Oh! What a Lovely Podcast

My Soul, A Shining Tree What does the First World War look like when it arrives not as a battle, but as an invasion of home, family, and childhood? In this episode of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, we discuss My So...

What does the #FWW look like when it arrives as an invasion of home, family, & childhood?

We discuss 'My Soul, A Shining Tree', by Jamila Gavin that explores the war's opening months through the experiences of children, civilians, & young soldiers. 🗃️

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A Very Long Engagement What does the First World War look like when the story is driven not by battles, but by loss, hope and unanswered questions? In this episode of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, we turn to A Ve...

How does the #FWW look when the story is driven by loss, hope and unanswered questions?

This month we watch 'A Very Long Engagement'. It centres on Mathilde, who refuses to accept her fiancé has died after being condemned by a French military tribunal. 🗃️

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The Choral Can a film about the First World War work without trenches or battles? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, Angus, Jessica and Chris discuss the 2025 film The Choral, which uses ...

Can a #FWW film work without trenches or battles?

This month we discuss the film 'The Choral', which uses song & collective experience to explore the War's impact on a northern English community & consider how it challenges expectations.

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Christmas Truce Can a story about soldiers shaking hands in the snow carry a warning for the nuclear age? This episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast brings Jessica, Chris and Angus together with Anne Mari...

Can a story about #FWW soldiers carry a warning for the nuclear age?

This month Anne Marie Einhaus returns for Robert Graves' short story 'Christmas Truce' where a veteran recounts his wartime experience to his anti-Nuclear Weapons campaigning Grandson.

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/chri...

Blackadder Was Blackadder Goes Forth the most powerful portrayal of the First World War ever put on television? In this episode of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, Jessica, Chris and Angus take a look at...

Was Blackadder Goes Forth the most powerful portrayal of the #FWW ever put on television?

This month we take a look at the show's enduring legacy & discuss how it evolved, historical realities behind its humour, & why the final scene still resonates. 🗃️

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Fall of Eagles How did the First World War bring down Europe’s great dynasties, and how did the BBC retell that story on screen? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, we look at Fall of Eagles, ...

How did the #FWW bring down Europe’s great dynasties, & how did the BBC retell it in 1974?

We watched Fall of Eagles, which charted the decline of the Romanovs, Hohenzollerns, & Habsburgs. We evaluate the strengths & weaknesses of this ambitious show. 🗃️

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61 - War-Time In Our Street What can a 1917 short story collection tell us about life on the British home front during the First World War? In this episode of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, Angus, Chris, Jessica, and r...

What can a 1917 short story collection tell us about the British home front during the #FWW?

This month Ann-Marie Einhaus discusses War-Time in Our Street by J. E. Buckrose.

These stories capture everyday resilience and humour amid wartime hardships. 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/61-w...

The Boy I Loved What do young adults think of First World War fiction aimed at them? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, we hand the mic to a group of young readers to hear their thoughts on Th...

What do young adults think of #FWW fiction aimed at them?

In this episode we hear, and discuss, the thoughts of a group of young readers on 'The Boy I Loved' by William Hussey, a novel exploring the impact of war on love, identity and loss. 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/the-...

I would be remiss if I didn't suggest Jonathan F. Vance's "Death So Noble: Memory, Meaning, and the First World War" as a must read in the understanding memory of World War 1.

It's connection to Fussell's work is mentioned in the book itself.
#history #militaryhistory #ww1

New episode alert! This month we're joined by @iaisherwood.bsky.social & Steven Trout to discuss their analysis of Paul Fussell's book 'The Great War and Modern Memory' and discuss its legacy and ongoing impact! 🗃️

The Great War and Modern Memory at 50 What makes a 50-year-old book on WWI still essential reading? In this episode, Angus, Jessica, and Chris are joined by Ian Isherwood and Steven Trout, authors of But It Still Goes On: Pa...

What makes a 50-year-old #FWW book still essential reading?

We welcome @iaisherwood.bsky.social & Steven Trout authors of 'But It Still Goes On: Paul Fussell’s The Great War & Modern Memory at 50' to revisit Fussell’s classic & the debates it still sparks

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/50-t...

The Monocled Mutineer What happens when a controversial real-life figure becomes the centre of one of the BBC’s most politically charged wartime dramas? In this episode, we revisit The Monocled Mutineer (1986...

What happens when a real-life figure becomes the focus of a controversial BBC #FWW drama?

This month, we revisit 'The Monocled Mutineer'.
We examine its reception, the events at Etaples, & discuss how the show explored class & military discipline 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/the-...

In which I get over-excited and grumpy and reflect on what #DopeGirls tells us about how we (mis)remember #20s30s Britain today.

Thanks to @thehistorygirl1.bsky.social @chriskempshall.bsky.social @anguswallace.bsky.social for asking me onto the podcast and humouring my obsessions.

Dope Girls What was the real story behind the BBC series Dope Girls? In this episode of Oh What a Lovely Podcast, we dive into the world of Soho’s underground nightlife in the 1920s, as seen in the...

What was the real story behind the BBC series Dope Girls?

This month we're joined by @tricksterprince.bsky.social to explore the real figures & stories, the shifting social post-war landscape, & the era’s struggles with gender, crime, & morality. 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/dope...

Reginald Hill What happens when a late-twentieth-century detective novelist develops strong opinions about the First World War? This month Angus, Jessica and Chris discuss Reginald Hill's The Wood Bey...

What happens when a late-20thC detective novelist has strong opinions on the #FWW?

We discuss Reginald Hill’s 'The Wood Beyond' & the short story ‘Silent Night’ & consider the significance of the genealogy boom & the politics of the Shot at Dawn campaign 🗃️
ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/regi...

The 2nd keynote at our 2025 Research Conference will be delivered by @thehistorygirl1.bsky.social, of our hosts @universityofleeds.bsky.social, and @owalpodcast.bsky.social. Her career has focused on social & cultural history of the #FWW, considering gender, medicine, & disability.

Starting off the New Year strong talking with these lovely folks. Thanks for having me on such a great podcast.

Ian Isherwood, The Battalion and Digital History What do you do when a student brings you a collection of family papers in a Harrods tin? This month, Chris, Angus and Jessica speak to Professor Ian Isherwood about his new book, The Bat...

What do you do when a student brings you family papers in a Harrods tin?

We speak to @iaisherwood.bsky.social about his new book, 'The Battalion: Citizen Soldiers at War on the Western Front'. We also discuss digital humanities projects and bad war poetry

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/ian-...

Very much enjoyed this. A lifetime ago I used to live and work in London, and there are many small war memorials but do remember a lot were also lost in WW2. This is a good example though on St Martin's Vestry wall just a few minutes walk from Charing Cross.

Walking Tours How do you walk people through First World War landscapes?This month we welcome back Prof Mark Connelly to discuss his new walking tours endeavour Connelly Contours. Along the way we discuss war memor...

How do you walk people through First World War landscapes?

We welcome back Prof Mark Connelly to discuss his new walking tours endeavour Connelly Contours. We discuss war memorials in the London landscape,& if bad weather provides important context 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/walk...

Tell us your favourite podcast of 2024 We would like to hear about your favourite new podcast you’ve been listening to this year and why

If you’ve been a fan of us this year, then let @theguardian.com know!

Tell us your favourite podcast of 2024 www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

I took part in this at the centenary and it was wonderful. We had access to such rich sources. A massive thanks to Ann-Marie for involving me in the project!

History Teacher folks, this is something you must listen to, so many interesting thoughts on how we teach the FWW.
It's a conflict with so many angles to it that you could teach it anyway you wanted.

Teaching the First World War How do you teach the FIrst World War? This month we're joined by Dr Ann-Marie Einhaus and Prof Catriona Pennell to reflect on their 'First World War in the Classroom' project that explored t...

How do you teach the First World War?

Dr Ann-Marie Einhaus & Prof Catriona Pennell join us to reflect on the ‘First World War in the Classroom’ project. We discuss battlefield tours, time constraints of teachers, & if the centenary changed anything 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/teac...

51 - Public History with Greg Jenner Can you turn the First World War into sketch comedy? This month we talk to the public historian, podcaster, and author Greg Jenner. Along the way we discuss his work on the Horrible Historie...

Can you turn the First World War into sketch comedy?

This month we talk to the public historian, podcaster, & author @gregjenner.bsky.social. We discuss his work on the Horrible Histories TV show & the difficulties of being funny about 20thC history. 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/51-p...

Oh What a Lovely War What happens when three historians watch a key play about the First World War? This month we took a field trip to see Oh What A Lovely War at the Leeds Playhouse. As a result we discuss the ...

What happens when 3 historians watch a key play about the #FWW? This month we went to see Oh What A Lovely War at the Leeds Playhouse. We discuss the performance, the changing image of Douglas Haig, & wonder whether audiences were supposed to sing along. 🗃️

ohwhatalovelypodcast.co.uk/podcast/oh-w...

Alternatively, if that doesn't work, then let us know a good way to contact you and we'll get you hooked up with the code!

Ah really sorry about that. It *should* be fixed now but try dropping an email to Chris . Kempshall @ gmail . Com instead!

It looks like there’s been an issue with Chris’ website forwarding on emails to him. Let us know here if you’re tried and not heard back yet!

I had a great time chatting about my doctoral research with Jessica, Angus, and Chris! Thanks again for having me on the podcast!

Check out the link below! 👇