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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
https://www.historiesoftheunexpected.com
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 8 days 23 hours 54 minutes
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...
Rhyming!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, clear their throats to pontificate about the unexpected history of RHYMING! Which is all about the history of the singing game and the transmission of dance songs across the centuries to childr...
Bad Habits!
In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, cast their beady historical eyes on the unexpected history of BAD HABITS! Which is all about the history of intoxication, alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as well as the material culture of early mo...