Aspects of History – Details, episodes & analysis

On the evening of 21st October 1805 Great Britain won perhaps her finest military victory, defeating the navies of France and Spain in one of the bloodiest naval battles at Trafalgar, not far from Gibraltar. In command was Admiral Horatio Nelson, who had tragically been shot by a cowardly French sharpshooter, though as his life ebbed away, he was consoled that victory was his. When the news reached England, the country was plunged into grief, despite the result. Joining me to discuss the great man is Dominic Sandbrook. He has written a fantastic new book, Nelson: Hero of the Seas, and is one half of a very well-known podcast. Coming up on Tuesday I have naval historian Michael Barritt talking Trafalgar on the anniversary. Episode Links Nelson: Hero of the Seas Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Check out Badlands Ranch: badlandsranch.com/AOH Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the 11th September 1683, at the great city of Vienna, the armies of the Ottoman Empire were preparing to storm the city, but their scouts to the west noticed a vast cavalry force approaching. The next day Christian horsemen (Poles, Lithuanians, Germans of the Holy Roman Empire and Cossacks)  swept down upon the troops of the Caliph and swept them away in one of the most stunning military victories of all time. But what lay at the heart of this clash between Christendom and the Caliphate, West vs. East, Christianity vs. Islam? Joining to discuss is historian of the Middle East Simon Mayall. We talk about the past’s influence on today’s fanatics, the conquests of Spain and the Levant by the Moors and the Crusaders and much much more. Episode Links The House of War: The Struggle between Christendom and the Caliphate Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Check out Badlands Ranch: badlandsranch.com/AOH Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By the 1960s Richard Burton was the highest paid movie star in the world. He was paid the equivalent today of $10million dollars per picture, but when one looks at his childhood, the mind boggles at his change in fortune. Born the 12th of 13 children, his family lived in poverty, and his chances of success seemed to have peaked when he worked in a haberdashery. But by the age of 18 he had won starring roles on stage and his life was set. Joining me today is historian and social media star Alice Loxton whose new book, 18, intriguingly features 18 significant historical figures at that formative age. Alice Loxton Links Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives Alice on Instagram Alice on X Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Check out Badlands Ranch: badlandsranch.com/AOH Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is historian and author Paula de Fougerolles, discussing the Dark Ages. As the Romans departed, Britain and Ireland underwent a hugely tumultuous period as Christianity developed, but also natural phenomena caused mayhem. Paula clears up the murky past, and describes life in the period, and talks about some of the prominent figures from a time when history merges into myth. Paula de Fougerolles Links The Chronicles of Iona: Exile Saint Columba & Aedan: To Dunadd, Citadel of Kings - Aspects of History Ollie Links Ollie on Twitter/X history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old friend of the show Steven Veerapen joins the pod to discuss Elizabeth I in two parts. First he discusses depictions of the greatest English monarch on screen, including performances from Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and Margot Robbie, and then Elizabeth's presentation of herself as monarch. Steven is a historian and author of a number of novels and history books. The Queen's Fire is his latest. Steven Veerapen Links Steven's Blog of Top 10 Depictions Steven on Twitter / X The Queen's Fire Ollie Links Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bonus episode features former cabinet minister Vince Cable as he chats with Ollie about the Coalition, the 2008 Crash and the Coalition's response to it, foreign policy including Russia and China, and of course, Brexit. Vince has written a new book with his wife Rachel Smith which is an interesting glimpse of life as a politician and as the spouse of a government minister. Vince Cable & Rachel Smith Links Partnership & Politics - Aspects of History Partnership and Politics in a Divided Decade Ollie Links Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode, our 100th, sees Roger Moorhouse join to talk about the Holocaust and the extraordinary efforts of Polish diplomats to get victims out using an passport scheme from their embassy in Switzerland. Roger is an old friend of the show and his latest book, The Forgers: The Forgotten Story of the Holocaust's Most Audacious Rescue Operation, is out now and is an amazing story so well worth settling down and listening. Roger Moorhouse Links The Forgers: The Forgotten Story of the Holocaust's Most Audacious Rescue Operation Roger on Twitter / X Article from Roger: Alfred Naujocks: The Man Who Started the Second World War - Aspects of History Ollie Links Email me: History@aspectsofhistory.com Ollie on Twitter / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode has two guests and friends of the show in Rob Lyman and the Major returning to chat all things Bill Slim - titan of the XIV Army and one of Britain's greatest generals. Rob and Gordon discuss with our editor whether Slim is ahead of Montgomery and Alexander, and then whether he can be considered alongside Henry V, Oliver Cromwell and the Duke of Marlborough and the Duke of Wellington. Do get in touch if you'd like us to cover Henry V, Cromwell, Marlborough and Wellington. Bill Slim Links Tales of Empire, by William Slim, Edited by Robert Lyman Courage and Other Broadcasts, by William Slim, Introduction by Robert Lyman Aspects of History Links Bill Slim: a Master of both War and Words - Aspects of History Ollie on Twitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's pod features historian and intelligence expert Michael Smith who has written about British and American spy agencies and how they've worked well, and not so well, since the Second World War. We talk the Russian spy Oleg Penkovsky, the Cambridge Spies, the impact of intelligence on the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Falklands and the Iranian Coup of 1953. Michael Smith Links The Real Special Relationship: The True Story of How the British and US Secret Services Work Together The Special Relationship - Aspects of History Michael on Twitter Aspects of History Links Ollie on Twitter Aspects of History home - Aspects of History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's film club, which has NO SPOILERS, is a review of Christopher Nolan's new masterpiece, Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jnr and Florence Pugh. J. Robert Oppenheimer: the most important man who ever lived? Both acclaimed Director Tim Hewitt and I saw the film on Monday at 70mm Lux Leicester Square with a sell-out audience, and we were impressed. Links - Books on Oppenheimer Short Read: Oppenheimer: A World Destroyed, by David Boyle Book on which the film is based: American Prometheus:The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin Cillian Murphy on BBC Radio 6 Storyville Documentary - The Trials of Oppenheimer Contact us Ollie on Twitter history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices