A history podcast discussing various cultural genres which reference the First World War, including detective fiction, Star Wars and death metal music, and ask why the First World War has particular popular cultural relevance.
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Firstworldwar Podcasts
A chronological deep dive into how the First World War changed Canada forever. This isn't just a look at battles, but what was going on at home, from the politicians leading the country to the people left behind at home, worrying about their loved ones overseas. It will follow the war and how it changed Canada, digging deep into a fascinating period of our history.
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It was the summer of 1917. Abelia Brody and Robert Bishop are two lonely people brought together by fate, in a time of war. Lilac Wine weaves their story through the lens of history. Join author Bruce Janu as he reads from his novel-in-progress, bringing his audience on a candid journey through the creative writing process. Become part of the process, offer suggestions and constructive criticism. Lilac Wine: The Podcast is a unique, crowd-edited novel in real-time. Join the discussion, make ...
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Can a story about soldiers shaking hands in the snow carry a warning for the nuclear age? This episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast brings Jessica, Chris and Angus together with Anne Marie Einhaus for a conversation about Robert Graves short story Christmas Truce. The story appears in the Penguin Book of First World War Stories and follows an elderl…
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In 1918, a German U-Boat emerged from the waters of the North Atlantic and fired a torpedo at HHMS Llandovery Castle. It became one of the worst atrocities of the First World War. Thank you to Nate Hendley for chatting with me for this episode. You can find his book Atrocity on the Atlantic here: https://www.dundurn.com/books_/t22117/a978145975134…
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Was Blackadder Goes Forth the most powerful portrayal of the First World War ever put on television? In this episode of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, Jessica, Chris and Angus take a look at the enduring legacy of Blackadder Goes Forth. First broadcast on BBC One in 1989, the series blended sharp wit and biting satire with a surprisingly moving look at…
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How did the First World War bring down Europe's great dynasties, and how did the BBC retell that story on screen? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, we look at Fall of Eagles, the 1974 BBC drama that charts the decline of the Romanovs, Hohenzollerns, and Habsburgs. Across 13 episodes, the series follows the personal rivalries, dynastic st…
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In this episode of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, Angus, Chris, Jessica, and returning guest Ann-Marie Einhaus discuss War-Time in Our Street by J. E. Buckrose. Set in a fictional Yorkshire village, these stories capture everyday resilience, humour, and quiet courage — from blackout chapel services and food shortages to romances and small acts of kindn…
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What do young adults think of First World War fiction aimed at them? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, we hand the mic to a group of young readers to hear their thoughts on The Boy I Loved by William Hussey, a novel exploring the impact of war on love, identity and loss. After their thoughtful reviews, Chris, Jessica and Angus reflect on…
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59 - The Great War and Modern Memory at 50
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What makes a 50-year-old book on WWI still essential reading? In this episode, Angus, Jessica, and Chris are joined by Ian Isherwood and Steven Trout, authors of But It Still Goes On: Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory at 50. We revisit Fussell's classic, exploring its legacy, impact, and the debates it continues to spark in the world o…
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What happens when a controversial real-life figure becomes the centre of one of the BBC's most politically charged wartime dramas? In this episode, we revisit The Monocled Mutineer (1986), Alan Bleasdale's adaptation of the story of Percy Toplis — alleged ringleader of the 1917 Étaples mutiny. The four-part series drew huge audiences but quickly be…
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What was the real story behind the BBC series Dope Girls? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, we dive into the world of Soho's underground nightlife in the 1920s, as seen in the BBC's new drama Dope Girls. The series takes inspiration from Marek Kohn's book Dope Girls: The Birth of the British Drug Underground and brings to life the turbul…
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What happens when a late-twentieth-century detective novelist develops strong opinions about the First World War? This month Angus, Jessica and Chris discuss Reginald Hill's The Wood Beyond (1995) and the short story 'Silent Night' from the collection A Candle for Christmas (2023). Along the way, we consider the significance of the genealogy boom t…
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During the First World War, over 2,800 Canadian women served as Nursing Sisters. They helped treat wounded soldiers and served as a bright light to many in a terrible and hellish time. In the war, 58 Nursing Sisters died. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: https://www.ohcanadashop.com/collections/canadian-history-ehx Donate: buymeacoffee.com/cra…
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What happens when you combine the First World War with a 1970s cult sci-fi classic? This month we watched 'Assignment 2' from the television series Sapphire & Steel which features a ghostly First World War soldier haunting an abandoned railway station. Along the way we discuss differing approaches to sacrifice, the idea of an 'unjust' death, and wh…
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While Tom Longboat is remembered as one of the greatest marathon runners in Canadian history, he also served Canada as a dispatch runner during the First World War. He dealt with racism, wounds and an imposter in the United States. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: https://www.ohcanadashop.com/collections/canadian-history-ehx Donate: buymeacoff…
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Anti-German Hysteria: Berlin Becomes Kitchener
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In 1916, Berlin, considered the German Capital of Canada, decided to change its name as anti-German hysteria gripped the nation during the First World War. This began a debate that deeply divided the community. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: https://www.ohcanadashop.com/collections/canadian-history-ehx Donate: buymeacoffee.com/craigu Donate:…
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During the last half of the war, three men captured the history of the First World War, with a bit of embellishment to capture what was happening in France. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: https://www.ohcanadashop.com/collections/canadian-history-ehx Donate: buymeacoffee.com/craigu Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.…
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54 - Ian Isherwood, The Battalion and Digital History
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What do you do when a student brings you a collection of family papers in a Harrods tin? This month, Chris, Angus and Jessica speak to Professor Ian Isherwood about his new book, The Battalion: Citizen Soldiers at War on the Western Front. Along the way, we discuss developing digital humanities projects, the involvement of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. L…
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How do you walk people through First World War landscapes? This month we welcome back Prof Mark Connelly to discuss his new walking tours endeavour Connelly Contours. Along the way we discuss war memorials in the London landscape, the evolution of remembrance, and if bad weather provides important context.…
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How do you teach the FIrst World War? This month we're joined by Dr Ann-Marie Einhaus and Prof Catriona Pennell to reflect on their 'First World War in the Classroom' project that explored the ways the conflict was taught in schools. Along the way we discuss the role of battlefield tours, the time constraints faced by teachers, and whether the cent…
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51 - Public History with Greg Jenner
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Can you turn the First World War into sketch comedy? This month we talk to the public historian, podcaster, and author Greg Jenner. Along the way we discuss his work on the Horrible Histories television show, the difficulties of being funny about twentieth-century history, the different ways in which the public now consume history, and why Jessica …
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What happens when the First World War meets pulp science fiction? This month we read the novel: Black Hand Gang (the first in the No Man's World trilogy) by Pat Kelleher. The book depicts a fictional battalion of British soldiers who are transported from the Somme to a strange alien world. As a result we discuss supernatural horror and the war, the…
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What happens when fantasy meets the First World War? This month, we read 'The Warm Hands of Ghosts' by Katherine Arden, a novel which follows Canadian nurse Laura Iven as she searches for her brother behind the lines in the militarised area known as the 'Forbidden Zone'. The plot hinges around a mysterious character called Faland, who runs an elusi…
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48 - No(Wo)man's Land: Writing history at the intersections of gender and First World War Studies
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This month Angus, Chris and Jessica discuss Jessica's professorial inaugural lecture, 'No (Wo)man's Land: writing history at the intersection of gender and First World War studies'. Along the way we consider the problem of masculinity as an empty analytic category, the importance of the centenary for the study of the First World War and what Jessic…
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What happens when three historians watch a key play about the First World War? This month we took a field trip to see Oh What A Lovely War at the Leeds Playhouse. As a result we discuss the nature of the performance, the changing image of Douglas Haig, and wonder whether audiences were supposed to sing along. ReferencesAlan Clark, The Donkeys (1961…
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What opportunities did the First World War provide for cultural tourism? This month Angus, Jessica and Chris speak to Allison Bennett, winner of the 2023 Gail Braybon Award for her work on war-time cross-cultural sexual encounters during the First World War. Along the way we discuss #MeToo, and the post-war legacies of these encounters for families…
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What happens when you turn a First World War medical process into a computer game? This month Angus, Jessica, and Chris take control of wartime medicine in the game War Hospital. Along the way we discuss the importance of evacuation, difficult ethical decisions, and why Chris' conscience is completely clear. If you listen to this episode and share …
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What happens when you turn the French experience of the war into a cooperative game? This month Jessica, Angus, and Chris played The Grizzled a cooperative game focused on guiding a group of French soldiers through the war. Along the way they discuss the morale boosting merits of different drinks, the difference between physical and mental traumas,…
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What happens when you set a telenovela in First World War France? This month Chris, Angus and Jessica review the Netflix limited series Les Combattantes (Women at War). Along the way, we discuss untranslatable words, the relationship between war atrocities and propaganda, recreational drug use, and the excellent communication links of a small-town …
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What should we take from a First World War documentary? Following our adventure to Canada for the International Society for First World War Studies conference, we welcome Prof Robert Burgoyne to discuss his keynote paper on the Peter Jackson film They Shall Not Grow Old (2018). Along the way, we explore the ways in which war films can quote from ea…
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