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PODCAST

History Book Club

Oliver Webb-Carter

Welcome to the History Book Club - the club for all lovers of history, presented by Oliver Webb-Carter, formerly of Aspects of History. Oliver interviews authors of the best historical writing, to draw out the stories that you"ll be interested in. Every month will also feature the History Film Club, as historian Roger Moorhouse and director Tim Hewitt join to discuss a historical movie. Get in touch if you want a particular area of history to be covered, because at the History Book Club, members

history books

All Episodes

44:42

17. The JFK Assassination with Martin Fitzgerald

History Book Club ·

2026/04/26

On 22 November 1963 at 1230 in the afternoon, shots fired out a President Kennedy’s motorcade in downtown Dallas, Texas. Now, we all know it was definitely Lee Harvey Oswald from the Book Depository with a rifle and a magic bullet but, what about the witnesses? There were a collection of intriguing and disparate characters in Dealey Plaza that day, and I’m speaking with the man who has written about them.Martin Fitzgerald is a long time expert on the assassination, and he’s written a book about

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55:18

16. Britannia Ruled the Waves with Andrew Lambert

History Book Club ·

2026/04/19

Have you been hearing about the shortcomings of the British military? Were you following the painful and depressing journey of seemingly the only warship in the Royal Navy, HMS Dragon? Well today I have a conversation with a naval historian and military strategist, Andrew Lambert, who has written No More Napoleons, a book on the 19th century when Britain neutralised European threats. We discuss the figures such as Wellington and Palmerston who executed a well thought out and realistic national

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50:47

15. The Cambridge Spy Ring with Antonia Senior

History Book Club ·

2026/04/12

The Cambridge Spy Ring has cast a shadow over the British establishment since the exposure of Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess in 1951. Along with Kim Philby, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross, they gave a vast amount of secrets to the Soviets, particularly during the Second World War when Stalin had allied with Hitler until 1941.Antonia Senior, author of a new book on the Cambridge 5, Stalin’s Apostles, joins to discuss their treachery, who they really harmed, and whether there is any romantic

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46:19

13. Nuclear Weapons with David Holloway

History Book Club ·

2026/03/29

We are now in an age of nuclear uncertainty, as wars have broken out around the globe and great powers realign. Britain is apparently a nuclear power but relies on the United States for its deterrant, and should the worst happened, would the Prime Minister really authorise a launch of the trident missiles?And what about the number of nukes? There are over 10,000 in the world today, but should there be? Joining today is David Holloway, author of Nuclear Weapons: An International History, as we

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38:25

11. Rasputin & Russia with Antony Beevor

History Book Club ·

2026/03/16

The great historian Antony Beevor joins today to discuss his new book, Rasputin, so we talk the mad monk, Russia then and now and Putin’s grip on history.Antony Beevor Links Rasputin And the Downfall of the Romanovs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠History Book Club Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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49:59

9. The Troubles in South Armagh with Toby Harnden

History Book Club ·

2026/03/02

The Troubles may be over, but the legacy lives on, as ongoing legal cases revive past incidents, but one area that has continued to capture the imagination of those interested in this period of British and Irish history is Bandit Country. That is South Armagh and the IRA’s relatively successful campaign against the British Army.Toby Harnden joins today as we talk about his book, published in 1999 but republished recently and the seminal account of the South Armagh Brigade of the IRA throughout the

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70:09

5. History Film Club: Saving Private Ryan (1998)

History Book Club ·

2026/02/02

This is the first movie to appear on the History Book Club pod. It's perhaps the most influential film to depict combat in the last thirty years. Steven Spielberg's epic captures the pathos of warfare.In this episode we discuss Saving Private Ryan Links Bixby Letter ⁠James Holland on Saving Private Ryan⁠ Our Awards Best Performance Most Egregious Overracting Biggest Plot Flaw Historical Inaccuracy What if Tarantino Made It? Who won the film? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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54:13

2. Terrorism in the '70s with Jason Burke

History Book Club ·

2026/01/12

After last week’s episode on the Iranian Revolution, I wanted to stay with the 1970s, and so Jason Burke joins me to discuss terrorism during the period, and specifically the Red Army Faction and Palestinian paramilitaries who would cooperate throughout the decade. This is an era when air travel was luxurious, booze sodden and fun – not like now sadly. Another element of flying back then was the very real risk that a couple of hairy Baader Meinhof gang members would hijack your plane, having waltzed

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30:53

Peak Human with Johan Norberg

History Book Club ·

2025/11/15

Is the West’s dominant golden age at an end? What can thepast 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

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49:42

Witchcraft with Steven Veerapen

History Book Club ·

2025/10/17

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

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40:08

Body Snatching with History Rage

History Book Club ·

2025/10/14

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

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50:48

The U-Boat War with Roger Moorhouse

History Book Club ·

2025/10/10

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

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41:47

Operation Pimento with Adam Hart

History Book Club ·

2025/10/03

On the night of 14th August 1943, a Halifax bomber approached the Savoie region of SE France. Coming under fire from the ground, the aircraft was hit and only one airman survived, Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths. Now alone and in German occupied territory, he began the perilous journey to the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Joining me is Adam Hart, Frank’s great grandson as he followed in his footsteps to tell the remarkable story.Announcement: This Thursday, 9th October, I’ll be

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51:50

Film Club: We Dive At Dawn (1943)

History Book Club ·

2025/09/30

Welcome to our four part special on submarine movies for the Film Club – last week began with Crimson Tide, today it’s the British 1943 classic We Dive at Dawn, and towards the end of October we have, appropriately, the Hunt for Red October before culminating with Das Boot. All in honour of Roger Moorhouse’s new book Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U Boat War, so sit back and listen to Roger, director Tim Hewitt as we discuss We Dive at Dawn. Links Wolfpack IWM Live Tring Ollie on X Tim on X Roger

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52:33

Cromwell, Rupert & The Women they Loved with Miranda...

History Book Club ·

2025/09/26

Do you think you know Oliver Cromwell and Prince Rupert of the Rhine? I’ve discussed both figures on this podcast, but I don’t think I’ve delved into their wives, daughters, mothers or consorts who all give a more nuanced and view of these two major players of 17tg century Britain and Ireland.Miranda Malins, author of a forthcoming history of the Cromwell dynasty, and Mark Turnbull, author of Prince Rupert of the Rhine join to discuss the women of these two men who fought each other during the

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57:39

Film Club: Crimson Tide (1995)

History Book Club ·

2025/09/23

Latest film club is to celebrate the publication of Roger Moorhouse's latest book, Wolfpack, and it's the Tony Scott classic starring Denzel Washington & Gene Hackman. Links Wolfpack⁠ 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: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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51:51

The Wars of the Roses Part Five: The Princes in the...

History Book Club ·

2025/08/22

In August of 1483 a sighting was reported of two young boys playing in the grounds of the Tower of London. Rumours spread that these were the two princes, Edward V and his younger brother Richard Duke of York. It was the last time they were seen again, and ever since, speculation has been rife that their uncle, Richard III had them killed, or, and this is perhaps less likely, they managed to escape abroad.So began the reign of Richard III as Derek Birks, author of the Guide to the Wars of the

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35:00

The Wars of the Roses Part Four: The Fall of the...

History Book Club ·

2025/08/19

Welcome to episode 4 of this 6 part special on the Wars of the Roses. Today’s episode sees Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker, make plans which soon fall apart. Joining me are two historians, Derek Birks, the author of the Guide to the Wars of the Roses, and David Pilling, author of Kingbreaker. You’ll get two episodes per week, and so hopefully will emerge from August with a superior knowledge of a conflict that was an early civil war, and which formed England for the next few

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49:35

Ukraine's Foreign Legion with Colin Freeman

History Book Club ·

2025/07/25

On 27th February 2022, three days after the Russians invaded Ukraine, President Zelensky sent out the call for volunteers from abroad to join the Ukrainians in resisting Putin’s so called special military operation. Over 20,000 expressed interest, but for those that made it out onto the front lines, combat proved far more difficult, and less romantic, than it had first appeared.Joining today is Colin Freeman, author of The Mad and the Brave, the thrilling account of life in the Foreign Legion for

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47:00

Nelson's Pathfinders with Michael Barritt

History Book Club ·

2025/07/18

In 1795 the Admiralty established the Royal Navy’s Hydrography office, which became the world leader in charting the waters of the globe, as ships of the line sailed the oceans, pursuing their traditional enemy, the French. Treacherous waters were navigated with a skill that is quite breathtaking, and laid the groundwork, along with Trafalgar, for a century of domination of the waves.Joining today is historian and Royal Navy veteran Michael Barritt, author of Nelson’s Pathfinders, himself a

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233 results

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