‘The historian without his facts is rootless and futile; the facts without their historian are dead and meaningless’ (E.H.Carr, 1892-1982)

Welcome to Histories of the Unexpected, where you will discover the history of things that you did not know had a history; like the history of relics, or the history of rubbers.

For this episode, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis continue their exploration of ‘how to be a historian’.

James and Sam re-open the archives as they focus their attention on children’s history. Listen out for their review of Horrible Histories, discussion of historical teaching and the power and duty of the historian. Carry on researching, as our illustrious duo explore who is writing history, how much we should believe of what they write and the ever present danger of lies, deceit and hoaxes.

Tune-in, as Sam and James show how the discussion of children’s history and ideas of ‘simplification’ can lead into debates on the reality of the past, and its power to control the present.

‘He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past’ (George Orwell, 1903-1950)