History Extra podcast

As we approach the 70th anniversary of D-Day, military historian James Holland challenges some popular assumptions about the 1944 Normandy campaign and recounts his experiences of meeting veterans. Meanwhile, historian and author Sarah Gristwood pays a…

Jerry Toner discusses the lives of slaves in Ancient Rome, while Tim Butcher explores the life of Gavrilo Princip, killer of Franz Ferdinand See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, Matthew Parker explores one of the Allies’ toughest challenges in the Second World War. Meanwhile we speak to Professor Orlando Figes, author of a new book and website about Russia’s revol…

This week we explore the life and work of two intellectual giants of the 19th century. First up, Robert Mayhew discusses the Georgian economist Thomas Malthus whose theories on population growth have remained controversial ever since. After that we…

Ruth Levitt describes how London’s cemeteries couldn’t cope with the rising number of dead in the 19th century and reveals the solutions the Victorians devised for this problem. Meanwhile, we speak to Martin Sixsmith, presenter of the Radio 4 s…

We speak to Ian Morris, author of War: What is it Good For?, about why he believes conflict has sometimes been a force for good. Plus, railway historian Di Drummond pays a visit to Manchester Liverpool Road Station where the age of passenger rail trave…

This week’s podcast focuses on African history. First up, Miranda Kaufmann visits a replica of Francis Drake’s Golden Hind and there explains how Africans played an important role in the Tudor explorer’s adventures in the 16th century. Mean…

Scott Anderson, the latest biographer of TE Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) describes his subject’s eventful life and considers whether Lawrence’s vision might have created a more stable Middle East. Meanwhile, we’re joined by…

Dominic Sandbrook charts the highs and lows of 1970s Britain in a lecture delivered at our History Weekend festival See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Charlotte Hodgman explores the Staffordshire Hoard, while Daniel Hannan argues that English-speaking people created many of our modern liberties See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.