Books are often seen as “victims” of combat. When the flames of warfare turn libraries to ashes, we grieve this loss as an immense human and cultural tragedy. But that’s not the complete picture. Books were used in war across the twentieth...
Oct 27
Amazon Won’t Destroy Bookshops Because 600 Years of Disruptions Haven’t Either
In 1784, a young German immigrant named Bernard Quaritch walked into the London office of Henry George Bohn, one of the largest booksellers in England, and told him: "Mr Bohn, you are the first bookseller in England. I mean to become the first bookseller in Europe." Bohn hired hi ... Show More
46m 55s
Oct 22
The Ancient World's Best Military Technology Was Constantinople's City Walls
On May 29, 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II captured Constantinople, bringing an end to over a thousand years of Byzantine rule. The city's formidable walls, which had stood nearly impenetrable for eight centuries, finally fell to hisforces. With its conquest, Constantinople was de ... Show More
39m 36s
Dec 2023
574 The Book at War (with Andrew Pettegree) | My Last Book with Robin Lane Fox
Books are often viewed as the pinnacle of civilization; war, on the other hand, is where civilization breaks down. What happens when these two forces encounter one another? In this episode, Jacke talks to esteemed literary historian Andrew Pettegree about his new book, The Book a ... Show More
52m 1s
May 2022
In honor of Memorial Day: 'When Books Went to War'
During World War II, as American publishers sought ways to support the troops abroad, they began printing small, pocket-sized books that soldiers could fit anywhere. In When Books Went to War, Molly Guptill Manning tells the story of these little printed editions and how they ser ... Show More
7m 55s
Jan 2023
The Library: A Fragile History
In the first episode of 2023, Kate Whiting speaks to academics and authors Professor Andrew Pettegree and Dr Arthur der Weduwen about their book The Library: A Fragile History. They discuss why, despite our love of collecting books, they have often been neglected and become tools ... Show More
32m 33s
Apr 2022
Lithuanian Book Smugglers Vs. The Russian Empire
When people think of rebellion, they often think of guerilla warfare, rousing speeches and protests. But what about books? When the Russian Empire sought to "Russify" much of what is now Lithuania, the Tsar's forces waged a war against culture, forcing children to learn a Cyrilli ... Show More
43m 17s