History Book Club

Welcome to the History Book Club - the club for all lovers of history, presented by Oliver Webb-Carter, formerly of Aspects of History. Oliver interviews authors of the best historical writing, to draw out the stories that you'll be interested in. Every month will also feature the History Film Club, as historian Roger Moorhouse and director Tim Hewitt join to discuss a historical movie. Get in touch if you want a particular area of history to be covered, because at the History Book Club, members are the most important people of all.

History Book Club is a history podcast hosted by Oliver Webb-Carter, with 42 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Oliver Webb-Carter hosts History Book Club, a history show with 42 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  History Book Club

  38. Henry VIII with Steven Veerapen

  Sep 13, 202645 min

  Was Henry VIII a psychopath? Was he black? Now those are probably wildly ahistorical questions, but the man who exemplifies kingship, that famous Holbein painting looming over us all, dominates the Tudor dynasty. His daughter became England’s finest queen, and his wife has fascinated us since she seduced Henry and he broke with Rome to marry her. Joining today is Steven Veerapen, author of Overlord, as we discuss Henry, his personality, and his imperial designs as Ireland was added to his kingdom. For those listeners who are sickened by the adverts that I’m forced to add to this podcast, I have an answer for you. AKOUVA is a new adfree facility for you to listen to the History Book Club without those pesky ads. Simply use the Promo Code HBC at ⁠this link⁠, and you can then avoid being subjected to financial services companies trying to persuade you to part with your cash. You get the first month free with the code, then after that it’s a mere £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year. Steven Veerapen Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Overlord: The Life & Reign of Henry VIII Louis Theroux episode with the black nationalists - Henry VIII was "definitely black". History Book Club For Ad free listening sign up to ⁠AKOUVA⁠ using the code HBC ⁠⁠⁠⁠History Book Club Book List⁠⁠⁠⁠ Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  History Book Club

  37. The Man Who Saved the SAS with Tim Spicer

  Sep 6, 202650 min

  The SAS has often faced threats from the corridors of power. Since its inception in the North African desert during the Second World War, senior officers and civil servants have treated The Regiment with at the very least doubt, and at worst, as was seen after the end of the war, downright hostility when it was disbanded in November 1945. Enter one man, Brian Franks, an SAS man but one who was comfortable in the bar at White’s club in St. James’ schmoozing those sceptics. He had had an extraordinary war, and his biographer, Tim Spicer, joins to discuss him and to speculate as to whether the SAS, again under threat, has people like Franks in the corridors of power today? For those listeners who are sickened by the adverts that I’m forced to add to this podcast, I have an answer for you. AKOUVA is a new adfree facility for you to listen to the History Book Club without those pesky ads. Simply use the Promo Code HBC at this link, and you can then avoid being subjected to financial services companies trying to persuade you to part with your cash. You get the first month free with the code, then after that it’s a mere £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year. Coming up, I have a books on Henry VIII, Inventions that built the world and Greta Garbo so please share with friends and family and if you can give a kind rating I’d be grateful. Tim Spicer Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ An Axe & Four Balloons: Brian Franks, The Man Who Saved the SAS History Book Club For Ad free listening sign up to AKOUVA using the code HBC ⁠⁠⁠History Book Club Book List⁠⁠⁠ Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  History Book Club

  Bonus: Alexander the Great Lives

  Sep 3, 202642 min

  Have you ever dreamed of what might have happened had Alexander the Great not died in 323BC? I have often thought about this, imagining his campaigns continuing to the Western Mediterranean, most particularly Rome and Carthage. Today is a bit of daydreaming and alternate reality as I chat with Patrick Larkin, who has created, using AI, films on YouTube of this ‘what if’ scenario as Alexander dies after a long reign, and his many sons fight for the throne. The Last Prince Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  History Book Club

  36. Alexander the Great with Edmund Richardson

  Aug 30, 20261 hour

  Some say Alexander was the greatest general of all time, whilst others say he was a genocidal tyrant. In his lifetime conquered more than most empires manage in hundreds of years. He is, though an enigma. Impossible to pin down, which is why he is so endlessly fascinating to historians since antiquity. Is he a god, a king, a man or a boy? Joining today is Edmund Richardson, author of a new book about the Macedonian ruler, as we discuss key points of his life, milestones that perhaps help us understand the kind of man he was. Coming up, a bonus on a new AI movie on YT which asks the question, what if Alexander’s son survived and ruled in his place? It’s a bit of fun so do look out for that. Plenty more history on the way including Henry VIII and the SAS in WW2, so please share with friends and family and if you can leave a good rating I’d be most grateful Edmund Richardson Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alexander: God, King, Man Moot Trial of Alexander ⁠⁠History Book Club Book List⁠⁠ Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  History Book Club

  Bonus Film Club: The Odyssey (2026)

  Aug 26, 20261h 9m

  The Odyssey is the new epic from Christopher Nolan, starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson. Tim Hewitt joins me as we discuss casting, accents, costume, Batman, Batman costumes and plenty more. Spoilers are a possibility, though if you’re familiar with the Odyssey I wouldn’t worry. Coming up will be an Alexander special as Edmund Richardson joins to discuss his new biography of the great man, and there’s a new AI generated movie about Alexander’s Successors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Awards Best Performance Most Egregious Overracting Biggest Plot Flaw Historical Inaccuracy What if Tarantino Made It? Who won the film? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠History Book Club Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on History Book Club. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.