History Book Club

The Battle of Thermopylae left one Spartan survivor, Aristodemus, and so he fought suicidally at Plataea a year later in 479BC, giving his life, but as you heard failing to impress his fellow Spartans. The commander of the Greek troops against the Persians that day was Pausanias, Spartan Regent and a quite fascinating figure who, according to Daniel Ogden his biographer, was responsible more than any other Greek for the preservation of Western Civilisation as we know it. He joins me to discuss Ancient Sparta, the influential king Cleomenes and Pausanias himself.

Daniel Ogden Links

Pausanias of Sparta

Regulus

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The beautiful Kristin Scott Thomas, and the brooding Ralph Fiennes across the deserts of North Africa. Yep the English Patient is this month’s film club as Roger, Tim and myself discuss the 1996 movie directed by Anthony Minghella based on the Michael Ondaatje book of the same name.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Awards

Best Performance

Most Egregious Overracting

Biggest Plot Flaw

Historical Inaccuracy

What if Tarantino Made It?

Who won the film?

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Harry Bucknall is a travel writer who loves Britain and Northern Ireland, and during a difficult period of both his and the country’s recent past, he decided to embark on his own particular Odyssey, walking from Scotland to England, to Northern Ireland to Wales and then to England again. He encountered a rich and distinct group of inhabitants to write a hugely entertaining book and he joined me recently to discuss A Road for All Seasons.

Harry Bucknall Links

A Road for All Seasons

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On the morning of 30 January 1933 Adolf Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany. There are many dates that can be used to identify the end of the Weimar Republic, but this is probably the most appropriate. The constitution that had held since 1919 was in mortal danger.

Weimar, the town which gave the Republic its name, by Hitler incidentally, is the title of a new book by Katja Hoyer, bestselling author of Blood & Iron and Beyond the Wall. We discuss the atmosphere best exemplified by the people of the pretty little town, but one that had a dark secret nearby.

Katja Hoyer Links

Weimar

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Today the bestselling author Damien Lewis joins to discuss Special Forces ops in the Second World War, including the SAS, the SBS and the little known Greek version, the Sacred Squadron.

Added to that we chat the latest news on Paddy Mayne, one of the originators of the SAS and then, as you heard at the top, we discuss the ongoing lawfare, as the British government seeks to pursue army veterans in the courts, for ops carried out during the Troubles. Damien gives his view.

Damien Lewis Links

SAS Great Escapes 5

Sacred Squadron on YT

Write to your MP

Damien Lewis Events

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