How do we best preserve the history of World Wars? With Al James, Terry Deary and James Holland

About this episode

<p>Can a film turn history into mythology? What can a novel tell us about war that a history book can’t? How did a convicted murderer write one of the great wartime novels? And were the Romans really as civilised as we’ve been taught? </p><br><p>This week on <em>Ask Penguin</em>, Rhianna is joined by authors and podcasters <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/305659/al-murray" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Al Murray</a> and <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/43111/james-holland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James Holland</a> to talk about <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463563/arnhem-black-tuesday-by-murray-al/9781804995457" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Arnhem: Black Tuesday</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460347/cassino-44-by-holland-james/9781804993637" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cassino ’44</a></em>, two books that look beyond the grand narratives of the Second World War to the people caught up in them.</p><br><p>Together they explore the overlooked voices, personal accounts and unexpected characters that give history its humanity. Plus, <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/304506/terry-deary" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Terry Deary</a> joins us to talk about his latest book, <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462484/a-history-of-britain-in-ten-enemies-by-deary-terry/9781804994979" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A History of Britain in Ten Enemies</a></em>, forgotten heroes, questionable national myths and why he has such a strong dislike for the Romans. </p><br><p>For the full list of books plus transcript visit: <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2024/12/episode-10-the-penguin-podcast-history-speical?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode 6: History Special</a></p><br><p>Books and authors mentioned in this episode:</p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463563/arnhem-black-tuesday-by-murray-al/9780857506566?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Arnhem Black Tuesday</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463563/arnhem-black-tuesday-by-murray-al/9780857506566?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by Al Murray</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460347/cassino-44-by-holland-james/9780857505538?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Casino ’44</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460347/cassino-44-by-holland-james/9780857505538?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by James Holland</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462484/a-history-of-britain-in-ten-enemies-by-deary-terry/9780857506351?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A History of Britain in Ten Enemies</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462484/a-history-of-britain-in-ten-enemies-by-deary-terry/9780857506351?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by Terry Deary</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/468655/the-cauldron-by-zeno/9781804996621?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Cauldron</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/468655/the-cauldron-by-zeno/9781804996621?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by Zeno</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1010/scoop-by-evelyn-waugh/9780141907178?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scoop</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1010/scoop-by-evelyn-waugh/9780141907178?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by Evelyn Waugh</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1010/scoop-by-evelyn-waugh/9780141907178?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mary Queen of Scots</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1010/scoop-by-evelyn-waugh/9780141907178?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by Alison Weir</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/57119/the-go-between-by-hartley-l-p/9780141187785?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Go-Between</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/57119/the-go-between-by-hartley-l-p/9780141187785?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by L.P. Hartley</a></p><p><em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/57239/sword-of-honour-by-waugh-evelyn/9780141184975?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Swords of Honour</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/57239/sword-of-honour-by-waugh-evelyn/9780141184975?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode10&amp;utm_source=acast&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> by Evelyn Waugh</a></p><br><p>Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk.</p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcast?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode3&amp;utm_source=penguinwebsite&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.penguin.co.uk/podcast</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>