An award winning Historian, Wolfson History Books shortlisted author, Documentary maker and Booker Prize judge talks about her love of history and writing. 

On this episode of the Authors of History Podcast I am joined by award winning historian and author Helen Castor. Helen Castor is a historian of the later middle ages and sixteenth century. She studied for her BA and PhD at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and was elected to a Research Fellowship at Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1993. Helen has presented programmes for BBC television, Channel 4 and BBC Radio, including Radio 4’s Making History, and documentaries based on She-Wolves and Joan of Arc for BBC Four and BBC Two. Her book Blood &amp; Roses is a biography of the fifteenth-century Paston family, whose remarkable letters are the earliest surviving collection of private correspondence in the English language. Blood &amp; Roses was longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction in 2005, and was awarded the Beatrice White Prize (for outstanding scholarly work in the field of English Literature before 1590) by the English Association in 2006. Helen's next book, She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth, was widely selected as one of the books of the year for 2010. In 2014, her book Joan of Arc: A History, was selected as one of the books of the year in the Sunday Times, Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Mail on Sunday and the Evening Standard, and longlisted for the PEN America/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography in 2015. Her most recent book, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, was published in 2024 to great acclaim. It was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction in 2025, shortlisted for the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography in 2025, and named the Telegraph's Best Book of the Year for 2024 and shortlisted for the Wolfson History prize. In 2022 Helen was part of the judging for the Booker prize. Helen Castor excels at bringing complex medieval narratives to life, focusing on powerful women, social mobility, political intrigue, and the human stories behind major historical events like the Wars of the Roses and the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV.&nbsp; If you like the Authors of History Podcast and would like to support its continued development please by me a coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/authorsofhistorypod

Authors of History with Helen Castor

Wolfson History Prize nominated author talks about her brilliant book 'The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective'

On this episode of the Authors of History Podacast I am joined by Wolfson History Prize nominated historian and author Sara Lodge. Sara is Professor of nineteenth-century literature and culture at the University of St Andrews. She is the author of four books and many articles: she writes regularly for papers including the Scotsman, the Times Literary Supplement and the Wall Street Journal. She is also an experienced radio broadcaster, whose documentaries have appeared on RTE Lyric FM and other stations. Her latest book, The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective was featured on Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio London, in the Guardian, the Telegraph (which gave it five stars and dubbed it ‘a joy to read’), the Sunday Times (which called it ‘a revelation’) and the Scotsman (which picked it as one of the Scottish Books of the Year 2024). It has been shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, Britain’s biggest prize for history writing. She’s now working on her next book, The Haunted Causeway: magic, pilgrimage and imagination on the paths to Britain’s tidal islands. She’s also hoping to turn her research on Victorian female detectives into a drama series. The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective&nbsp;(Yale University Press, 2024) is out in paperback in August 2025!&nbsp;Telegraph***** 'A new history of female detectives blends academic rigour with vivid and witty storytelling…it’s an ideal mixture and one that makes The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective a joy to read.'&nbsp;The Sunday Times&nbsp;‘A revelation…move over, Sherlock!’&nbsp;The Literary Review&nbsp;'Lodge has marshalled the treasures of her research with enormous skill and style, producing a book of true importance, a bracing rethink of Victorian history that for the first time shows to what extent females, in life and in fiction, were going about police work undetected.'&nbsp;Brisbane Times&nbsp;&nbsp;“[A] marvellous piece of scholarly detective work.”<a href="https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300277883/the-mysterious-case-of-the-victorian-female-detective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300277883/the-mysterious-case-of-the-victorian-female-detective/</a>

Authors of History with Sara Lodge

2025 Wolfson History Prize winner Hannah Durkin talks about her journey as an author and her award winning book Survivors - The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade

On this very special episode of the Authors of History Podcast I talk to the newly announced winner of the 2025 Wolfson History Book Prize, author and historian Hannah Durkin. Hannah is a researcher in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Black Atlantic history and culture with specialist expertise in transatlantic slavery and its legacies. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Nottingham and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from Leeds Trinity University. Her research has been featured in the New York Times, London Times, NPR, the BBC, and many other news outlets throughout Africa, Europe, and North America.&nbsp; Hannah's 2025 award winning Wolfson History Book is: Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade (HarperCollins, 2024). This book tells the stories of the survivors of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to land on U.S. soil when it docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama in July 1860. The individual voices that this book brings together tell an exceptionally detailed and wide-ranging account of the transatlantic slave trade, slavery and freedom from the perspectives of its survivors. Survivors has been shortlisted for the 2025 Wolfson History Prize, the UK’s most prestigious history prize, and the 2024 Historical Writers’ Association Non-Fiction Crown Award. It was named as one of Amazon’s Best Books of 2024, one of the Washington Post’s “50 Notable Works of Nonfiction from 2024,” and a New Yorker recommended book of 2024. This episode was recorded before the winner was announced.

Author of History with Hannah Durkin

An authors journey from Australia and Self Publishing to a prestigious RAF award and Norway. 

On this episode of the Authors of History podcast I am joined by Author, Historian and Podcaster Jane Gulliford Lowes. Jane is a writer, a historian, and podcaster from the northeast of England. She has been obsessed with history and especially World War II and the social history of the Northeast from an early age. She holds a degree in law and a master's degree in the Second World War studies. Jane was awarded the RAF Museum's Prestigious Academic Award in 2023 for her thesis on RAF Bomber Command Gardening Operations, which is also the subject of her latest book. The Invisible Campaign. Jane's first book The Horsekeeper's Daughter was published in 2017. It tells the true story of one of the hundreds of women who left the North East mining villages in the 1880s to travel alone to Australia, to start new lives. Her second book, Above Us The Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story, focuses on the experiences of a young Bomber Command aircrewman during World War 2, and of the family he left behind in the small mining town of Seaham Harbour. She has also published 2 ebooks, She Was Only A Coalminer's Daughter - Stories of a Seaham Childhood, and How to Write Your Family History - A Beginner's Guide, both exclusively available on Amazon Kindle. Jane is also a podcatser, the producer and co-host of the popular Bomber Command podcast, Nevermind the Dam Busters.

Authors of History with Jane Gulliford Lowes

Wolfpack: Inside Hitlers U boats - A historians journey from researcher to world reknowned author

Roger Moorhouse is a historian and author whose latest book WOLFPACK: Inside Hitler's U-Boat War is published on 9th October 2025 by William Collins Publishers. Roger Moorhouse specialises in Nazi Germany, Poland and World War Two in Europe. After studying history at the School of Slavonic and East European History, London University, Roger graduated with an MA in 1994. Thereafter, he worked as researcher for Professor Norman Davies for many years, co-authoring with him the history of Wroclaw (Breslau) “Microcosm: Portrait of a Central European City”, which was published in three languages in 2002. A fluent German speaker, Roger is a specialist in modern German and Polish history, particularly the Third Reich and World War Two. He has written a number of books in this capacity, including&nbsp;Killing Hitler&nbsp;(2006),&nbsp;Berlin at War&nbsp;(2010),&nbsp;The Devils’ Alliance&nbsp;(2014), the critically acclaimed&nbsp;First to Fight&nbsp;(2019) which was awarded the Polish Foreign Ministry History Prize in 2020, and&nbsp;The Forgers&nbsp;(2023) which was a&nbsp;Telegraph&nbsp;Best History Book and&nbsp;Spectator&nbsp;Book of the Year. Roger’s books have appeared in more than 20 languages. Roger is a regular broadcaster, book reviewer and public speaker, and has been a visiting professor at the College of Europe in Warsaw, since 2016. He was honoured to have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2015, and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic in 2020, for services to Polish history.

Authors of History with Roger Moorhouse

From battlefield guide to ambassador for the Taxi Charity for Veterans , a journey into history and becomeing an author.

On this episode of the Authors of History Podcast I am joined by author, historian, battlefield guide and charity ambassador Ben Mayne. Bens books "Wagons Roll : A Memoir of the East Riding Yeomanry - Alan King" was published in 2023. Ben Mayne is a battlefield historian, guide, and advisor for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.&nbsp;He specializes in the Second World War, with a focus on the Normandy and Commando Operations. His journey in to history is one of walking the ground, learning on his feet and a passion for keeping alive the stories of all those involved in World War 2. Ben Mayne is the UK Director for Liberations Europe UK - https://www.lre-uk.org/about-us/ LRE United Kingdom (LRE&nbsp;UK) was founded in December&nbsp;2020.&nbsp;The main objective is to create a network of museums, organisations and locations across the UK to highlight the history and heritage of the UK during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. This includes highlighting the stories of many of those Allied nations who came to the UK to fight the oppression of the Nazi’s and eventually liberated Europe.&nbsp;LRE&nbsp;UK aims to promote respect for and dissemination of the universal values of peace, freedom and democracy. LRE UK collaborates with&nbsp;organisations working&nbsp;in various capacities for the enhancement and the preservation of Second World War memory and is the UK branch of the wider international organisation, LRE Foundation.

Authors of History with Ben Mayne

A historian and authors experience of writing about Roman commanders and generals.  

On this episdoe of the Authors of History Podcast I am joined by historian and author Lindsay Powell. I talk to him about his journey into history, writing about the Romans and lessons learned in his research and also meeting famous authors. His latest book "Tiberius - From Masterly Commander to Masterful Emperor" is published by Pen and Sword. Lindsay Powell&nbsp;is a historian and a writer who has a passion for the military history of the Roman Empire. He is news editor of&nbsp;Ancient History&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ancient Warfare&nbsp;magazines. His appearances include BBC Radio, Dan Snow’s&nbsp;History Hit&nbsp;and&nbsp;History Channel.&nbsp; He is author of&nbsp;Augustus at War,&nbsp;Eager for Glory,&nbsp;Germanicus&nbsp;and&nbsp;Marcus Agrippa&nbsp;from Pen and Sword Books. A graduate from Aston University, he is a veteran of The Ermine Street Guard re-enactment society.&nbsp;He divides his time between Austin, Texas and Wokingham, England.

Authors of History with Lindsay Powell

An authors experience of writing for young adults in the USA and self publishing her first novel

On this episode of the Authors of History Podcast, I talk to American author and historian Kathryn J Atwood about writing non-fiction for young adults and self publishing her first novel. Kathryn has written multiple young adult collective biographies on women and war for Chicago Review Press. Her first book, Women Heroes of World War II, gets all the attention, but Booklist gave Kathryn's book on the Pacific Theater of WWII a starred review and likened each chapter to "a cliff-hanger screenplay." And Courageous Women of the Vietnam War was honored with one of those awards that to unfocused eyes sort of resembles the Newbery Medal. Her first novel, The Belgian Girls, was born of Kathryn's admiration for the European resisters of both world wars, especially Gabrielle Petit, a young Belgian woman who worked for British Intelligence during the First World War. Kathryn has been seen on WGN TV, "America: Fact vs. Fiction," and the Acorn TV series, "Deception: WWII"; heard on the BBC World Service's "History Hour" program and BBC America; published in The Historian and War, Literature &amp; the Arts; and featured as a guest speaker at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, and the Atlanta History Center.

Authors of History with Kathryn J Atwood

Award winning Author, Historian and Broadcaster Phil Craig discusses his journey into history, writing and television

Phil Craig is a best selling author and multiple-award-winning film-maker, producer and TV network executive. A former RAF cadet pilot, Phil studied history at Cambridge University, was a BBC graduate trainee and built his career working for iconic British current affairs series&nbsp;World in Action&nbsp;and&nbsp;Panorama, where he became senior producer.&nbsp;Later he became joint head of programmes at the prestigious Brook Lapping production company, where he made a range of contemporary and historical films for the BBC, Channel Four, PBS in America, Discovery, Nat Geo and numerous other international clients. He went on to run departments at the Discovery Channel and at ABC Television in Australia, where he supervised the entire factual output of the national broadcaster including its high profile ANZAC centenary project in 2015.&nbsp;Throughout his TV and writing career Phil has spent many years researching and reinterpreting the story of Britain and its Empire during the Second World War, including his definitive and bestselling account of 1940 –&nbsp;Finest Hour.&nbsp;&nbsp;His account of the battle of Trafalgar –&nbsp;Trafalgar: the Men, the Battle, the Storm&nbsp;– was nominated for the Mountbatten Maritime Prize and his biography of Diana, Princess of Wales –&nbsp;Diana: Story of a Princess&nbsp;– was a bestseller in both the UK and USA. His latest book 1945:The Reckoning was published by Hodder and Stoughton in April 2025.

Authors of History with Phil Craig

A podcast for history book lovers everywhere

The Authors of History Podcast talks to authors of history books from around the world and across history. Celebrating them as authors, talking to them about their inspiration to write and the subjects they write about. Their writing process and challenges they face, new books they have coming up and gets them to recommend a author or history book we all should read. Supporting independent books shops

Authors of History Podcast

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