Authors of History Podcast

In this episode of the Authors of History podcast, I’m joined by bestselling author and historian Simon Scarrow. A Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller with millions of books sold, Simon has captivated readers around the world, and his work has been translated into more than 15 languages.

After a childhood spent travelling the world, Simon channelled his lifelong passion for history into teaching before taking the leap to become a full-time writer. Across more than 35 books, he has brought history vividly to life—from the Roman battlefields of the Eagles of the Empire series and the age of Napoleon and Wellington in Revolution, to wartime Berlin in the Criminal Inspector Schenke series.

His latest addition, the 25th book in the Eagles of the Empire series, The Sword of Rome, was published on 5 November 2026. At the heart of the series are Roman soldiers Cato and Macro, who first marched onto the page in 2000’s Under the Eagle and have since led readers through bestsellers including Centurion, Invictus and Day of the Caesars.

To close the episode, Simon shares two recommendations: Happy Returns by C. S. Forrester, and a visit to the independent bookshop Toppings in Bath. (https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/)
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On this episode of the authors of history podcast my guest is Wolfson Prize nominated author and historian Lyndal Roper.

Lyndal is a historian of early modern Europe. She grew up in Australia and did her first degree at the University of Melbourne. Since girlhood in Australia she has been fascinated by German history, and she has written on women and the Reformation, witchcraft, and sexuality in the sixteenth century.

In 2011 she became Regius Professor of History at Oxford, the first woman to hold the 300 year old post.

In 2016 she published a biography of the reformer Martin Luther.

Lyndal's book "Summer of Fire and Blood, the German peasants war" was published in 2025 and won the Cundill Prize. It has been shortlisted for the prestigious Wolfson History Prize in 2029. To write this book, she cycled or walked almost all the areas it took place, cycling over 600 km from Strasbourg to Konstanz.

Lyndal is the Holberg Laureate of 2026. won the Holberg Prize In 2016 won the Gerda Henkel Prize for lifetime achievement in history. Currently she holds a Humboldt Research Award (associated with the Free University Berlin) for research in Germany. She is honorary fellow of the History Department, University of Melbourne, fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (2009), fellow of the British Academy (2011), and fellow of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin (2016).

She also holds honorary doctorates from the University of Melbourne (2013) and the University of Basel (2021). In 2021 a portrait of Lyndal painted by Nneka Uzoigwe was hung in the dining hall of Oriel College, Oxford.

She now runs experimental workshops, ‘Moving History’, teaching critical and creative thinking in combination with physical exercise.

Lyndal recommends that we all should read Susan Peterson's book "Burn This Letter - Love and Trouble in a Marriadge of Four"

Lyndal recommends the independant book shop Book-Ish in Crickhowell in Wales (https://www.book-ish.co.uk/)
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On this episode of the Authors of History Podcast, I’m joined by historian Dr Tim Galsworthy to discuss his inspiration to teach and write, his research into memory, politics and race in the modern United States, with a particular focus on the Republican Party’s relationship with memories of the American Civil War.

Tim joined Lincoln Bishop University in September 2023, having previously taught at the University of South Wales, the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Sussex. He teaches History and Military History across the modern and early modern periods, with a particular focus on the United States, Europe, Britain and the British Empire.

Alongside his teaching and research, Tim is managing editor of the British Journal for Military History and has served on several academic committees. He received his PhD in History from the University of Sussex in 2023, funded by the CHASE Doctoral Training Partnership, and also holds an MPhil in American History from Selwyn College, Cambridge, and a BA in History from the University of Bristol.

His book, The Republican House Divided: Civil War Memory, Civil Rights, and the Transformation of the GOP, is published by the University of South Carolina Press.

Tim recommends In the Pines by Grace Elizabeth Hale and highlights The Reading Room, an independent bookshop in Grantham: https://the-reading-room-grantham.square.site/
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On this episode of the Authors of History Podcast, I’m joined by historian and author Sam Wetherell.

Sam is a historian of Britain and the world based at the University of York, where he teaches and writes about modern British history. His work explores cultural and urban history, race and the environment – and how the places we build shape the lives we lead.

He is the author of two books. His first, Foundations: How the Built Environment Made Twentieth-Century Britain, was published by Princeton University Press in 2020.

His latest, Liverpool: A story of Britain, was published by Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury in 2025 and has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 Wolfson History Prize, with the winner to be announced on 1 December 2026.

Alongside his books, Sam writes The History Factory, a semi-regular Substack newsletter.

Sam recommends that we should read The Work of the Dead: A Cultural History of Mortal Remains by Thomas W. Laqueur

Sam recomends we should check out the independant book shop East Bristol Books (https://eastbristolbooks.co.uk/)
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On this episode of the Authors of History Podcast I talk to Sheffield historian, author and journalist Neil Anderson.

Neil has written over 30 books, which spans numerous cultural and historical books focusing heavily on Sheffield's nightlife, music scene, and wartime history.

Notable Books written by Neil include the "Dirty Stop Out's Guide" Series: Includes cultural guides spanning the original 1990s edition alongside decade-specific volumes for the 1950s, 1960s (King Mojo Edition), 1970s, and 1980s, as well as a dedicated volume on Working Men's Clubs.

Works highlighting Sheffield's musical and social heritage including Take It to The Limit (the West Street rock 'n' roll venue story), Signing on for the Devil: Sheffield - Metal Capital of the 80s, No Siesta 'til Club Fiesta, The Story of Atkinsons of Sheffield, and Sheffield City Hall - 1932-2012.

Neil has written books on the Sheffield Blitz & Wartime History: Publications covering the wartime era feature Sheffield's Date with Hitler: The Story of the Blitz, Defiant! Sheffield Blitz 75th - The Definitive Visual Guide, Defiant Voices - The Blitz Kids of Sheffield, and Sheffield Blitz - The Definitive Collection.

Neil Anderson’s latest book is Sheffield's Date with Hitler: 85th Anniversary Collector's Edition, released in August 2026.
The book is the culmination of 15 years of intensive local research into the Sheffield Blitz. Published as a strictly limited run of 250 hand-numbered and signed copies, this special anniversary edition was released via his publishing outlet, Dirty Stop Outs. The expanded archive edition includes German Military Intelligence Maps: Rare historical planning documents used during the attacks. Digital Video Archive: Over 4 hours of ultra-rare, digitised historical Blitz footage. Personal Memoirs: Newly uncovered primary accounts, including memories from the author's own grandmother.

Neils books can be bought at https://dirtystopouts.com/

Neil recommends that we all should read a book by historian Dominic Sandbrook

Neil recommends that we should check out the independent publishing house online called “Days like Tomorrow Books”. which can be found on facebook.
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