Aspects of History

The editor of Aspects of History, Ollie Webb-Carter, interviews historians and authors on the past - from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, Ollie seeks to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, from current events and anniversaries to the Aspects of History Film Club.

History
Books
Politics
1
Body Snatching with History Rage
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.
36 min
2
The U-Boat War with Roger Moorhouse
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.
46 min
3
Operation Pimento with Adam Hart
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.
39 min
4
Film Club: We Dive At Dawn (1943)
48 min
5
Cromwell, Rupert & The Women they Loved with Mi...
Do you think you know Oliver Cromwell and Prince Rupert of the Rhine?
50 min
6
Film Club: Crimson Tide (1995)
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.
55 min
7
Tunisgrad with Saul David
On 17 November 1943 Allied troops began their campaign against the Germans and Italians in the Tunisian campaign, in the last effort to push the Axis out of North  Africa, and open the way to Sicily and Italy, and,  as you heard from the Winston Churchill quote at the top, meaning Germany would be surrounded in the last 18 months of the war.
47 min
8
Medieval Civil War: Henry III & Simon de Montfo...
On the 4th August 1265 Henry III’s army led by his son Edward, met rebels of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester at Evesham.
52 min
9
Film Club: Barry Lyndon (1975)
Latest Film Club is the Kubrick 1975 masterpiece, Barry Lyndon starring Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, Leonard Rossiter and Hardy Kruger.
56 min
10
Appointment in Paris with Jane Thynne
On the outskirts of North London, near Chipping Barnet and Enfield, stands a marvellous country house, Trent Park that belonged to the Sassoon family.
44 min
11
Operation Sea Lion with Alex Gerlis
In the summer of 1940, Britain was on its knees. The British Expeditionary Force had fled from mainland Europe in humiliation, and Nazi Germany eyed the South East of England greedily.
36 min
12
The Wars of the Roses Part Six: The Battle of B...
On 22 August 1485 Henry Tudor met Richard III at Bosworth Field. In a strange battle, Henry’s smaller force eventually overcame Richard’s army.
32 min
13
The Wars of the Roses Part Five: The Princes in...
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.
49 min
14
The Wars of the Roses Part Four: The Fall of th...
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.
32 min
15
The Wars of the Roses Part Three: Edward IV
Welcome to episode 3 of this 6 part special on the Wars of the Roses. Today Edward IV emerges as the great new hope for the Yorkist cause now that his father, Richard Duke of York is dead.
31 min
16
The Wars of the Roses Part Two: The Death of York
Welcome to episode 2 of this 6 part special on the Wars of the Roses as today we deal with the fall of Edward Duke of York.
37 min
17
The Wars of the Roses Part One: The Rise of York
Welcome to the first of 6 episodes on the Wars of the Roses. Over the next few weeks we’ll be starting with the Battle of St. Alban’s in 1455, all the way up to the Battle of Bosworth thirty years later in 1485 when Richard definitely said, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
35 min
18
Prince Rupert of the Rhine with Mark Turnbull
On Sunday 23 October 1642, at Edgehill during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Parliament and the Royalists met on the field of battle. In an inconclusive engagement, both sides left the field largely intact, but one man’s name would be known throughout England.
50 min
19
Ukraine's Foreign Legion with Colin Freeman
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.
47 min
20
Film Club: The Thin Red Line (1998)
This month’s film club is the Terrence Malick 1998 masterpiece The Thin Red Line starring Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jim Caviezel, John Cusack, John Travolta and Woody Harrelson, among many others.
69 min
21
Nelson's Pathfinders with Michael Barritt
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.
44 min
22
Iran's Grand Strategy with Vali Nasr
On 13 June of this year, one month ago, Israeli forces launched aerial and drone attacks on Iran thus beginning what is now called the Twelve Day War or the Iran-Israel War.
43 min
23
Summer Reads with The Gang
This week three writers join to talk summer reading recommendations from the world of history and historical fiction.
86 min
24
Hiroshima with Iain MacGregor
On 6 August 1945 the Enola Gay, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, approached Hiroshima and opened up its bomb doors. Once its payload dropped, the city was engulfed with blinding light and a huge explosion produced a giant mushroom cloud.
46 min
25
Horace with Peter Stothard
Horace was one of ancient Rome’s most celebrated lyric poets. He lived through the turbulent transition from Republic to Empire and became closely associated with Emperor Augustus’s regime.
46 min