The Dubious Book of Famous Deeds

The Dubious Book of Famous Deeds

by

One day, Paul Bates found a book in an alley. It wasn’t a magical book, but it was very old – 132 years old, to be exact. It’s called The Pictorial Treasury of Famous Men and Famous Deeds: its cover is beautiful, its language is flowery, and its tone is problematic. It’s also full of wildly obscure and preposterously inaccurate stories about people and deeds you’ve probably never heard of. And, it’s the basis for this history podcast. Each episode Paul shares a chapter with a guest and together they cut through the rhetoric, fill in the blanks and bring a modern perspective to this relic from the height of the British Empire. Clare Blackwood joins me for the tale of Lord Admiral Nelson: commander of the Royal Navy, hero of the Napoleonic Wars, deadbeat husband. Listen to the story of a man who left everything on the field, including an arm, most of his teeth and an eyebrow. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Recent Episodes

  • Chapter 19. Horatio Nelson, or: The Naval Gaze

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 18. Samuel Colt, or: From My Old, Dead Hands

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 17. Walter Raleigh, or: Misadventure Time

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 16. Sir Henry Holland, or: Lady Chatterley’s Doctor

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 15. Great Lighthouse Disasters, or: Lead Belly

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 14. John Milton, or: Walking Tour de Force

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 13. Sir Edwin Landseer, or: Must Love Dog Art

    2 years ago
  • Season 2 Announcement!

    2 years ago
  • Chapter 12. Edward Baines of Leeds, or: Trowel Drop

    3 years ago
  • Chapter 11. The Emancipation of the Serfs, or: Happy Butter Week

    3 years ago