote a book on witchcraft and oversaw a huge uptick in legal proceedings against women who made up 85% of those accused. Links ⁠Witches: A King's Obsession⁠ ⁠IWM Live⁠ Ollie Links Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries there was huge demand among medical practitioners for corpses on which to practices and perform. With the demand so came the suppliers in the form of body snatchers. These were highly motivated and well organised groups who solved the supply problem by taking the freshly buried dead and selling them to desperate surgeons. Joining today is Paul Bavill from the ⁠History Rage podcast⁠ as discusses the practice, the economic rewards and the quantities. Paul joins me as part of the ⁠Podcast Show Live preparations at the Imperial War Museum⁠ on Saturday 1st November. Do get your tickets and I’ll see you there. Links ⁠History Rage Podcast⁠ ⁠IWM Live⁠ Ollie Links Email me: ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In October 1939 U-47 approached Scapa Flow in silence, as its crew prepared to attack. Their target were British warships at port in the deepwater natural harbour. The U Boat’s tubes were filled with water, and three torpedoes were fired, heading for HMS Royal Oak. This mission, so early in the war, was a huge success for the Kriegsmarine and was commented on by Winston Churchill in the House of Commons. So began the U-Boat war that would strike fear into both Churchill and the Allied High Command. Joining today is Roger Moorhouse, great friend of the show and the author of ⁠Wolfpack: Hitler’s U Boat War⁠ as we discuss the death rate the submariners faced, the threats from above and what life was like underwater. Coming up on 1st November I’ll be hosting a live recording at the ⁠Imperial War Museum’s Live Podcast show⁠ Links ⁠Wolfpack: Inside Hitler's U-Boat War⁠ ⁠IWM Live⁠ ⁠Roger on X⁠ Ollie Links Email me: ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠Ollie on Twitter / X⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices