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HistoryExtra podcast - Did Britain really rule the waves?
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Did Britain really rule the waves?

HistoryExtra podcast

02/19/25

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46m

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It's often proclaimed that British sea power was at its pinnacle in the years following the French and Napoleonic wars. But was this really a time when Britain 'ruled the waves'? And how did the rise of steam, development of international communication and establishment of naval air services reshape Britain's strength and strategy at sea? Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Nicholas A M Rodger sketches out the history of the British navy, from the early 19th century up until 1945.

(Ad) Nicholas A M Rodger is the author of The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815 – 1945 (Penguin Books, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-price-of-victory%2Fn-a-m-rodger%2F9780713994124.

The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.

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undefined - Jane Austen: life of the week
Jane Austen: life of the week

February 18, 2025

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38m

Jane Austen remains one of the most influential novelists in English literature. Her sharp social commentary, wit, and exploration of love, class, and gender continue to captivate readers. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the author's birth, and a new BBC One drama, Miss Austen, is currently exploring her relationship with her sister Cassandra. Emily Briffett spoke to historian Lizzie Rogers to piece together Austen's life, from her cultured upbringing in a rural Hampshire village, to the turbulent Bath years and beyond.

The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.

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Next Episode

Men fighting pumas. Brutal prize-fights in sacred chapels. A pair of sisters who could pack a punch. In Victorian Britain, boxing offered up edge-of-your-seat entertainment to all levels of society. A new Disney Plus show A Thousand Blows transports viewers back to the ringside in Victorian London, and in this episode, Ellie Cawthorne speaks to the show's historical consultant Sarah Elizabeth Cox to uncover some of the extraordinary real stories that inspired the drama.

The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.

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