Originally published on October 4, 2021 (Episode 226)
Introduction
Walk into an American bookshop and you might think that the only two events in human history were the Civil War and the Second World War. In England, the list is different but equally short: the Tudors (Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and the Armada) and the Second World War. In his Adventures in Time series—written for children of all ages but especially for his son Arthur—Dominic Sandbrook dives into both. The first volumes, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and The Second World War, combine narrative energy with an eye for the telling detail, making familiar stories vivid again.
Sandbrook’s own road to Tudors and Nazis has been anything but predictable. He began with a biography of Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, then started a sweeping series on Britain after 1957 that was supposed to be just one book. Apparently he needed a break, so he started another series.
We discuss the history books that we read as boys—the Ladybird books for him, Landmark books for me—as well as many other things: the importance of including blood and gore, as well as a good map. Eventually we move onto other important issues, such as how Association Football in the 1990s achieved an even greater cultural power in Britain than it had had previously.
About the Guest
Dominic Sandbrook is a historian and author of numerous books on modern Britain, . His Adventures in Time series introduces younger readers to defining moments in history. He also writes widely in the British press and with Tom Holland co-hosts The Rest is History, which is another history podcast.
For Further Investigation
Dominic Sandbrook, Who Dares Wins: Britain, 1979-1982 (Penguin, 2020)
The Rest is History podcast, co-hosted with Tom Holland
💬 Listen & Discuss
What history books first grabbed your attention as a child—or made you want to keep reading history as an adult? Share your thoughts in the comments — and consider forwarding this episode to a friend who would enjoy the conversation.
