Versus History Podcasts

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Episode #118
We hope that you enjoy this interview with Katherine Green (@Kathgreenphoto) of Rendezvous Projects. She has been a key player in Newham Heritage Month 2021 and IN the 'Crate Digging: The Influence of De Underground Records' project. De Underground Records was both a record shop and studio based in Newham, East London which was pivotal in the development of British underground dance music and culture in the early to mid-1990s. The record shop was hugely influential and significant for a generation of local musicians and music lovers. 'Crate Digging' seeks to showcase and celebrate this rich and vibrant aspect of London's history. In this podcast, Kath outlines how and why they have given a platform to this iconic shop in such an innovative way.
Check out the Newham Heritage Month website: https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org/
Follow Newham Heritage Month: https://twitter.com/NewhamHeritage
Follow Rendezvous Project CIC: https://twitter.com/RendezvousCIC

Episode #117
This week on the Versus History Podcast, we welcome Historian Damien Lewis (@authordlewis) back to the show! His brand new book ‘SAS Great Escapes’ is published in May 2021 and we discussed the book in depth. The book tells the story of seven of the most dramatic and daring escapes of WWII executed by the world's most famous fighting force – the SAS. Ranging from the very first missions to the end of the war, these tales include some key household names, along with untold and undiscovered stories. SAS Great Escapes includes gripping accounts of unbelievable endurance, of breath-taking nerve, of the use of audacious disguise and the wreaking of total mayhem, as our seven dare all to win all. In crossing the sun-blasted wastes of the Sahara hounded by the enemy, in cutting the wire of an ‘escape-proof’ POW camp and bicycling away, in busting out of the depths of a Gestapo torture chamber, and more, each story is a nail-biting, rollercoaster ride. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #116
In this episode, we are delighted to be joined by DJ Harold Heath (@haroldheathDJ) for an interview about his brand new book 'Long Relationships: My Incredible Journey from Unknown DJ to Smalltime DJ', published by Velocity Press. This fascinating book is a biographical account of a DJ career defined by a deep love of music and a shallow amount of success. It’s the first book to detail exactly what DJing is like for the 99% of DJs who never make it big. Covering electro, hip hop, rare groove, acid house, rave and the UK underground club scene, it’s a 30-odd year tale of a life lived in dance music. Long Relationships is full of tales of clubs, raves, warehouses, DJing, music, record production, record deals, low-level international travel, shady promoters, dodgy club security, magical dance floor moments and much more.
Harold's exclusive Italo House mix for @VersusHistory: https://bit.ly/3tiCkbQ
Check out the book: https://bit.ly/3eVtDyP
For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #115
Éamonn Toland is our special guest on the @Versus History podcast this week, discussing his new book, 'The History of Kindness', published by @LibertiesPress. Éamonn Toland read Modern History and Economics at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, where he received a Lawlor Foundation Scholarship. After graduation he worked as a management consultant, an entrepreneur and business executive. In addition to being a media spokesman for Accenture, he has written articles for The Times and Daily Telegraph, appeared regularly on TV and been a key speaker at numerous conferences. Together with his wife and son, he divides his time between Dublin, London and New York. The Pursuit of Kindness is his first book. His ground-breaking book argues that, although it is often thought that competition is the key to human development, humans are naturally collaborative. To check the book out, here is the link: https://libertiespress.com/product/the-pursuit-of-kindness/
For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #114
In this episode we interview Dr Caspar Melville (@CasparMelville) about the genesis, impact, mechanics and significance of Jungle / Drum & Bass music. Formerly a music journalist and editor of New Humanist magazine, Caspar Melville is a lecturer at SOAS, University of London, where he convenes the MA in Global Creative and Cultural Industries. His book 'It's a London Thing' is a record of the Black music culture that emerged in post-colonial London at the end of the twentieth century; the people who made it, the racial and spatial politics of its development and change, and the part it played in founding London’s precious, embattled multiculture. It tells the story of the linked Black musical scenes of the city, from ska, reggae and soul in the 1970s, to rare groove and rave in the 1980s and jungle and its offshoots in the 1990s, to dubstep and grime of the 2000s. Melville argues that these demonstrate enough common features to be thought of as one musical culture, an Afro-diasporic continuum. Core to this idea is that this dance culture has been ignored in history and cultural theory and that it should be thought of as a powerful and internationally significant form of popular art. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #113
In this fascinating episode of the Versus History podcast, we interview author Emanuel Rosen about his brand new book 'If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died'. The Holocaust and its aftermath were not often discussed in families of second-generation survivors. In Tel Aviv of the 1960s, Emanuel Rosen grew up hearing the staccato of his mother’s typewriter, but had no idea about the battle she was fighting. This changed years later, when he found a box with letters that his grandparents had sent from a tragic 1956-trip to Germany and he decided to retrace their journey. This book braids the stories of three generations—grandparents, daughter, and grandson. The grandparents, the lawyer Dr. Hugo Mendel and his wife Lucie, who were respected German citizens until the Nazis took away their livelihood and their dignity. Their daughter, Mirjam, who had fought for years to prove that those who forced her father out of his profession were responsible for his death. And their grandson, Emanuel, who discovered a shocking truth. This true story demonstrates the devastating consequences of Nazi persecution, even for survivors who fled Europe before WWII and did not experience the horrors of the Holocaust. It is also a stark reminder of the heavy psychological toll of uprooting, still experienced by refugees and exiles today. Written in a personal style brimming with love and wit, 'If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died' is a story of loss, strength, and triumph. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #112
Jennifer Anton is an American/Italian dual citizen born in Joliet, Illinois now living between London and Lake Como, Italy. An advocate for women’s rights and equality, she hopes to rescue women's stories from history, starting with her Italian family. In 2006, after the birth of her daughter, Jennifer suffered a life-threatening post-partum cardiomyopathy, and soon after, her Italian grandmother died. This tumultuous year began a 14-year journey to capture the stories of her female Italian ancestors and develop them into a historical/biographical fiction novel. In 2012, she moved with her family to Milan, Italy. Later, she moved to London. Under the Light of the Italian Moon is her first novel, based on the lives of her Italian grandmother and great grandmothers during the rise of fascism and World War II. The inspiration behind ‘Under the Light of the Italian Moon’ in Jennifer Anton’s own words: “My grandmother grew up under Mussolini’s fascist rule and then lived through Nazi occupation in her small northern Italian town, yet she never talked about it, and the reality of what she lived through went unknown. She died two weeks after my daughter was born, never getting to meet my baby, and I wondered what of hers I could share with my daughter. The unanswered questions I never was able to ask became a map for my journey to understand her life and brought me to Italy again and again. She never returned to the country she loved. I did that for her.” For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #111
Cricket as a game has a long, diverse and very interesting history. Infact, the history of the game continues to shape and sculpt it. However, developments such as the shorter format T20 game are becoming ever more popular. In this episode, cricket historian Rakesh Pathak (@RPathak1975) answers some of these key questions and many more! How did the British Empire spread and shape cricket? How has cricket caused and reacted to social change? Why do countries care so much about beating England? Should historians care about cricket? Why isn't cricket as big in Canada as it is in the other former dominions and former members of the British Empire? For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #110
INTERVIEW WITH LIZ KESSLER ABOUT HER NEW HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK, WHEN THE WORLD WAS OURS Bestselling author Liz Kessler talks to co-editor Elliott about her fantastic new historical fiction book, When The World Was Ours. Inspired by the true story of her father’s escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, When The World Was Ours, takes the reader through the increasingly tragic course of Nazi anti-Semitism from 1936 to 1945, via the lives of three childhood friends. In the interview Liz answers Elliott’s questions about such topics as the role of history in art, the responsibilities of fiction writers when using history, and the necessity of keeping the lessons of history alive in the collective memory. Enjoy our latest Versus History podcast. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #109
In this episode, we interview historian Andrew Chatterton, who is a volunteer at the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART). CART (@staybehinds) researches the Auxiliary Units and Special Duties Branch in Britain during the Second World War. Both groups, made up of civilian volunteers, were trained to hold up any German invasion of the British Isles. Researchers from CART look into their activities, training, weapons, underground bunkers and more. The results of this research can be found at www.staybehinds.com. For information about terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #108
In this episode, we interview Peter Millar, who is an award-winning journalist, author and translator. Born in Co.Down. Ireland, Peter read French and Russian at Oxford, lived in Paris and then Brussels as a reporter for Reuters. In early 1981, at the age of 26, he was sent as correspondent to East Berlin and then to Moscow, where he lived three years, from the death of Brezhnev to the rise of Gorbachev. Peter’s career, including the Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph and European, took him to Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest and Belgrade, as well as Germany, which is the subject of his most recent book. Peter was named Foreign Correspondent of the Year in 1989 for his reporting on the dying stages of the Cold War, his account of which – 1989: The Berlin Wall, My Part in its Downfall ( 2009, 2014) – was named ‘best read’ by The Economist. Peter’s books span both fiction and non-fiction including Stealing Thunder (1999) All Gone to Look for America (2009), The Shameful Suicide of Winston Churchill (2010), and Slow Train to Guantanamo (2013). He speaks, German, French, Russian and Spanish, as well as English. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode 107
Emeritus Professor in American Studies, Jon Roper, puts Donald Trump’s presidency in historical perspective and offers his expert insights into the 2020 presidential election. Professor Roper covers comparisons to previous presidents, explains his interpretation of what Trump calls ‘21st century presidential’, offers his views on the Electoral College, and much more.

Episode #106
In this interview with Damien Lewis - Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author - we discuss the fascinating role of the SAS in WW2. For twenty years Damien worked as a war and conflict reporter for the world’s major broadcasters, reporting across Africa, South America, the Middle East and Far East winning numerous awards. Several of his books are being made into feature films and his books have been translated into forty languages worldwide. SAS Band Of Brothers continues Damien’s iconic WWII elite forces series: Churchill’s Secret Warriors, The Nazi Hunters, Hunting The Nazi Bomb, SAS Ghost Patrol, SAS Italian Job and SAS Shadow Raiders. This podcast is captivating from start to finish and a real 'must listen'. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #105
In October 1953, Vice President Richard Nixon embarked on a precedent-setting tour of the countries of South and South East Asia. The newly elected republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, reinvented the office of the Vice Presidency by elevating it from a nominal and ceremonial position to one of unprecedented responsibility in US foreign policy. Nixon’s core remit was to reinforce, consolidate and expand where possible, the American Cold War sphere of influence in Asia. As part of this tour the Vice President spent three days in Ceylon, an Indian Ocean island state, recently independent from Great Britain. In 1951 Ceylon became the only non communist Asian state to begin shipping strategic materials to the newly communist China. Nixon’s visit to Ceylon, in order to address this (and other issues) personally, would become something of a blueprint for US diplomatic operations in South Asia.

Episode #104
This week we interview Professor Carlton F.W. Larson on the History of Treason in America and his brand new book, 'On Treason: A Citizen's Guide to the Law'. Treason — the only crime specifically defined in the United States Constitution — is routinely described by judges as more heinous than murder. Today, the term is regularly tossed around by politicians and pundits on both sides of the aisle. But, as accusations of treason flood the news cycle, it is not always clear what the crime truly is, or when it should be prosecuted. In this interview, we discuss a broad range of questions and topics including the origins of American treason law, the American Revolution and Benedict Arnold. Robert E. Grant, WW2 and Donald Trump ...
Carlton F.W. Larson is a Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis, School of Law, where he teaches American constitutional law and English and American legal history. A graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, Larson is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the law of treason and is the author of the book The Trials of Allegiance: Treason, Juries, and the American Revolution (Oxford University Press). Professor Larson’s scholarship has been cited by numerous federal and state courts and has been profiled in The New York Times, The Economist, TIME, and many other publications. He is a frequent commentator for the national media on constitutional law issues.

Episode #103
In this episode of @VersusHistory podcast, we interview Kevin Jackson, the author of the new Audible book 'Legion: Thirteen Ways Of Looking At Lawrence Of Arabia'. The book is a captivating and revealing novel, that explores the unknown life of Lawrence of Arabia in a quest to understand his genius. Kevin Jackson has previously worked as a teacher, director, broadcaster on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 and journalist, with his work appearing in The New Yorker, The Sunday Times and The Guardian. Kevin is the author of 35 books - including Constellation of Genius, Invisible Forms, Humphrey Jennings, The Worlds of John Ruskin, Greta and the Labrador, and the Kindle best-seller Single Mayflower, which will be published as a paperback in September 2020. Kevin Jackson is a frequent broadcaster on the radio, particularly BBC Radio Three and BBC Radio 4. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #102
In this episode, we interview David Gessner (@DavidGessner), the author of the new book ‘LEAVE IT AS IT IS: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt’s American Wilderness’, published by Simon & Schuster. David is the author of eleven books that blend a love of nature, humor, memoir, and environmentalism, including the New York Times-bestselling All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner and the American West and the prize-winning The Tarball Chronicles. In 2003 Gessner taught Environmental Writing as a Briggs-Copeland Lecturer at Harvard, and he now serves as Chair of the Creative Writing Department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the literary magazine, Ecotone. His own prizes include a Pushcart Prize, the John Burroughs Award for Best Nature Essay, the Association for Study of Literature and the Environment’s award for best book of creative writing, and the Reed Award for Best Book on the Southern Environment. In 2017 he hosted the National Geographic Explorer show, "The Call of the Wild." Gessner lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with his wife, the novelist Nina de Gramont, and their daughter Hadley. The book ‘LEAVE IT AS IT IS’ is many things. It’s a biography of Theodore Roosevelt and his relationship to nature—the real Roosevelt, one filled with grief, depression, and a supernatural work ethic, not a mustachioed caricature charging up San Juan Hill. It’s a travelogue winding its way through America’s national parks and wild places, an ode to the restorative power of nature, lyrically conveying the simple importance of watching elk in a field, or a lightning storm roll in. But most importantly, it is a call to action. In this age of political illiberalism and environmental degradation, LEAVE IT AS IT IS is a devastating look at what we have to lose and what is worth fighting for. Through Roosevelt, his own gleeful wonderment at nature, and the heart-rending contemporary saga of the fight for Bears Ears National Monument, we see our own world: how beautiful it can be, yet also how much damage we have inflicted upon it; how precarious its future is, and how many in power couldn’t care less. This book is simultaneously a page-turning work of history you want to finish in one sitting, and one that makes you want to put it—and everything else—down and head out to experience the solace of nature. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #101
In this episode of the @VersusHistory Podcast, we are delighted to interview Thomas Levenson, Professor of Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His new book ‘Money for Nothing’ is the remarkable tale of the world’s first-ever financial crash, which took place 300 years ago, in the year 1720. It tells the captivating stories of a host of entertaining characters who became caught up in the world’s first financial bubble; with luminaries such as Daniel Defoe, Alexander Pope and even Isaac Newton losing out in a scheme that was ‘too good to be true’. ‘Money for Nothing’ explores how the scientific revolution extended to matters far beyond the flight of a cannonball or the dynamics of the tides, extending into the idea that empiricism and maths could make sense of everyday life; and how the invention of modern ideas about money both made the world rich and expose us to predictable hazards that we have, to date, three centuries on, failed to fully prepare for. The South Sea Company was formed to monopolize trade with Spain’s American colonies. But it had almost no ships and did precious little trade. So it turned its hand to playing money games, until, in 1720, it launched the first great stock market boom, fraud and bust, in what is now remembered as the South Sea Bubble. The financial engineering pioneered in the Bubble didn’t go away. Instead, it evolved into the same kinds of market manipulation that brought the world’s economy crashing down in 2008. In the moment, though, it all seemed to work brilliantly. Exactly 300 years ago, in June 1720, South Sea shares hit their peak, a ten-fold gain. Britain’s punters—up to and including the King’s mistresses—had grown incredibly, impossibly rich—on paper. And then the carousel stopped and thousands lost their shirts. Isaac Newton, the Duke of Portland (England’s richest man) and others lost heavily. Tom Levenson's superb account of the South Sea bubble dissects that huge scam—but that tale isn’t just a disaster story. It is also the story of the birth of modern financial capitalism: the idea that you can invest in future prosperity and that governments can borrow money to make things happen, like funding the rise of British naval and mercantile power. These dreamers and fraudsters may have ruined Britons, but they made the world rich. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #100
In the 100th episode of the @VersusHistory Podcast, we are joined by author Richard Kreitner to discuss his brand new book 'BREAK IT UP: Secession, Division, and the Secret History of America’s Imperfect Union' published by Little, Brown and Company. We discuss a range of issues in the podcast, including the origins of political union in America, the threats that the union has faced throughout history and its future. The book has received outstanding reviews, including this: "If you thought disunion was an invention of the slave South and is long dead and buried, think again. In Break It Up, Richard Kreitner offers a powerful revisionist account of the troubled history of the American nation, showing how secessionist movements have made their appearance at numerous times, and in numerous parts of the country. They are again proliferating today - a reflection of our polarized politics and culture and our failure to make the existing Union benefit all Americans." — Eric Foner, Columbia University, author of The Fiery Trial. Richard studied philosophy at McGill University in Montreal. Since 2012, he has been affiliated with The Nation as intern, editor, and writer and has published essays, reviews, and articles in Slate, Raritan, The Baffler, The Boston Globe, The New York Review of Books, and The New York Times. His previous book was 'BOOKED: A Traveler’s Guide to Literary Locations Around the World (2019)'. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #99
In this exciting episode, we interview Professor Victoria de Grazia, who is the Moore Collegiate Professor of History at the Ivy League's Columbia University and a founding editor of Radical History Review. Her widely translated, prizewinning books include Irresistible Empire: America’s Advance through Twentieth-Century Europe and How Fascism Ruled Women. She has received the Woodrow Wilson, Jean Monnet, and Guggenheim fellowships and the Rome Prize Fellowship from the American Academy in Rome. Professor De Grazia's brand new book is out now, entitled THE PERFECT FASCIST: A STORY OF LOVE, POWER, AND MORALITY IN MUSSOLINI’S ITALY (Harvard University Press; August 11, 2020). it has already received glowing praise from Azar Nafisi, Robert. O. Paxton and Margaret Macmillan. Below is the description / overview of the book:
'THE PERFECT FASCIST is at once an intimate story of a marriage—retold through family letters, fascist spy reports, and court records—and a riveting account of Mussolini’s rise and fall. Attilio Teruzzi embodies fascism’s flawed moral compass. He is a handsome war hero,impetuous, vain, lecherous, and self-serving—his mediocrity and loyalty help him rise to the top. So why did he want to marry the talented American “New Woman”? And why would she forfeit her career as prima donna to wed a fascist enforcer? What qualities made Teruzzi perfect for Mussolini’s purposes? And why, as antisemitism swept Europe, did this “perfect fascist” come to have a child with a second Jewish woman? Through de Grazia’s relentless research, storytelling skills, and deep understanding of the political and psychological dynamics of the times, we see fascism’s allure as well as the reasons for its eventual rout. We see men on a mission in the name of national glory trampling on family, honor, and the law. We see them seduced by their own astounding lies. We see them betray their own people to keep faith with the Nazi-Fascist war for a New World Order. We also, unfortunately, see the clear outline of many of the men that govern us today.' For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #98
In this episode of the @VersusHistory Podcast, we interview Charles Freeman, who is a specialist on the ancient world and its legacy. He has worked on archaeological digs on the continents surrounding the Mediterranean and develops study tour programs in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Freeman is Historical Consultant to the Blue Guides series and the author of numerous books, including the bestseller The Closing of the Western Mind and, most recently, Holy Bones, Holy Dust. In this brand new book published by Zeus, Charles Freeman takes the reader on a monumental and exhilarating history of European thought, from the fall of Rome in the fifth century AD to the Scientific Revolution thirteen centuries later. The process of preservation of surviving texts was strengthened under the Christian empire founded by Charlemagne in the eighth century; later, during the High Middle Ages, universities were founded, and the study of philosophy was revived. Renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought provided the intellectual impetus for the Renaissance of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, whose ideas - aesthetic, political and scientific - were disseminated across Europe by the invention of the printing press. Equally momentous was Europe's encounter with the New World, and the resulting maritime supremacy which conferred global reach on Europe's merchants and colonists. Vivid in detail and informed by the latest scholarship, The Awakening is powered not by the fate of kings or the clash of arms but by deeper currents of thought, inquiry and discovery, which first recover and then surpass the achievements of classical antiquity, and lead the West to the threshold of the Age of Reason. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #97
Dr Miranda Malins (@MirandaMalins) is a writer and historian specialising in the history of Oliver Cromwell, his family and the politics of the Interregnum period following the Civil Wars. She studied at Cambridge University, leaving with a PhD, and continues to speak at conferences and publish journal articles and book reviews, as well as being a Trustee of the Cromwell Association. Her brand new book, 'The Puritan Princess', is out now, published by Orion Fiction. It focuses on the life of Frances Cromwell, the youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell, offering a compelling and fascinating account of her life and times. The Times reviewer Antonia Senior chose the Miranda's book as the best new historical fiction offering in April 2020. In this podcast episode, Miranda discusses a broad range of topics, including interpretations of the Interregnum and Oliver Cromwell, attitudes towards women and their role during this time, the challenges of writing historical fiction and much, much more. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #96
In this exciting episode of the @VersusHistory Podcast, we are joined by Dr Kirsteen MacKenzie (@kirsteenMM) for an interview on the focus of her book, The Solemn League and Covenant of the Three Kingdoms and the Cromwellian Union 1643-1663 (Routledge: London, 2017). In the interview, Kirsteen discusses a range of issues in depth related to Cromwell's tenure as Lord Protector, the English Civil War, Scotland, Presbyterians and much, much more. If you want to broaden your knowledge of this frenetic and highly charged period of history, then this podcast is for you. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #95
The Asian Flu pandemic of 1957–1958 was a global pandemic of influenza A virus subtype H2N2 which originated in Guizhou, China and killed over 1 million people worldwide. It had a significant impact on Britain, the United States of America and many other countries around the world. Given the current Covid-19 context, this topic is particularly pertinent and important. In this episode, Dr Dave Brown answers a broad range of questions on the Asian Flu pandemic, offers a detailed analysis of the responses and actions of various countries worldwide and evaluates the impact of the illness on communities and economies worldwide. Moreover, Dr Dave Brown offers some insight into what we can learn - if anything - about the response to Covid-19 from this previous pandemic. For our terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #94
Netflix has emerged as a premier provider of streaming televisual content in recent years. From its base on the creative West Coast on the USA, millions of subscribers regularly enjoy its content, from films to dramas to documentaries. The question posed by the @VersusHistory Editors today is 'Netflix: is it good for History?' The team offer and cite a range of diverse examples, from 'WW2 in Colour' to 'Who killed Malcolm X?' to 'When They See Us' and debate the key question. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #93
In this exciting episode, the @VersusHistory team were delighted to welcome Historian and pioneering History Teacher Scott Allsop (@MrAllsopHistory) to the podcast to discuss his work with @History_Pod, the daily History podcast series and his two fascinating books, '366 Days' and 'Another 366 Days'. In this episode, Scott discusses a range of factors that are of critical interest to anyone with a passion for the past, including how to gauge historical significance, what inspired him to publish and podcast as well as some very important days from history that can be found in his books. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com.

Episode #92
In this episode the @versushistory team spoke to Donny O'Rourke about the events of the Battle of George Square. This violent confrontation between police officers and Glaswegian workers striking in support of a 40 hour working week, took place on January 31st 1919 and the UK government would send 10,000 troops and 6 tanks to Glasgow as a result. The events of the day were the inspiration for Donny O'Rourke's short story 'Bright Red', part of the compilation 'Resist: Stories of Uprising' released by @commapress.

Episode #91
In this episode, the @VersusHistory team interviewed Ra Page, the Editor of a new book entitled 'Resist: Stories of Uprising', published by @commapress. The book is a very interesting one, inasmuch as it fuses the realm of non-fiction and fiction while evaluating a range of uprisings and rebellions in Britain, ranging from Boudica's Uprising to the Battle of Cable Street to the Tottenham Riot to Grenfell, plus many more. The overview from the publisher is as follows: At a time that feels unprecedented in British politics – with unlawful prorogations of parliament, casual race-baiting by senior politicians, and a climate crisis that continues to be ignored – it’s easy to think these are uncharted waters for us, as a democracy. But Britain has seen political crises and far-right extremism before, just as it has witnessed regressive, heavy-handed governments. Much worse has been done, or allowed to be done, in the name of the people and eventually, those same people have called it out, stood up, resisted. In this new collection of fictions and essays, spanning two millennia of British protest, authors, historians and activists re-imagine twenty acts of defiance: campaigns to change unjust laws, protests against unlawful acts, uprisings successful and unsuccessful – from Boudica to Blair Peach, from the Battle of Cable Street to the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. Britain might not be famous for its revolutionary spirit, but its people know when to draw the line, and say very clearly, ‘¡No pasarán!’. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #90
Beer has a very, very long history. It is amongst the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic tipples in the world today. Find out how the first canning of this drink in 1935 has changed world history, as well as the high street. Moreover, find out how 'real ale' and craft beer has changed the habits of drinkers in recent years. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #89
During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, African Americans in refused to ride city buses in a protest against segregated seating. The boycott took place from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama and was precipitated by the actions of Rosa Parks, when she refused to vacate her seat to a white passenger. The Boycott launched a figure to the centre of public consciousness - Dr. Martin Luther King - who coordinated the action along with the Montgomery Improvement Association. The boycott was ultimately successful in as much as it resulted in the desegregation of City buses. In this episode, the @VersusHistory team discuss the causes, events and consequences of the Boycott. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #88
Happy Holidays from all here @VersusHistory! Can you remember the Xmas Number 1 Chart Hits from years gone by? Do you know what toys, gadgets and gifts were the 'must have' from the festive periods of yesteryear? In this special holiday episode, the @VersusHistory team explore the song and toy ghosts from Christmas past. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #87
In this podcast, co-editor Elliott gives us a brief history of the genre-defining piece of action cinema that is Die Hard. He looks at the historical origin of the term ‘die hard’, through to the impact the film had on cinema, as well as a weighing-up of the key question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? All via a seminal piece of music by Run DMC. “Ho, ho, ho...now I have a machine gun”. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #86
The results of the 2019 General Election have just been announced. The Conservative Party - led by Boris Johnson - has just secured a large Parliamentary majority. The Editorial Team offer some early analysis of the 2019 election, linking it to the General Elections of 1945 and 1997. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #85
In episode #85, our special guest Don N. Hagist - Managing Editor of The Journal of the American Revolution - discusses a range of themes related to the life and times of the British Redcoats in the 1770s and 1780s. Did British soldiers really get thrashed to within an inch of their lives as punishment? Were they forced to serve in the British Army against their will? Were soldiers often drunk when they committed to serve? Why did they enlist for service overseas? Why were the British Army unable to overcome the American rebels by 1783? What were the options for a soldier as he neared retirement? In this exciting episode, all of these questions are answered by Don N. Hagist. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #84
In this episode of the Versus History Podcast, the team explore all things 'Matilda'. Who she was and the things that she did during her exciting, yet turbulent, existence ... all is explored here. She was Empress Matilda - but referred to herself as a female King - during the 12th century. She was undoubtedly a strong female figure during the Middle Ages. Let @VersusHistory guide you through! For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #83
The Weimar Republic might have been 'borne out of Germany's defeat in WW1', but it had a relatively enlightened, democratic, inclusive and forward-thinking codified constitution. To what extent was this a strength or a weakness? What were its most important terms in the 1920s and early 1930s? Is talk of the constitution being central to the demise of the Weimar Republic overstated? In this Podcast, the @VersusHistory Editorial Team discuss the Constitution of the Weimar Republic in Germany, 1919-1933.

Episode #82
Dr. John Woolf (@drjohnwoolf) - the expert in things related to the Victorian Freak Shows and author of the oustanding new book 'The Wonders' - presents a radical new history of the Victorian age. In this episode, we discover the truth behind 'The Greatest Showman' and we meet the forgotten and extraordinary freak performers whose talents and disabilities helped define an era. Dr Woolf discusses John Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, plus a range of other interesting characters in this podcast. You can purchase his work from all good booksellers worldwide and visit his website at www.johnwoolf.co.uk.

Episode #81
Versus History Editors discuss the beginning of a new academic year and their news, views and observations from summer 2019. Welcome back to the Versus History Podcast! Topics include Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Brexit, The Queen, Weather, Soccer and sunken wrecks off the coast of Canada. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #80
Dr David Silkenat (@davidsilkenat) is a Senior Lecturer in American History from the University of Edinburgh and the co-host of The Whisky Rebellion Podcast. He joins the Versus History Podcast this week for a detailed interview about the causes, events, consequences and significance of the American Civil War. The Civil War itself raged from 1861 to 1865 and was fought between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy). It ended in a victory for the North, but the scars and ramifications of the conflict can still be felt today. Dr Silkenat answers a range of questions on the conflict, providing an excellent overview that is of interest to all. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #79
Before the United States of America declared its independence on 4 July 1776, the British Government controlled America's trade with the world. In 1773, the Colonists destroyed a quantity of tea owned by the British East India Company, leading to Britain closing off the Port of Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Tea Party is often cited as being one of the key triggers for the American Revolution. However, did the little-known '1732 Hat Act' - which aimed to stifle the Colonial trade in hats and force them to buy from Britain - serve to damage the relationship between Britain and America some 40 years previously? In this episode, @VersusHistory discuss the 1732 Hat Act and its impact on the relationship between Britain and America. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #78
WW2 ended disastrously for both Mussolini and Italy. In this second episode, Dr. Dave Brown takes us through the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1935, the pathway to global war for Italy in the late 1930s, the relationship between Mussolini and the other Fascist members of the Pact of Steel and much, much more. Dr Brown discusses Mussolini’s war aims, objectives actions and outcomes at length, including the the invasion of Greece, the Italian decision to join WW2, Mussolini’s qualities as a war leader (or lack thereof!) and his eventual downfall. In the second of a two part series of special episodes of the @VersusHistory Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Dave Brown (@DBrownF6History) for this overview of Benito Mussolini and the key features of the man and his time in office. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #77
The Italian ‘Duce’ Benito Mussolini was the first fascist dictator to rise to power in Europe, inspiring others such as Adolf Hitler in Germany and Franco of Spain in the process. Mussolini became the 27th Prime Minister of Italy in October 1922, having undertaken the infamous ‘March on Rome’ that year. The ‘Duce’ of fascism was a complex character, and his tenure in office was often turbulent. He was the architect of some highly controversial domestic and foreign policy objectives, such as the alliance with Hitler, the invasion of Abyssinia, the invasion of Greece and the decision to join WW2, to name but a few. In the first of a two part series of special episodes of the @VersusHistory Pocast, we are delighted to be joined by Dr. Dave Brown (@DBrownF6History) for an overview of Benito Mussolini and the key features of the man and his time in office. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #76
Born in 69BC, Cleopatra VII ruled ancient Egypt for nearly 30 years, before dying in 30BC. Her romantic links and military alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, as well as her acclaimed beauty, have helped to ensure that she has not been lost to history. Learn all about her romantic liaisons and ability to speak a variety of different languages! In this episode, Conal (@prohistoricman) fields a range of questions on Cleopatra from Patrick (@historychappy) and Elliott (@thelibrarian6) in a '15 Minute Frenzy'. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #75
This week concludes the two part 'Question and Answer' session, where the @VersusHistory Editors respond to the questions of the listeners. Check it out! For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #74
This week, the @VersusHistory Editorial team asked for the listeners to submit questions about History, which they would happily answer. In this Podcast, they answer as many of those questions as they can! From the Munich Putsch 1923 to the National Railway Museum in York to Counterfactual History, it's all there. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #73
The Communist Revolution of 1917 was followed by a period of Civil War in Russia, which lasted until 1921. This further devastated the Russia economy, compounding the pre-existing problems caused by defeat in WW1 and the lack of an industrial revolution along the lines of many countries in western Europe. Between 1921 and 1928, the USSR adopted a largely capitalist economic model, until Stalin launched his ‘Great Break’ in 1928. This involved the forced collectivisation of agriculture and the centrally mandated targets of the ‘Five-Year Plans’. There were three such plans between 1928 and 1941, and 12 in total prior to the collapse of the USSR. The plans brought about a transformation in the industrial capacity of the USSR, but significant issues and problems remained and were inherent in the plans themselves. In this episode, the @VersusHistory Editors discuss the reasons behind the introduction of the plans, their key features, consequences and legacy. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #72
On January 9th 2007, an announcement was made that would revolutionise the technology industry and arguably the way humans interact with one another and the world. In San Francisco California, the CEO of Apple Steve Jobs announced the release of the first iphone which sought to combine 3 functions. It was a mobile phone, an ipod and an internet communication device rolled into one. 146,000 iphones were activated in the US alone on the first weekend of its release in June 2007 and from there took the world by storm, with well over a billion iphones sold in the last 12 years. From this one device and its technological innovation has also come the new breed of smartphones that are ubiquitous today.

Episode #71
Boston is located in Massachusetts, on the East Coast of the United States of America. It has a rich, diverse and varied history. As well as being the most heavily populated City in Massachusetts, it is also one of the oldest, having been founded by Puritans from England in 1630 and named after Boston in Lincolnshire, England. Today, Boston is a hub of higher education and big business. However, looking into Boston's past, it has a rich history. Migration, Revolution, Religion, Sports, Gentrification and Trade have all played a role. The City of Boston hosts a plethora of sites of historical interest, including the Freedom Trail, the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill 1775, the house of Patriot Paul Revere, the Black Heritage Trail, the Charles River, USS Constitution, Fenway Park and numerous others. In this episode, Michele Steinberg from the tour company 'Boston By Foot' (www.bostonbyfoot.org / @bostonbyfoot) gives the most comprehensive and insightful overview of Boston's history that one could hope for in a Podcast. If and when you visit Boston, you need to take a tour with these guys, as they are the bona fide experts! For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com.

Episode #70
On the night of the 25th going into the 26th of April 1986, a chain of events began that would destroy thousands of lives, ruin millions of acres of land and would, in many respects, help catalyst the re-shaping of a world that had been in the grip of the Cold War since 1945. That chain of events would culminate in the nuclear disaster that decimated Reactor 4 at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the town of Pripyat, in northern Soviet Ukraine. This April sees the 33rd anniversary of the disaster. Dr. Paul Goldsmith joins Versus History to talk about his research and experiences at Chernobyl.

Episode #69
Kehinde Andrews (@kehinde_andrews) is the Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University. In addition, he is the founder of the Organisation of Black Unity (@OBU_BlackUnity) and co-chair of the Black Studies Association. As well as appearing frequently on national television and radio, his most recent book 'Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for 21st Century' is out now. Professor Kehinde Andrews discussed a wide range of issues with the @versushistory team. During our discussion, we touched on black radicalism, civil rights issues in the UK and US, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, the Nation of Islam, Ella Baker, the Black Panthers, Rastafari, kneeling during national anthems, migration, the British Empire, colonialism, black radicalism and much more. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #68
Monasteries would have been a key feature of the English landscape until the late 1530s. They were situated across the length and breadth of England, performing religious as well as social and cultural functions. However, by 1534, King Henry VIII had declared himself Head of the English Church via the Act of Supremacy. In 1536, the Dissolution of the smaller Catholic monasteries begun. By 1541, all of England’s monasteries had been dissolved. This has been described by some as an act of cultural vandalism, while for Protestant reformers this was a welcome move towards destroying the power of the Papacy in England. The leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace - the largest rebellion in Tudor England - cited the dissolution as one of its drivers. With the dissolution of the monasteries, English history changed forever. In this episode, the @versushistory team debate the key causes and effects of Henry VIII's dissolution of the Catholic monasteries. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #67
Dr Carrie Gibson has recently released her new book in hardback in February 2019. These are the words of the New York Times book review: "'El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America' is the book that Americans, Anglo and Hispanic, should read as an education on their own American place or role ... Gibson takes on the task of accounting for the relevant and telling cases of our modern process of national formation and regional negotiations. This is a serious book of history but also an engaging project of reading the future in the past." The Guardian in the UK gave equally as positive a review. In this exciting episode of the @versushistory Podcast, Dr Carrie Gibson answers a wide range of questions about 'El Norte' and the complex relationships between Latin and North America through time. It is truly fascinating. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #66
The 'Great Leap Forward' was an initiative of Chairman Mao in China, which took place between 1958 to 1962. In short, Mao and the Chinese Communist Party aimed to rapidly transform China from an agricultural and agrarian economy into an industrial powerhouse, fit to compete with the Western world. This was to be done through a process of rapid industrialisation and the collectivisation of agriculture, with a special emphasis on steel production. In this episode, Conal (@prohistoricman) and Elliott (@thelibrarian6) answer the key questions posed by Patrick (@historychappy). For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #65
Margaret Thatcher a.k.a the ‘Iron Lady’ was the Conservative Party Prime Minister of Britain between 1979 and 1990. She was the first woman to lead a major political party in the western world and the first female Prime Minister of Britain. Moreover, she is one of the few British politicians to have an ‘ism’ named after her: ‘Thatcherism’. During her tenure, she ushered in a period of privatisation, rolling back the frontiers of the state, a reduction in the role of trade unions, Britain won the Falklands War and she also led the Conservative Party to victory in three general elections. She was loved by some and loathed by others. Either way, Britain changed significantly during her time as Prime Minister. In this episode, the @VersusHistory Editorial Team discuss Margaret Thatcher. Patrick O’Shaughnessy (@historychappy) fields a range of questions from Conal Smith (@prohistoricman) and Elliott Watson (@thelibrarian6). For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #64
The City of Nottingham is situated in the East Midlands of England. Approximately an hour and twenty minutes north of London by train, the City has much to offer and a rich and vibrant history. With two professional football teams and a cricket team within a short walk of the railway station, it has much to offer on the sporting front. However, what about Robin Hood? Sherwood Forest? The Castle? Rock City Nightclub? The Lace Market? The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University? Brian Clough? Trent Bridge? In this episode of the @versushistory podcast, the Editors warmly welcomed Nottingham 'born and bred' Jamie O'Dowd (@odowdspace) for his whistle-stop overview of Nottingham's history. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #63
The period 1918 to 1923 was politically, economically and socially turbulent for the Weimar Republic. Following the armistice at the end of World War One, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. With the Kaiser in exile, Germany experienced democracy for the first time. The new Weimar Government had a reparations bill of 6.6 billion GBP, carried the blame for having signed both the armistice and the Treaty of Versailles, suffered extreme hyperinflation, in addition to numerous rebellions from the extreme political right and left. While Germany did survive, this was a very testing period. In this episode, the @VersusHistory team evaluate the problems faced by Germany 1918-1923, considering political, economic and social issues. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #62
Warfare has been a feature of society for thousands of years. Human beings have been surprisingly adept at inventing new weapons and strategies to help gain an advantage in war throughout the course of history. Since WW1, the landscape of the battlefield has changed dramatically. Tanks, aeroplanes, missiles and drones are just some of the new inventions that have changed warfare in the recent past. However, significant inventions in warfare weaponry predate this conflict. In this episode, the Editors of @VersusHistory discus a range of weapons that changed the nature of warfare through time. The discussion pivots on three weapons: the Longbow, the Rifle and the Nuclear Bomb. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #61
Queen Elizabeth I - daughter of Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn - reigned from 1558 to 1603 as Queen of England. Elizabeth was not the first woman to rule as Queen in her own right, but she is perhaps one of the most historically significant and well known English sovereigns of all time. Elizabeth never married, preferring instead to rule alone under the moniker ‘The Virgin Queen’, but she was linked to many potential suitors, both domestic and foreign. Elizabeth - a Protestant - reversed the Catholic religious policies imposed by her sister, initially opting for a ‘Middle Way’ but taking a more hardline approach to Catholics after the Pope excommunicated her in 1570. Clearly, there were a number of potential threats to Elizabeth, non-less the Spanish Armada in 1588 being one of them. However, other challenges such as the arrival of Mary Queen of Scots in England, the domestic rise of Puritanism and a number of Catholic lead plots to topple her present challenges, too. In this Podcast, the @VersusHistory Editorial Team analyse these threats to Queen Elizabeth in light of their historical context and offer a range of analysis, insight and supporting historiography to support the discussion. For terms of use, please visit www.versusistory.com

Episode #60
King Richard III was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1483 until his defeat and death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, to the forces of Henry Tudor (who became King Henry VII until his death in 1509). Richard III was the last king of the House of York and also the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, was the decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses, which ended the Middle Ages and started the Tudor dynasty, which would reign until 1603. King Richard III was a controversial character and historical interpretations of him have not all been favourable. However, his body was discovered in the English City of Leicester in 2012, buried underneath a local authority car park, some 527 years after his defeat at Bosworth, precipitating a renewed interest and fascination in the ‘Car Park King’. In this episode, Rachel Aryton from the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester joins us for an interview on all things King Richard. Was Richard really a terrible King? Did Richard murder his nephews? What caused the Wars of the Roses? Why did the Battle of Bosworth happen? Why did Richard lose? Why should you visit the Richard III Museum in Leicester? Find out the answers to all of these key questions in this Podcast! Please visit www.versushistory.com for terms of use.

Episode #59
The Versus History Editors and Guests discuss the key achievements of 2018 and their favourite episodes and blog posts. A few jokes are thrown in along the way, along with the vision for 2019. Happy Holidays and all the best for 2019! Please visit www.versushistory.com for terms of use.

Episode #58
The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-1916 during World War One resulted in a defeat for Britain, France and the British Empire against the Ottoman Empire. The Allies sought to capture control of the Dardanelles, to weaken the Ottomans and ultimately open a supply route to Russia. The Allies launched a large naval attack, followed by an amphibious landing on the peninsula, which was ultimately rebuffed by the Ottomans at the cost of many casualties and a severe blow to Sir Winston Churchill’s military planning and personal prestige. The campaign is considered by some to be the beginning of Australian and New Zealand national consciousness, with 25 April, the anniversary of the landings, known as "ANZAC Day". In this episode, Elliott (@thelibrarian6) summarises the reasons why Britain was beaten in this particular campaign during World War One, answering the questions posed by Patrick (@historychappy). For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #57
This special episode celebrates the launch of Co-Editor Elliott's (@thelibrarian6) new book, entitled 'Blowing Up The Nazis'. The book contains a treasure trove of historical information on the Nazis. Think you know everything there is to know about the Nazis? Think again. Do you know what a Beefsteak Nazi is? Were you aware that the Holocaust can be traced back to the murder of one German baby? Did you know that the Nazis were able to control Hollywood during the 1930's? Our ever-expanding library of books and podcasts just welcomed another addition. Elliott (that’s L. Watson) has written an extraordinary book that explores elements of Nazi history that are so far from common knowledge as to render them astonishing. Throughout the chapters of Blowing up the Nazis, Elliott reveals remarkable histories that range from über violent SA leader, Ernst Röhm, being a gay rights activist, Coca Cola using the swastika in their marketing, and the ‘Hitler salute’ actually being part of the American ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ ceremony. If you are in any way interested in discovering more than you ever knew about the Nazis, then this book is for you. Blowing up the Nazis: What you didn’t know will blow your mind. Available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

Episode #56
The Mary Rose is probably the best-known ship of the Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. She served for 33 years, performing a wide variety of roles, before sinking in battle in the English Solent in 1545. The Mary Rose was rediscovered in 1971 and was raised in 1982. She is currently on display in Portsmouth. As well as being a relic of the Tudor period, she has also provided an invaluable insight into the life of the sailors on board. In this episode, Conal (@prohistoricman) answers a wide variety of questions on the Mary Rose. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #55
The TV series Gossip Girl is one of the most popular offerings on the Netflix platform. Set in Manhattan’s exclusive Upper East Side, Gossip Girl features characters such as the young, wealthy socialite Serena van der Woodsen and her similarly wealthy friend, Blair Waldorf. While many people will be familiar with the various trials and tribulations of the main protagonists in the show, perhaps fewer will be aware of the ways in which the rich and varied history of America and New York has been harnessed in the show. For instance, the ‘van der’ element of Serena’s name harks back to the often overlooked and forgotten era of pre-1664 New York, when the City was actually New Amsterdam under the colonial domination of the Netherlands. In this exciting episode, Patrick (@historychappy) answers a range of questions from Elliot (@thelibrarian6) on the ways in which Gossip Girl has proactively harnessed the history of New York in particular and America more generally, in order to enrich its appeal and allure. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #54
The history of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) dates back to 1884, as the organisation that codified the various Gaelic Games, including Gaelic Football and Hurling. However, the origins and roots of the various games go back much, much further and could not be more historically significant to the history of Ireland and its people. Today, Gaelic Football is widely popular in Ireland and is played around the world; wherever one finds Ireland’s ‘Wild Geese’, one can find Gaelic Football. In this episode, Versus History gives a warm welcome to two very special guests: Gaelic Football players from Mayo in the Republic of Ireland, who represent the 'Bahrain Celts' in the Middle East. They are Orla Reilly and John Doherty, who in this episode discuss all aspects of the history of the GAA and the Gaelic Games, with Co-Editors Patrick (@historychappy) and Elliott (@thelibrarian6) asking the key questions. For terms of use please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #53
British control of the Thirteen Colonies of North America formally ended in 1783. Evacuation Day on 25 November 1783 marked the departure of British forces from New York, following the Declaration of Independence in 1776. However, the American Revolutionary War started in 1775, with the ‘shot that rang around the world’ on Lexington Green, when a contingent of British Redcoats exchanged fire with the colonial militia outisde of Boston. The hostilities quickly escalted and all out war followed. Bunker Hill, Long Island, Brandywine, Saratoga, Charleston, Yorktown are just some of the key battles in the American Revolutionary War. But how and why did the British - the superpower of the day - lose the war? In this episode, Patrick (@historychappy) explains three key reasons for the defeat that everyone should be aware of, while Elliott (@thelibrarian6) asks the questions. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #52
The UK Garage scene is well known for its most famous stars. Craig David, So Solid Crew, Artful Dodger, DJ Spoony, Misteeq, DJ EZ, MJ Cole, DJ Luck and MC Neat can all be counted amongst those who became household names during the apex of UK Garage's popularity between 1998-2002. With its origins as a 'Sunday Scene' and as the soundtrack of pirate radio in the mid-late 1990s, UK Garage came a long way in a very short space of time. Indeed, it faded away from the musical limelight in the early 2000s equally as fast, spawning sub-genres such as Grime. In this podcast, Patrick (@historychappy) answers a range of questions on UK Garage from Elliott (@thelibrarian6) in what is a fascinating verbal tour of the scenes exciting and varied history. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #51
Henry VIII reigned from 1509 to 1547. He is well known for having six wives, breaking with the Roman Catholic Church in Rome and for dissolving the Catholic monasteries. Indeed, the passage of the 1534 Act of Supremacy meant that the incumbent English monarch - rather than the Pope in Rome - was now the Head of the English Church. However, what combination of factors ultimately resulted in Henry VIII's split from the Catholic Church? After all, Henry had been born, raised and largely continued to practice his faith in a conservatively Catholic manner, even after the split from Rome. The complexity of the issue is not difficult to appreciate; hopefully, this @VersusHistory podcast will help bring about some answers! In this episode, Patrick (@historychappy) supports the idea that the split was religiously motivated. Elliott (@thelibrarian6) contends that the Pope’s refusal to grant him a divorce from Katherine of Aragon was the primary cause. Conal (@prohistoricman) argues that the break from Rome was triggered by politics. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #50
Superhero characters are a key feature of many cinematic and cartoon productions. Perhaps none are more instantaneously recognisable than Superman, also known as Clark Kent and Kal-El. Originating from the planet Krypton, he first appeared in a comic back in 1938. Just as interestingly, Superman has a long and varied history, both as a character construct and in the ways that he has been depicted and portrayed over through time. In this episode, Elliott (@thelibrarian6) answers a broad array of questions from Patrick (@historychappy) and Conal (@prohistoricman) on Superman. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #49
Part Two! Australia's history as an outpost of the British Empire formally began in 1788 with the arrival at Botany Bay of the First Fleet. Australia was initially a British penal colony. With the loss of the Thirteen Colonies in North America, Britain needed a new location to transport its convicts. Australia was to be that place. Australia and her white settler population developed politically, economically and socially under the stewardship of a number of Governors in the late 18th and 19th centuries, some 9500 miles away from the metropole. Within 50 years of British colonisation, Austrailia had experienced many, many seismic changes. The Aboriginal population, undoubtedly, suffered greatly and deeply. Sheep were introduced to help move the colony towards self-sufficiency. Transportation to Australia eventually ceased, with 'free settlers' taking the place of criminals. In the second of two special episodes, Australian academic and Curriculum Manager Dr Dave Brown (@DBrownF6History) shares his expertise and research into Australian colonial history, answering a wide array of questions about the period. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #48
Australia's history as an outpost of the British Empire formally began in 1788 with the arrival at Botany Bay of the First Fleet. Australia was initially a British penal colony. With the loss of the Thirteen Colonies in North America, Britain needed a new location to transport its convicts. Australia was to be that place. Australia and her white settler population developed politically, economically and socially under the stewardship of a number of Governors in the late 18th and 19th centuries, some 9500 miles away from the metropole. Within 50 years of British colonisation, Austrailia had experienced many, many seismic changes. The Aboriginal population, undoubtedly, suffered greatly and deeply. Sheep were introduced to help move the colony towards self-sufficiency. Transportation to Australia eventually ceased, with 'free settlers' taking the place of criminals. In the first of two special episodes, Australian academic and Curriculum Manager Dr Dave Brown (@DBrownF6History) shares his expertise and research into Australian colonial history, answering a wide array of questions about the period. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

Episode #47
Following the armistice that ended WW1 on 11 November 1918, the victorious allies came together at the Palace of Versailles to discuss how Germany should be treated. The Paris Peace Conference was quickly dominated by the leaders of the USA, Great Britain and France: Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, and Georges Clemenceau - aka the ‘Big Three’. They had very different views as to what they wanted from Germany and to what degree the country should be punished. Once the Treaty of Versailles was finally published and the terms made public, a debate immediately sprang up centring on whether it dealt too leniently with Germany, or too harshly. Of course, this argument might depend upon your viewpoint (as most arguments do), but can we find evidence for both sides? In this episode, Elliott (@thelibrarian6) argues that the settlement was fair, whilst Patrick (@historychappy) argues that it was indeed overly harsh. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

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