The EI Podcast

Join Andrew Lambert, Lawton Professor of Naval History at King's College London and a distinguished naval historian, as he delves into Britain's strategic maneuvering from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to World War I. Lambert discusses how Britain leveraged naval power and diplomacy to maintain stability in Europe. He highlights key figures like Pitt and Wellington, examines the rise of Germany as a rising power, and addresses Britain's strategic missteps that ultimately contributed to its unpreparedness for World War I.

Historian Katherine Bayford exposes the fractures and contradictions that doomed the Confederacy from within. Read by Leighton Pugh.FURTHER READING:The rift that doomed the Confederacy | Katherine BayfordImage: A statue of Alexander Stephens in the US Congress. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo

Karolina Watroba, author and Kafka scholar behind Metamorphoses, offers a brisk tour of The Trial at its centenary. She unpacks how Max Brod shaped Kafka’s manuscripts. Short takes explore the novel’s circular, bureaucratic suffocation; Josef K’s fragile status and self-deception; Kafka’s mix of black humor and unsettling detail; translation challenges and Kafka’s global, prophetic reach.

Nicholas Morton, a historian dedicated to the study of the Knights Templars, shares fascinating insights into how marketing propelled the order to prominence. He discusses the myth and reality behind their rise, emphasizing their strategic branding and influential connections. The conversation also covers their legal troubles and the political machinations that led to their dramatic downfall under King Philip IV. Morton's expertise uncovers the less-known truths about these legendary figures and their impact on Christendom.

Leighton Pugh reads 'The Lost Art of Chorography' by Josh McLoughlin, an exploration of a distinctive literary form that merges geography and mythology. The discussion highlights chorography's roots in the works of Shakespeare and its evolution from classical to modern times. They delve into the contributions of figures like Humphrey Llewyd and William Camden, showing how their writings shaped cultural identity. The podcast also examines how literature reflects landscapes, particularly in the context of London's changing identity.

Historian Damian Valdez reflects on the meaning of 1975, a fateful year for the international order. Read by Leighton Pugh.FURTHER READING:1975, the year that made the modern world | Damian ValdezImage: A helicopter is pushed off the overcrowded deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CV-19) off the coast of South Vietnam during the fall of Saigon. Credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

EI’s Paul Lay joins historian Tim Bouverie to discuss ‘Allies at War’, his gripping new book on how Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin’s uneasy alliance led to the end of the Second World War – and reshaped the global order in ways that are still felt today.Image: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at Yalta. Credit: Niday Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Writer Luka Ivan Jukic laments the all-but-total disappearance of facial hair from politics. Read by Leighton Pugh.FURTHER READING:What happened to the politician’s moustache? | Luka Ivan JukicImage: A double portrait of Mozaffar al-Din Shah, the fifth Qajar shah of Iran. Credit: Penta Springs Limited / Alamy Stock Photo

Journalist and author Jenny McCartney celebrates the magic of squalor, and explores how generations of artists have seen the sublime in slime. Read by Leighton Pugh.FURTHER READING:On squalor | Jenny McCartneyImage: Walter Sickert's Easter Monday. Credit: Logic Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Geopolitical analyst Charly Salonius-Pasternak examines Finland's long journey to full membership of the Western alliance, and explores how the Nordic nation could play a leading role in its future.FURTHER READING:Why Finns joined the fight | Charly Salonius-PasternakImage: During the Soviet-Finnish war (1939-1940) skiers of the Finnish army in white camouflage made lightning and effective attacks on units of the Red Army. Credit: World of Triss / Alamy Stock Photo