Christopher de Bellaigue's book The Lion House is a brilliant history of the first part of Suleiman the Magnificent's reign. I love history and I can't remember loving a history book more that this one. As I say in the podcast, I think it is an unabashed masterpiece and such a pleasure to read. Christopher tells the story in particular of two men at the court of Suleiman and their struggle to rise and prosper in extraordinarily difficult times. And it is the story also of Suleiman's love for his concubine (and later wife) Hurrem. Christopher is not only a great writer, he is also a superb conversationalist and I think this is an episode that everyone will enjoy.
Kaldellis on Byzantium - part 2
Anthony Kaldellis on Byzantium (Part 1)
Hampton Sides - the last voyage of Captain Cook
The Sin Eater
Ed West - From the Romans to Alfred the Great
John McWhorter and Scott Sumner - talking movies
Dikötter on Dictators
The Lives of East Germans - Katja Hoyer
Britons never will be slaves?
Italy, a ruin - part 2 of the Adventures of Belisarius and Antonina
Constantinople show its teeth - part 1 of the Adventures of Belisarius and Antonina
Mao's China with Frank Dikötter
Shipwreck, mutiny and murder
Sharp and Sumner: 6 Japanese movies
McWhorter and Holland - On dinosaurs
Acre 1291 - the final showdown
The Salem Witch trials with Stacy Schiff
Slavery in the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages
Talking movies with Scott Sumner
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Lore