Aspects of History

This week on the podcast, renaissance man of culture - comedian, musician, novelist, actor, podcaster and now historian - Charlie Higson joins Nathen Amin for a wide-ranging discussion around his podcast and accompanying book Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee. Find out who Charlie thought were 'stinkers' as monarchs and just why history matters so much.

Charlie Higson Links:

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee

Podcast

Nathen Amin Links:

Website: www.nathenamin.com

Substack: https://nathenamin.substack.com/

Aspects of History Links:

Website: www.aspectsofhistory.com

Email: [email protected]

⁠⁠Aspects of History on Instagram⁠

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A lover of an emperor-to-be, the subject of scurrilous rumours of incest and a target of Juvenal’s anti-Semitic ranting - but who exactly was Berenice of Judea and why must her life viewed through these prejudiced lenses? Joining Zeb Baker-Smith, Editor of Aspects of History, on the podcast is Bruce Chilton, scholar and biographer. His fine-tuned account of a 1st-century client queen turns the spotlight onto religious upheaval in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, female agency within the Herodian dynasty, imperial succession and the life and times of an inspiring figure.

Episode Links

Berenice: Queen in Roman Judea

Aspects of History Links

AoH ⁠online⁠

AoH on ⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠

AoH on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠

Zeb Links

Zeb on ⁠Twitter /X⁠

Zeb on ⁠⁠Substack⁠
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This week on the podcast, historians Robert Lyman and Phil Craig move between modern Britain and the
interwar years to ask a disturbingly familiar question: why do we keep repeating the same mistakes when it comes to military preparedness?

 

Drawing on Robert Lyman’s recent book Victory to Defeat (written with General Lord Dannatt), the discussion explores how Britain’s formidable military machine of 1918 was allowed to waste away, even as other powers - most notably Germany - absorbed and applied the lessons of British success. The failure to prepare for war, or to apply credible deterrence in the 1930s, would have grave consequences.

 

Are we witnessing a similar pattern today? And should we rethink the balance between being ‘good global citizens’ and exercising hard national power?

Episode Links

⁠Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40

Aspects of History Links

AoH ⁠online⁠

AoH on ⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠

AoH on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠

Robert Links

Robert on ⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠

Robert on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠

Phil Links

Phil on ⁠Twitter /X⁠

Phil on ⁠⁠Instagram

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We think we know about gladiators, toned biceps on show during a deadly bout in the arena. But is that Hollywood depiction less interesting than the actual truth? We’d venture so… Joining Zeb Baker-Smith, Editor of Aspects of History, on the podcast is Harry Sidebottom, whose day-at-the-games account shines light on the life of a gladiator and the realities behind Rome’s most enduring spectacle in his book, Those Who Are About To Die.

Episode Links

Those Who Are About To Die: Gladiators and the Roman Mind

Aspects of History Links

AoH online

AoH on ⁠Twitter /X⁠

AoH on ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠

Zeb Links

Zeb on Twitter /X

Zeb on ⁠Substack⁠
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A round-up of the best 2025 Tudor books - Joining host Nathen Amin are guest contributors, and authors extraordinaire, Sarah Gristwood and Steve Veerapen.

Sarah Gristwood Links:

Website: https://sarahgristwood.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B00IVN1JM6

Steven Veerapen Links

Website: https://www.stevenveerapen.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B07PBBLPRL

Nathen Amin Links:

Website: www.nathenamin.com

Substack: https://nathenamin.substack.com/

Aspects of History Links:

Website: www.aspectsofhistory.com

Email: [email protected]

⁠⁠Aspects of History on Instagram⁠

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