The War of 1812: a memorable event in American history when the might of the British Empire was held at bay. But a fascinating part of the tale was the imprisonment of American POWs in Dartmoor Prison. I chat with Nicholas Guyatt, author of The Hated Cage: An American Tragedy in Britain’s Most Terrifying Prison and in Part One, he sets the scene of the war, describe the life of Privateers, and the prisoners of Dartmoor. And yes, The Count of Monte Cristo was not published until 1844! If you haven't read it, do! Nicholas Guyatt Links The Hated Cage Aspects of History Links Rewriting the Second World War, by Sean McMeekin Interview with Thomas Levenson on the South Sea Bubble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is a chat with bestselling historical fiction author Mandy Robothom, about her new novel The Resistance Girl, which is out 31st March. We discuss the themes of the story, including Nazis with unpleasant aromas, the reprisals against innocent civilians, and the heroism of the resistors to the Nazi jackboot. Mandy Robotham Links The Resistance Girl Movie Recommendation: The King's Choice Aspects of History Voucher Code for listeners: HISTORY50% Max Hastings interview on Operation Pedestal Espionage in Berlin during the Cold War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Ides of March having passed, we go on to talk about other political assassinations, including Abraham Lincoln, RFK, Jo Cox and Margaret Thatcher, Should we simply dismiss these murders as the actions of madmen? And what about our language? Have a look at this video, a Drilling Music Video which makes you think. Peter Stothard Links The Last Assassin: The Hunt for the Killers of Julius Caesar 30 Days: A Month at the Heart of Blair's War Aspects of History Links Voucher Code: HISTORY50% The Man Who Started the Second World War Alice of Antioch: Rebel Princess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ides of March is on the 15th March, the anniversary of Caesar's assassination. Peter Stothard is the author of The Last Assassin: The Hunt for the Killers of Julius Caesar. It's a brilliant account of the assassination, and the aftermath, featuring Mark Antony, Brutus, Cassius, Octavian and one Cassius Parmensis. In addition to this, we chat about what it can teach us with Putin, and whether assassination is really what we want. Consequences... Peter Stothard Links The Last Assassin Peter's Author Platform Aspects of History Links The White Ship article by Charles Spencer Our Book Reviews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the recent anniversary of Washington's birth, in the second part we go on to discuss Washington the politician. His early days in Virginia, his ascendancy to Commander in Chief, and his relationship with John Adams, and his administration with Hamilton and Jefferson. David O. Stewart Links: George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father David on Twitter Aspects of History Links: Me on Twitter Mary Frith: Roaring Girl - Aspects of History The Aspects of History Unpublished Historical Novel Award - Aspects of History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22nd February saw the anniversary of George Washington's birth, 290 years ago in 1732. I discuss with distinguished historian David O. Stewart his early career, familial relationships and the vexed issue of slavery. Washington owned slaves, and for the first part of his life was comfortable with it, but that view changed once he commanded African American troops during the War of Independence. David O. Stewart Links: George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father David on Twitter Aspects of History Links: Heart of Darkness: The Slave Ship Zong - Aspects of History Mason & Dixon, by Thomas Pynchon Homage to Bernard Cornwell - Aspects of History AoH Book Club: Leanda de Lisle on The White King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following on from Part 1, Keith Lowe, author of Inferno and Savage Continent, talks about the horrors of the allied bombing. We also talk about the impact of the war on the continent of Europe as civil war erupted across many countries. Keith Lowe Links Inferno: The Devastation of Hamburg, 1943 Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II Aspects of History Links Douglas Bader story Himmler's Mistress Unpublished Novel Competition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Historian of the Second World War Keith Lowe joins me to chat about the monuments to the conflict such as Berlin's memorial to the Holocaust, Soviet statues and Winston Churchill. This is Part One - next week we talk about the bombing of Hamburg in 1943 which killed nearly 40,000 civilians. Keith Lowe Links His book: Prisoners of History The Motherland Calls - enormous statue! Aspects of History Links Article on the Queen Unpublished Historical Novel Competition - £500 prize! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Ridpath is a bestselling novelist, and we continue our discussion on spies of the 1930s, and the moral dilemmas of the time. We go on to discuss Iceland and financial crime, both areas that Michael has written about. This podcast episode is great for anyone interested in history and fiction. Aspects of History links: The Trial of Charles I The AoH Unpublished Novel Competition 2022 Michael Ridpath links: Traitor's Gate - 1938 Munich, Chamberlain and the plot against Hitler Michael's website with the history behind his novels The Diplomat's Wife Writing in Ice - Non fiction on Iceland Free to Trade - Michael's first financial thriller On the Edge - Thriller involving sexual harassment 66* North - Financial Crash and Iceland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Ridpath is a bestselling novelist, and author of Traitor's Gate, a novel based around the plot against Hitler in 1938, and Neville Chamberlain's visit to Munich. Traitor's Gate is our February fiction book of the month. There is a new Netflix film out so we sat down to discuss the history behind it, and his writing. This is the first part; next week we discuss spying in the 1930s, Icelandic murder mysteries and financial crime. This podcast episode is great for anyone interested in history and fiction. Michael Ridpath links: Traitor's Gate Michael's website with the history behind his novel. Aspects of History links: British Heroes of the Holocaust The Trial of Charles I The AoH Unpublished Novel Competition 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saul David has written a new book on the SBS, and in our chat we go on to discuss his future projects, Time Commanders (highly recommended!), his new venture the Military History Club and other events in history he's written about, including the Charge of the Light Brigade, the Zulu War and World War One. Saul David links: SBS: Silent Warriors: https://amzn.to/3GwXnib The Military History Club: https://militaryhistoryclub.org/ Time Commanders: https://youtu.be/jkGVh102Tlw The Pacific MiniSeries Aspects of History Links: Homepage: https://aspectsofhistory.com/ The History Teacher YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryTeacherUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saul David has written a new book on the SBS. It's an authorised history, and he was granted unique access to the secretive unit. We discuss their inception, rivalry with the SAS, operations in Europe and the Far East, and other units inspired by them. Next week Saul discusses his new venture the Military History Club and other events in history he's written about, including the Charge of the Light Brigade, the Zulu War and World War One. Saul David links: SBS: Silent Warriors: https://amzn.to/3GwXnib https://militaryhistoryclub.org/ Aspects of History Links: Homepage: https://aspectsofhistory.com/ Medal of Honor Winner: Edward A Carter: Medal of Honor Winner - Aspects of History All Things Tudor Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Scargill was right!" The legendary presenter of Newsnight and University Challenge talks with me about how the Coal Mining Industry built Britain, the 1984/85 Miners Strike and Arthur Scargill, as well as discussing Napoleon and the two Central American countries of Belize and El Salvador. Jeremy Paxman links (discussed in the chat) Black Gold: The History of How Coal Made Britain: https://amzn.to/3qXy6qX Being Napoleon, the Netflix Documentary featuring the 'New Napoleon': https://www.netflix.com/title/80993489 Paxman's Interview with 'Napoleon': https://www.ft.com/content/e82dd1c2-1a22-11e5-a130-2e7db721f996 The debate between two biographers of Napoleon, Adam Zamoyski and Andrew Roberts, chaired by Paxman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxQ4TcTcPbI Aspects of History links: https://twitter.com/olliewcq https://aspectsofhistory.com https://youtube.com/aspectsofhistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two, Andrew Lownie chats with me about being warned off the story, unsolved murder, conspiracy and Guy Burgess. You can get hold of me on Twitter @olliewcq Andrew is @andrewlownie Andrew has written a new book, Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor You can donate to his Crowd Justice case here. In our discussion we talked about a few things you can find out more about: Len Deighton's SS-GB (also a good TV Series on Netflix) Any Human Heart, by William Boyd. John Banville: The Untouchable based on the Cambridge Spies. The movie with (young) Rupert Everett and Colin Firth: Another Country based on Guy Burgess The Alan Bennett play, An Englishman Abroad, based on Burgess' chance encounter in Moscow. Andrew's book is Stalin's Englishman Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining me on today's podcast is Andrew Lownie, the author of Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor. We talk Nazis, treachery and Andrew's campaign against the government for access to archives. You can get hold of Andrew's book here: https://amzn.to/3oITHTZ Andrew's crowdfunder can be found here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/andrew-lownies-case/ The Aspects of History Short Story Collection: Imperium - https://amzn.to/3oK63vd Iron & Gold - https://amzn.to/3IBPQAl The Aspects of History YouTube Channel. You can find Andrew on Twitter: @andrewlownie Me: @olliewcq Aspects of History: @aspectshistory https://aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all remember the summer of 2020 when, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, statues were brought down in the UK and the US. But is this the right way to ensure we continue to live in a liberal democracy? Should we think about what unites us, rather than divides us? I am joined by Peter Hughes, author of A History of Love & Hate in 21 Statues. You can get in touch on the Twitter @olliewcq @aspectshistory Email [email protected] or head to our website. You can buy his book here: https://amzn.to/3ry5tlX In the show we talked about: David Olusoga's Black & British The documentary made by Olusoga's production company, and presented by Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, Statue Wars Thornton Wilder's novel, The Bridge of San Luis Rey Andrew Gold's Podcast, which certainly has influenced me, is: On the Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's podcast, I'm talking to Anne O'Brien about the Wars of the Roses, and the family at the heart of her new book, The Royal Game. We also discuss Historical Fiction, as we both disagree strongly with some historians such as Niall Ferguson who dismiss the genre. Head over to our website to find more articles, short stories, book reviews and interviews, and all absolutely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 2nd part, we continue the discussion on the Indian Army, but we also talk about the Japanese forces and their disastrous leadership and finally conclude with Bill Slim. Was he the greatest British general ever? You can buy Robert's book here. Visit Aspects of History for articles, short stories, book reviews and interviews, and all absolutely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Lyman joins us today to talk about us new book, A War of Empires: Japan, India, Burma & Britain, 1941-45. We discuss the Japanese invasion of the Far East in 1942, the Chinese Army under Chiang Kai Shek / Jiang Jieshi and the Indian Army. Part 2 is out next week, when he discusses the victories over Japan, and Bill Slim. You can buy the book here: https://amzn.to/30neC5O Head over to Aspects of History where you'll find plenty of articles, interviews, short stories and book reviews, and they're all absolutely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of our editor's chat with Tessa Dunlop, the author of Army Girls. In this episode we learn more about what the ATS women had to put up with, and what their experience can tell us about class, sexism and race Army Girls is out now and you can buy it here. Head over to our website for more free articles, interviews, short stories and book reviews at Aspects of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Tessa Dunlop, the bestselling and acclaimed historian joined us to discuss her new book, Army Girls. Tessa is renowned for her impressive oral histories, and she spent one national crisis talking to veterans of WW2 as they recounted their experience of another national crisis. Part Two out next week. You can buy Tessa's Book, Army Girls here: https://amzn.to/3mkekox Do head over to Aspects of History where you'll find plenty of content freely available: articles, interviews, book reviews and short stories. Christmas is coming, why not gift an annual subscription for ONLY £9.99/$9.99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two, Professor Davies continues to tolerate our editor, when discussing George II in his place as a European monarch. We also discuss the King of Slavery, as Norman has recently named him. You can buy Norman's Book, George II here: https://amzn.to/3aZ60E7 Do head over to Aspects of History where you'll find plenty of content freely available: articles, interviews, book reviews and short stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We had the opportunity to discuss with legendary historian Norman Davies, his new book George II: Not Just a British Monarch. In the wake of last week's episode with Andrew Roberts on George III, what about the family that made him? Well, they're pretty dysfunctional. Norman was also helpful in ensuring I was using the correct language and not looking at the king through a British lens. Head over to Aspects of History to read more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's podcast Andrew Roberts discusses his new book, George III, the king who reigned during tumultuous episodes in world history, including the American War of Independence, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, and all the while dealing with a severe mental illness. I hope you enjoy our chat, and please do subscribe and give us a great rating if you do. Head over to our website to find more historical content, where we have articles, book reviews, interviews and short stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second part of our chat with Sarah Gristwood, we continue the discussion and talk about Henry and Anne of Cleves, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. Aspects of History is a magazine and website dedicated to history and historical fiction. You can visit our website where you'll find articles, interviews, short stories and book reviews. You can buy Sarah's book, The Tudors in Love: The Courtly Code Behind the Last Medieval Dynasty here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, our editor chats with Sarah Gristwood about the Tudors and Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and courtly love, the code practiced from the 12th century but which was most prominent with the Tudors. Aspects of History is a magazine and website dedicated to history and historical fiction. You can visit our website, where you'll find articles, interviews, short stories and book reviews. You can buy Sarah's book, Tudors in Love: The Courtly Code Behind the Last Medieval Dynasty, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices