History in 28-minutes

In episode 7 of our podcast series History Books, we look at how a great war broke out in the American south-west rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options The podcast is on a book called The Wrath of Cochise by David Mort. The book is about the disputes that led the outbreak of the Apache Wars. The Apache Wars were a series of conflicts between the United States and a number of Apache nations fought in the American Southwest from the mid-nineteenth century until...

In episode 7 of our podcast series History Books, we look at how a great war broke out in the American south-west rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options The podcast is on a book called The Wrath of Cochise by David Mort. The book is about the disputes that led the outbreak of the Apache Wars. The Apache Wars were a series of conflicts between the United States and a number of Apache nations fought in the American Southwest from the mid-nineteenth century until the 1880s. And as we shall soon see, a key factor in their starting was that in February 1861, the twelve-year-old son of Arizona rancher John Ward was kidnapped by Apaches. Ward followed their trail and reported the incident to patrols at Fort Buchanan, blaming a band of Chiricahuas led by the infamous warrior Cochise. The book then tells the story of how events dramatically escalated, leading to the death of many and the destruction of parts of the states of Arizona and New Mexico. As well as the devastation of a way of life. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options If you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web:www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

In episode 6 of our podcast series History Books, we look at a terrible crime in 1850s London. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options The podcast is on a book called The Secret Life of Celestina Sommer – Victorian Child Killer by David J. Vaughan. Celestina Sommer had a tragic upbringing. Pregnant at seventeen, with no support and little more compassion, she relinquished her infant to the baby-farmers. Eleven years on and married, she endured not only vilification but domestic abuse - the man she trusted turning on her with misogynistic cruelty endorsed by a society turning its blind, masculine eye. The book tells the story about the awful truth of Celestina’s short, tragic life and reveals exactly why she avoided the hangman's noose. Her heart-rending story follows the world's reaction to her crime: parliamentary debates, press outrage, allegations of royal collusion, garishly explicit reports of her trials at the Old Bailey and, finally, her collapse into madness as she struggles through a harsh Victorian penal system and, at the very end, Britain's foremost criminal lunatic asylum of the age. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options If you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones PS – just to inform you, this podcast is of a darker nature than some of our other podcasts. email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web:www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

In episode 5 of our series History Books, we look at a fascinating tale of history and fiction. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options This podcast is on a book called A Captive Life by Helen Saker-Parsons. This is a historical fiction book set in Italy during World War 2. The book’s main protagonist is Richard Bartlett, a British soldier who had lived a sheltered existence under the protection of his mother until war broke out. Then he went to war after World War 2 broke out; alas though, he was soon to be captured in Italy and taken prisoner. He goes on to take charge of troops in a prisoner of war camp and then has to manage as change envelops them at every turn. First Italy starts to weaken, then Mussolini is deposed, but German troops are moved to Italy in order to combat Allied Forces. Amid all this change Bartlett has to manage himself and others. But the real challenge starts when the Italians finally surrender. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options If you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web:www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

In episode 4 of our series History Books, we look at the history of a very different type of KGB spy in the Cold War. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options In a previous episode in this series we looked at Stalin’s Gulags; this time we are back with the Soviets in Cold War Radio: The Dangerous History of American Broadcasting in Europe, 1950 – 1989 by Richard H. Cummings. Cold War Radio refers to Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. These are radio stations that still exist and are funded by the US Congress. They seek to provide information to those parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East where there is not a free flow of information. That is, in those countries with more limited freedom of speech and press. Any why is this story different? Well, because it involves a rather uncommon type of spy. A female. And there’s more. She was from the West and hardly supportive of Soviet aims. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options If you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web:www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

In episode 3 of our series History Books, we look at instability in inter-war Germany and how the Nazis began their ascent to power. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options In the last episode we looked at Stalin’s Gulags; this time we consider his arch-enemy in the book Reaction, Revolution and the Birth of Nazism: Germany 1918-1923 by Nick Shepley The book tells the story of events in Germany in the years after World War I. These were years of great strife and change in the country. There was gross political instability following the German defeat in the war, with groups on both the political left and right trying to stake their claim to power. Indeed, the book argues that Germany at the time was involved in a three-way fight. Firstly, there were left-leaning groups. Secondly, there were traditional conservative elements, the old elite. And thirdly, there were radical right-wing groups. This episode picks up the rise of the Nazis in the early 1920s, and the extreme lengths that Adolf Hitler went to in order to gain power. Now, I hope that you enjoy the audio. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options And if you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web:www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Our series, History Books, continues with a book about a man who was deported to a Soviet prison camp, a Gulag, before escaping. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options Following our look at last words in the previous episode of History Books, this time we consider the book Two Years in a Gulag by Frank Pleszak. The book is a personal journey. In the book Frank tries to find out about what happened to his father, somebody who was sent away from his native Poland to one of the toughest of the Gulag Soviet labor camps. That deportation happened following the 1939 invasion of eastern Poland by the USSR after the division of Poland between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. One of the aspects of the book that I found interesting is that it mixes both a personal account with an overview of historical events that I was not always greatly aware of. For example, Frank explains the detail of the Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland at the start of the book and then what happened once they assumed power in Poland. Now, I hope that you enjoy the audio. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options And if you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Our new series, History Books, starts with the book Last Words of the Executed by Robert K. Elder. rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options Firstly, just what is History Books?! Well, the series will feature readings from a variety of history related books about different topics in history. From the Nazis to Abraham Lincoln, and Gulags to prisoners in Italy in World War II, we will provide you with something different and intriguing in each episode. And in this episode we look at a book that is a fascinating read and a great historical document – Last Words of the Executed. It pulls together the last words of those people who were killed by the government in America for their crimes from the 17th century onwards. It starts by discussing why we would want to know the last words of those who have committed the most heinous crimes possible in society, and briefly looks at the history of the death penalty. And that is where we begin this audio podcast… rss feed | iTunes | History Books page | Other listening options And if you enjoy the podcast, you can purchase the book here: Amazon US | Amazon UK Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Could Britain build on its success around New York in 1776, and put the final nail in the rebellion against its rule in the Thirteen Colonies? rss feed | iTunes | American Revolution page | Other listening options Today, we see what happened in the fateful years of 1777 and 1778, years of great contrast in the war. In 1777, the British were trying to ambitiously destroy American forces. They had a major force in the north, and another further south that was to attack Philadelphia, the seat of the rebel Continental Congress. These moves would lead to a seismic shift in the war and led to the Great Powers of Europe becoming involved in it. We can even say that these years made the war. rss feed | iTunes | American Revolution page | Other listening options Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

How did Britain and the Thirteen Colonies come to the point of no return, leading to the start of the American Revolutionary War? rss feed | iTunes | American Revolution page | Other listening options In this episode we see what happened on the fateful day of April 19 1775 and understand how one single shot became so very important. We will also see what happened over the course of 1775 and a very famous declaration that took place in 1776, as well as the Battle of Bunker Hill, fighting in Canada, and the Battle of Long Island. In short, we see how the war really broke out. rss feed | iTunes | American Revolution page | Other listening options Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Just how did the United States of America gain its independence? It’s a story familiar to some of us, and George Levrier-Jones is going to tell the story in his own informed, concise way. rss feed | iTunes | American Revolution page | Other listening options This revolution had it all. A yearning desire for liberty, great battles, constantly shifting sands, a result which left the world in a very different place. It also happened at a time when the world was going through a new stage of globalization and so set the tone for what was to happen in the revolutionary and colonial late 18 and 19 centuries. And in this episode we set the scene to the war by telling you about 18 century America, the French and Indian War, and those major events that happened in the years before the American Revolutionary War or the American War of Independence broke out. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Continental Congress were just a few of these events… rss feed | iTunes | American Revolution page | Other listening options Take care, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

How did one man inspire a generation of Communist revolutionaries? This podcast tells the story of Fidel Castro. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Following our podcast on Brezhnev, we shall be looking at one of the most famous Communist leaders of all time, and almost certainly the most well-known Cuban in the world. He was also one of the longest serving leaders of the 20th Century, and somebody who inspires both fierce praise and fierce criticism, as well as somebody who was at the center of the most dangerous event of the Cold War. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Take care, George Levrier-Jones PS – the new series will be on the American Revolution. Make sure you’re connected with us for updates on when the series will be out. email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Do you know who the second longest serving Soviet leader was? rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Leonid Brezhnev was the dominant force in Soviet politics during the middle period of the Cold War and led his country at the same time as Nixon, our previous Cold War People subject. We have previously seen the rise and fall of detente during Brezhnev’s years in power, and how in the 1970s, under Brezhnev’s watch, the USSR became more involved in military endeavors in other countries. Today, we will see the wider changes he undertook in Soviet society, and reflect on his economic legacy, something that would be key as the 1980s wore on. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Hope you enjoy! George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

One of the best and worst of America’s Presidents is the subject of today’s podcast. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Following our look at Charles de Gaulle, this week we are looking at a very different man, a man who started his political career as an arch anti-Communist and who is remembered for many of the wrong things. But in fact, he played a crucial and constructive role in the Cold War during the Détente years, most notably for his dealings with China. In this episode, we look at Richard M Nixon’s wider life and times. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Enjoy it! George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

The leader of the Free French forces and perhaps the greatest Frenchman of the 20 Century is the subject of today’s episode. Charles de Gaulle. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Today we look at a man who was both similar and different to the subject of our last podcast, Ho Chi Minh. De Gaulle was a strong-willed, fiery character and he was very nationalistic. And as well as leading the Free French forces during World War 2, he would later take on another very important role. He even started his own political creed, and also caused major disputes with his Cold War allies in the 1960s. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Happy listening! George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

In this episode of Cold War People, we look at one of the greatest Communist revolutionaries of them all, Ho Chi Minh. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Much like the man we looked at in the last podcast, Mao Zedong, Ho was an East Asian Communist revolutionary. He was involved in the Communist movement and had wanted to create a Communist Vietnam for many years even before he got close to having his wish fulfilled. Previously, we have seen him play a key role in the Vietnam War, but in this episode we briefly look at his wider life. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options See you soon, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

We’re back with a new series of Cold War People, the series where we briefly look at the lives of the key people involved in the Cold War. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options Following our episode on JFK, we’re here with an episode on one of the most important people in the whole Cold War – Chairman Mao Zedong. He was dominant for decades after taking power in Communist China. He was often more hard-line than Soviet leaders. His views caused rifts with the Soviets as well as the Americans in the Cold War. A truly unique character, his policies also caused havoc within China, and he had a long and winding life before he even took power. rss feed | iTunes | Cold War page | Other listening options See you soon, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Our final episode on the Spanish Civil War looks at how the war ended and its bloody aftermath. rss feed | iTunes | Spanish Civil War page | Other listening options We left you last time with a weakened and divided Republic. In November 1938, the Republicans retreated back across the River Ebro having been outfought by the Nationalist’s superior forces in the Battle of the Ebro. The Republican’s threw all of their energies into that battle, but failed in their objectives. This episode considers the aftermath of that battle, including the Nationalist advance on Catalonia, how the war ended, another internal civil war, and the bloody transformation that occurred in the years and decades after the war. rss feed | iTunes | Spanish Civil War page | Other listening options See you soon, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Episode 4 in our Spanish Civil War history series looks at the key stages in the war. rss feed | iTunes | Spanish Civil War Page | Other listening options We left you last time in 1937 in a Spain that was increasingly reflecting the great divide that had occurred in Europe between right and left. On one side were the Nationalists, under the strong conservative leadership of General Franco. On the other, were the Republicans, with a Socialist Prime Minister, but increasing Communist influence. The Nationalists had the upper hand in the first stages of the war, although the situation was starting to become more complex. The Republicans were trying to smash the Nationalist lines, while the Nationalists were trying to take the Republican’s territory in the east and north. This episode considers events as 1937 turned in to 1938, and ends by considering the greatest battle of the war. rss feed | iTunes | Spanish Civil War Page | Other listening options See you soon, George Levrier-Jones email: info@itshistorypodcasts.com web: www.itshistorypodcasts.com facebook: click here twitter: click here

Good afternoon! The third episode in our series on the Spanish Civil War is out now! rss feed | iTunes | Spanish Civil War Page | Other listening options Spain had divided to the point of no return and the right-wing Nationalists, led by the army, had given up on democracy and launched an uprising, against the government. The uprising was only partially successful, leaving Spain split in two not only politically, but also geographically. There was then a scramble to get the support of foreign powers, to put armies in the field and to organize shattered command structures. This episode looks at the battles in the war as 1936 turned into 1937, as well as the civil war within the civil war. Madrid, Guernica, Republican infighting, and Nationalist consolidation are just a few of the areas we cover. rss feed | iTunes | Spanish Civil War Page | Other listening options See you soon, George Levrier-Jones