Half-Arsed History

This week in history we’ve got an ancient volcanic eruption, we’ve got a prime minister being devoured, we’ve got a mysterious gas cloud killing thousands - and we’ve got Edmund Halley discovering something important about the famous comet that still bears his name today.

Half-Arsed History is going on tour yet again - this time across the entire country - to celebrate the release of The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of!For the first time, as part of this tour I'm coming to both Perth and Adelaide, in addition to shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and at home on the Sunshine Coast.Maroochydore - 6:00pm 2nd October at Harry Hartog: Tickets available soonSydney - 6:00pm 6th October at Dymocks City Store, tickets $12*: https://events.humanitix.com/riley-knightBrisbane - 6:00pm 7th October at Brisbane Square Library: Tickets available soonAdelaide - 6:00pm 9th October at North Adelaide Library, tickets free: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1641949Melbourne - 6:00pm 14th October at Robinson's Bookshop, The Glen, tickets free: https://www.simpletix.com/e/riley-knight-tickets-289831Melbourne - 6:30pm 15th October at North Fitzroy Library, tickets $15**: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1635329Perth - 6:00pm 16th October at City of Vincent Library, tickets free: https://events.humanitix.com/the-most-interesting-people-you-have-never-heard-of-with-riley-knightBrisbane - 10:00am 21st October at Capalaba Library, tickets free: https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/Libraries/Whats-on-at-your-library?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D206622862Due to time constraints at the venues, these shows will be a little shorter than last year's - a quick chat, a chapter, a Q&A, then some time for signings.Copies of the book will be available for purchase at each show, and I'll be more than happy to sign it and take a quick snap with you if you'd like. Can't wait to see you there!*Ticket price includes light refreshments.**Ticket price includes a welcome drink.

In this week's episode, learn all about the capture of the USS Chesapeake, a fascinating duel that took place between two frigates during the War of 1812.

This week in history we’ve got the birth of a great friend of the show, we’ve got a marvel of modern engineering, we’ve got armies mobilising to cut down a tree - and we’ve got an audacious heist of gunpowder which was instrumental to the American Revolution.

In this week's episode, meet Vincent van Gogh, the famous Dutch painter whose colourful and vivid paintings stood in sharp contrast to his difficult and troubled life.

This week in history we’ve got the defeat of a great Spanish fleet, we’ve got the construction of a famous but slightly wobbly Italian landmark, we’ve got the infamous end of a US presidency - and we’ve got the time a US general slapped one of his soldiers, again.

In this week's episode, hear all about the deadly horrors of the Plague of Athens, and tackle the question - what was the plague itself, in the first place?

This week in history we’ve got ancient Romans slaughtered by the thousand, we’ve got champagne not getting invented, we’ve got the disaster that was the first transatlantic telegraph cable, and we’ve got a famous physics demonstration held on the Moon.

In this week's episode, learn all about one of the most important and iconic conflicts from the history of Ancient Greece: the Peloponnesian War, when the rivalry between Athens and Sparta was settled once and for all.