The 15 Minute Book Club

Horatio Hornblower himself, Ioan Gruffudd and Jamie Bamber, the faithful Archie, join us with naval historian Kate Jamieson for a fun, lengthy look back at the series that set their careers fully in motion. We talk fireships, mullets, Robert Lindsay and David Warner, runaway pigs and prostitutes, learn why bicorn hats are rubbish, talk about a possible return of the series and decide who really di...

All you need is love. History goddess Bettany Hughes joins us to talk about Venus & Aphrodite, life under lockdown and her new TV series about The Odyssey.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:  https://www.historyhackpod.com/ Patreon members get extra time:...

For Anzac Day, Australian Historian Mat McLachlan joins us to discuss the First World, Gallipoli and Australian National Identity.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:  https://www.historyhackpod.com/ Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which yo...

Author Clare Mulley, Peter Johnston of the National Army Museum, Dave Hartley of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and First World War Historian Bethany Moore join fans of the show to debate The Most Iconic British Battle in History. Judges Holmes and O'Connell preside.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:&nbs...

Chris Skidmore, MP and former Minister for Universities, puts his history hat on to discuss his biography of Richard III. We take a look at the three phases of his life: Brother, Protector, King and examine the historiography that has led to him being one of Britain's most maligned monarchs.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy t...

Alina tries her best to get away from WW2 and fails, but the result is a deeply interesting look at music, dance and culture in Poland in the inter-war period with Juliette Bretan, who tells us how a generation of music was cut short by the Nazis.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/...

Based on his award winning book, William Sturkey joins us for a poignant and eloquent discussion on African-American history, the Jim Crow South and the Civil Rights Movement, all through the eyes of one Mississippi town.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:  h...

It's an exciting time to be an archaeologist working on the Vikings! Cat Jarman and Tom Horne join us to discuss how the field is being blown wide open and why, and what it's revealing about the most famous warlords in history, aside from that they liked raiding and plundering...  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:&nb...

Author, historian and Project Manager at the Australian National Maritime museum, Inger Sheil, joins HH for a lighthearted look at some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the sinking of RMS Titanic. Alina hosts, while Inger and Alex play Titanic Whack-a-mole, and then nominate Luke Daly-Groves to fend off any ensuing madness… Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  ht...

Historian, author, and former Secret Service agent Dan Kaszeta joins Alex and Alina prior to the release of his book Toxic: A History of Nerve Agents from Nazi Germany to Putin's Russia; to discuss the early development of chemical warfare.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/history...

Author Richard Van Emden and Director of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Victoria Wallace, join us to discuss how Britain approached, and still deals with her dead in the wake of the Great War. We learn about the burial of those lost, the commemoration of those who remained missing, why Richard has been adopting old people, and why he spent his university years in care homes.  Support...

Historian, author and broadcaster Tracy Borman joins us to talk about Thomas Cromwell and Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy. We talk about how true to life her portrayal of the man is, what's "wrong" with it, the Tudors in popular culture, Tracy's new television tribute to Anne Boleyn and we give characters like the Duke of Norfolk and Anne's dad what they've had coming to them...  Support us...

Lt. Col Cameron Macnish (Ret.) talks about his personal experiences during Op Granby, the British Army's deployment to the Middle East following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:  https://www.historyhackpod.com/ Patreon member...

Brace yourselves. 5Live's Aaron Paul, The Football History Boys and Suburban Gooner join Alex, Alina (sort of), the Not-So-Honourable Judge Holmes, the Floppy-haired Klopp lookalike that is that Jonny Dyer and a very enthusiastic Villa fan to play Historical Fantasy Football. In nigh on two hours, we make fun of Steve Bruce's head, talk about some of the best players that the world has ever seen,...

As part of a new History Hack Oral History Initiative, Peter Hart and Gary Bain join Alex and Alina to present a workshop on the subject using Great War sources. Somewhere, amongst an unnatural amount of references to Richard Van Emden and the general, utter chaos that follows Pete like one of Gary's dog's farts, we talk about how to get the best out of an interview subject, how to analyse sources...

Alina talks about the first mass transport to the infamous concentration camp in June 1940, and why it's important not to forget all groups persecuted by the Nazi's, and not to make assumptions about the people who lived nearby.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:&...

Historian and journalist Michael Schuman joins Alex and Alina. Based on his new book Superpower, Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World, he picks out significant aspects in which China has influenced world history, looks at some key figures, talks about the future of Chinese relations with the west, and tells the girls what lockdown life is like in Beijing. Support us:  https://www.pat...

Historian, author and journalist Clare Mulley joins us to talk about female SOE agents and in particular, the outstanding Krystyna Skarbek, AKA Christine Granville. Find out just what a woman had to go to as a secret agent, and why Clare would make an absolutely rubbish spy herself... Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:&nbs...

Catharine Edwards discusses women of power in Ancient Rome. From family betrayal, scheming and back-stabbing to people getting beaten over the head with oars; it's not for those of a delicate disposition.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:  https://www.histor...

Publisher and Historian Iain MacGregor joins Alex and Alina to discuss his book,  Checkpoint Charlie,  the Berlin Wall and the results of his research tying together witnesses to every stage of its conception and existence. Find out how the people of Berlin lived in its shadow and why Lockdown workouts are not for the faint hearted.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/history...

Major Sharpe himself, Sean Bean and Jason Salkey, Rifleman Harris, join Alex and Alina for Sharpe's Reunion . We discuss the highs and lows of filming, whilst the chaps reveal a unique insight into making the much loved series. Enjoy tales of toy soldiers, looting the set, lockdown in the Crimea and character sketches of fellow cast members including the late, much loved, Pete Postlethwaite; whils...

TV super-historian Dan joins Alex and Alina to talk everything from covid-19 to climate change. Find out what he loves about his own research speciality, why History Hit is the answer to the lockdown blues, what book he'd love to write and why the Holland brothers make him look silly at cricket.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack B...

It's back down to The Mary Rose for another virtual pub debate. This week Alex and Alina are joined by Lindsay Powell, Emma Sothon and Tony Keen, with enthusiasts, to argue their case for the greatest warlord of the ancient world. Posted with apologies to all fifteen year old boys, marketing managers and Sun Tzu. Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/h...

Queen of intrigue and 16th century skulduggery, Catherine Fletcher, joins Alex and Alina to discuss her new book and rewriting the renaissance. Get ready for war, famine, disease, frightening innovations as well as ninja turtles and plans for a post-coved-19 road trip.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https:/...

Historian and academic Włodzimierz Borodziej joins Alex and Alina for a discussion on the tragic, heroic events of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.  Support us:  https://www.patreon.com/historyhack Tips:  https://ko-fi.com/historyhack Buy the books:  https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/historyhack Merch:  https://www.historyhackpod.com/ Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes...