Histories of the Unexpected explores the past in ways that you never dreamt possible. Surely there’s nothing unexpected about the past? About History? Aha, well Histories of the Unexpected adopts a new approach to exploring our past. Gone is the traditional linear plotting of battles, monarchs and political movements. Histories of the Unexpected argues that everything has a history, even the most unexpected of subjects. Like SLIME. Or COURAGE. or APPLAUSE.... Presented by Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
https://www.historiesoftheunexpected.com
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 6 days 1 hour 36 minutes
Honesty!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the historical truth of the unexpected history of HONESTY! Which is all about Abraham Lincoln (Honest Abe) and shopkeeping, oath taking and the bible, US pres...
Anxiety!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the nail-bitingly unexpected history of ANXIETY! Which is all about phobias, anxious masculinity and seventeenth-century patriarchy, separation anxiety, Freud...
Smugness!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis with knowing smirks all over their self-satisfied faces uncover the unexpected history of SMUGNESS! Which is all about toxic insults, contemporary politics and the Ox...
Grandparents!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of GRANDPARENTS! Which is all about oral history, WW2 and sociability during lockdown, as well as twentieth-century New Zealand, memory...
Cards!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis shuffle the decks of history to deal us the unexpected history of CARDS! Which is all about The Prize Papers of the High Court of Admiralty, annotations, seventeenth-...
Tea!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis lift the lid on the unexpected history of TEA! Which is all about seventeenth-century China and the history of medicine; wealth, display and female politeness, smuggl...
Futility!
Sam Willis and James Daybell explore the history of FUTILITY! Who knew it was so interesting and important? From a digital analysis of written sources 1590-2019 to the First World War via Oscar Wilde, hard labour in Victorian prisons - breaking rocks, ...
Snails!
In this fantastic episode Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell explore the history of snails....who knew they were so interesting! From snails as symbols of resistance in occupied France in the Second World War, to the history of snail collecting,...
Leather!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, discuss the fascinating and completely unexpected history of LEATHER! Which is all about the history of medieval birthing girdles (and 'bio-codicology!' - yes that is a term; the fabu...