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Described as 'the definitive book' on the Ripper case and 'by far the most scholarly and sort of serious book on this.' The hosts reference it multiple times throughout the episode for expert analysis on the murders, witnesses, and suspects.

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Referenced when discussing theories about how the victims were killed. The hosts note that Rubenhold 'believes all the women were killed as they slept' and mention that she doesn't include Mrs. Long's testimony in her book.

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Described as 'Jerry White's brilliant book on 19th century London' when discussing the undercurrent of anti-semitism in East End neighborhoods during this period and the context of Jewish immigration.

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Referenced as a prize-winning 2019 book providing group biography of Jack the Ripper's murdered victims, described as revelatory for showing the women as human beings rather than just prostitutes

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Described as 'one of the first big studies of the murders' written by an Australian journalist in 1929, referenced when discussing the long history of Jack the Ripper scholarship

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Referenced multiple times as 'his great study of London in the 19th century' and 'his book on late 19th century London' for information about crime, prostitution, and social conditions in Victorian London

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Quoted to explain Victorian-era categorization of women as prostitutes, specifically that any woman kept by a man without marriage was categorized as a prostitute

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Referenced when discussing the workhouse system, noting that 'anyone who's read Oliver Twist will know' about Victorian welfare in the form of workhouses

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Dominic references his brother James Holland's book when discussing German girls' frustration with only brown clothes being available in shops before plunder from Paris arrived, and German soldiers bringing back plundered goods from Paris

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Referenced multiple times as Kershaw's biography of Hitler, discussing topics including British public opinion after Munich, Hitler's attitude toward England, Hitler's strategic thinking about attacking the Soviet Union, and Hitler's views on Franco

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Cited when discussing how Nazi propaganda affected ordinary Germans' beliefs about Britain being warmongers

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Referenced as having written books on Churchill and the Second World War, cited regarding Churchill's strategic use of invasion rhetoric to motivate British public and how Hitler's bombing campaign was counterproductive

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Tom describes it as 'a revelatory book' and 'completely eye-opening' regarding Britain's industrial capacity and technological superiority during WWII

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Dominic describes it as 'a brilliant book on the Battle of Britain' and quotes from it regarding German lieutenant Hans Otto Lessing's letters to his parents

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Tom mentions that John Lennon was a big fan of 'Just William,' described as stories about a raggedy schoolboy with a gang of outlaws. This is discussed in the context of the Beatles' roots in decades before they were born, including influences from the 1920s-1940s.

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Conan discusses this book when talking about the Beatles' musical influences, specifically mentioning that Ian Leslie points out how early Beatles music was influenced by doo-wop groups and female groups. Conan describes it as 'the best Beatles book that's been written in quite a while' and praises Leslie's insights about the Beatles' vocal abilities and harmonies.

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Mentioned as books that capture the scene of total chaos and terror during the French refugee crisis, with 'carts in the streets, families rushing to find sanctuary'

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Referenced as containing a quote from an officer called John Horsfall about the national mood of defiance after Dunkirk

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Described as 'one of the longest diaries in history' that 'were quite a big publishing sensation a few years ago' - her diary entry about Dunkirk is quoted

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Described as 'a great historian' who 'has written a brilliant book on the fall of France' - referenced multiple times for his analysis that France lost due to bad intelligence and tactics rather than social sickness

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His biography of Hitler is cited when discussing the hypothetical scenario of British troops being captured at Dunkirk

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His 'books on the Third Reich' are referenced for pointing out that French conservatives had admired Hitler and Mussolini, and for following diarists like Louisa Solmitz

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Referenced as a source for statistics about iron ore imports and Nazi military capabilities. The speaker explicitly states 'they come from The War in the West by my brother James Holland' and later quotes from it regarding the Allied and German offensives in Norway.

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Described as a book written by German panzer commander Heinz Guderian two years before the invasion of France. The speaker notes it has 'the most German army titled book of all time' and discusses how Guderian wrote about tank warfare tactics in it.

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Referenced when describing how General Falkenhorst, tasked by Hitler to create an invasion plan for Norway and Denmark in just a few hours, went to a bookshop and bought a Baedeker travel guidebook to help him draft the plan.

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Referenced as a book on the Second World War. The speaker quotes from it that the Allied campaign in Norway 'was characterized by utter moral ignobility and military incompetence' and later quotes Hastings again about Churchill's schemes being frustrated by lack of means.

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Explicitly mentioned as 'a book by James Holland' when discussing the French advance to the Siegfried Line and their retreat in the face of minimal German resistance

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Referenced when discussing Hitler's worldview, specifically his 1925 statement that 'the life of man is a dreadful struggle for existence'

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Referred to as 'his great book on the Nazis' when discussing Georg Elzer as an example of ordinary Germans in the 1930s; Evans uses Elzer because he was not very political

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Multiple references to Kershaw's two-volume Hitler biography throughout the episode, including his characterization of Brauchitsch as 'spineless,' his concept of 'working towards the Fuhrer,' and his analysis of Hitler's popularity

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Described as 'a really good source on the Third Reich in the early years of the war' - referring to the American correspondent's diary written while he was present in Germany

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Referenced as 'a brilliant short biography of Elizabeth' when discussing Elizabeth I's speech at the Tower of London comparing herself to Daniel in the lion's den. The hosts quote from Castor's analysis of Elizabeth's rhetoric.

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Referenced as 'the definitive biography of Cecil' when discussing William Cecil's role in Elizabethan government. The hosts quote Alford's description of Cecil being 'everywhere and everything in Elizabethan government.'

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Referenced when discussing Elizabeth's approach to balancing stability with Protestantism. The hosts quote Wooding's argument that 'Elizabeth wanted stability as much as she wanted Protestantism.'

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Described as 'the Tudor number one bestseller' and 'one of the foundational texts of English national identity.' Published in 1563, it describes the persecution of Protestants under Mary Tudor. Referenced multiple times throughout the episode.

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Described as 'her wonderful introduction to Tudor England' and 'the best single volume on Tudor England that there is.' Quoted regarding Mary's conviction that she was ruling an essentially Catholic country.

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Referenced as 'Nicola Tallis in her book on young Elizabeth' when discussing how the Wyatt's rebellion conspirators had contacts within Elizabeth's household.

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Referenced as 'Stephen Olford, who wrote a brilliant book on the person that Elizabeth is meeting at Somerset House' - a book about William Cecil, described as 'the cleverest young man in Tudor politics.'

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Quoted regarding Elizabeth's clothing situation after Anne Boleyn's execution, noting how 'the shower of lovely clothes which Anne Boleyn had lavished on her daughter suddenly dried up.' Referenced multiple times throughout the episode for details about Elizabeth's early life and education.

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Recommended by the hosts as being 'really, really good on the whole subject' of exploring the nuances of Elizabeth's relationship with and memory of her mother Anne Boleyn.

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Referred to as 'her book on young Elizabeth' - cited for information about Mary Tudor's reaction to signing articles acknowledging Henry VIII as head of the English church, and later for the fact that Catherine Parr was the only English queen to be buried on a private estate.

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Referenced as 'the great poem, The Fairy Queen, by Edmund Spencer' while discussing Elizabeth I's portrayal as Gloriana and the Amazonian figure Britomart. The poem was written in the 1590s and portrayed Elizabeth in various forms.

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Referenced as 'David Starkey, in his great book on the young Elizabeth Elizabeth apprenticeship' when describing Anne Boleyn's birthing chamber at Greenwich Palace as 'a cross between a chapel and a luxuriously padded cell.'

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Referenced as 'Tracy Borman, she wrote a brilliant book on Anne Boleyn and her relationship to Elizabeth.' Used when discussing Anne Boleyn's fashion sense and describing her 'irresistible je ne sais quoi.'

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Referenced as 'Nicola Tallis, who wrote another great book, Young Elizabeth, Princess, Prisoner, Queen' when discussing Princess Mary's mistreatment by Anne Boleyn and her spending time 'weeping in her chamber.'

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Referenced as 'the great biography by Neil Gabler' discussing Walt Disney's life, particularly his loss of interest in animated films in the 1940s and 1950s. This is Gabler's definitive biography of Walt Disney.

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Referenced as 'his memoir, Khrushchev remembers' when discussing Khrushchev's account of why his visit to Disneyland was cancelled in 1959.

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Explicitly mentioned as 'a whole book called Suburban Warriors by a historian called Lisa McGurr, all about Orange County' as the birthplace of modern American conservatism.

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Mentioned as 'Thackeray's novel Vanity Fair' in the context of discussing famous visitors to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

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Referenced when introducing Umberto Eco as 'the author of The Name of the Rose' before discussing his postmodern analysis of Disneyland.

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Mentioned as a book published in 1990 by Michael Crichton about a theme park gone wrong, in the context of discussing science fiction inspired by Disneyland.

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Referenced as 'a collection of essays by somebody called Carol Ann Marling' discussing Disney parks and 'the architecture of reassurance.'

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Referred to as 'Neil Gabler's definitive biography of Disney' which the hosts say they will be referring to throughout the episode. Multiple quotes are drawn from this book about Disney's cultural impact and the atmosphere at his studio.

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Mentioned by Dominic when discussing Samuel Smiles, the Victorian self-help guru, comparing Walt Disney to the inventors and engineers Smiles wrote about in this book.

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Described as a venomous attack on Walt Disney published in 1968 by film historian Richard Schickel, who accused Disney of shattering childhood's secrets and silences and becoming 'a rallying point for the sub-literates of our society.'

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Discussed as P.L. Travers' most famous novel about a magical nanny, which Walt Disney had been trying to buy the film rights to since 1943. Travers initially resisted selling to Disney, viewing his work as commercial and sentimental.

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Mentioned as a new book coming out that explicates the history behind the making of the Mary Poppins film and P.L. Travers' objections to Disney's adaptation of her work.

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Referenced as the source material for Disney's animated film, which Walt Disney was immersed in when he died of lung cancer in December 1966.

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Tom Holland introduces Mary Beard by noting that 'she co-authored a book on the Colosseum, probably the most iconic building in the whole of Rome.' This is mentioned as context for why Mary Beard is a suitable guest to discuss gladiators and Spartacus.

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Referenced as 'John Sugden's extraordinary biography' which 'sifts all the evidence' about Nelson's death scene and final moments. This is a biography of Nelson.

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Described as the poet laureate 'who wrote the first great biography of Nelson' - Southey's Life of Nelson is being referenced as a primary source for public reaction to Nelson's death.

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Referenced as 'Andrew Lambert the historian' who described how Nelson 'was transformed from a living hero into a national god' - this appears to be from Lambert's historical work on Nelson.

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Referenced as 'his brilliant biography of Nelson' when discussing Nelson's return to England in summer 1805. The quote used describes Nelson feeling he was 'in the centre of a huge unfolding drama, inexorably gathering pace towards some historic climax.'

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Referenced as 'his brilliant book on Trafalgar' when discussing Nelson's battle strategy. The book is cited for describing Nelson's approach as 'the introduction of chaos as a tool of battle.'

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Discussed as a series of biographical works pairing Greek and Roman figures, specifically mentioning Plutarch's life of Caesar paired with Alexander the Great. Mary Beard notes 'we tend to read these lives as singletons' but Plutarch wrote them as pairs.

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Referenced as an autobiographical work by Caesar himself - 'we call them the commentaries on the war in Gaul, et cetera. But it's essentially autobiography.' Discussed as a key contemporary source for understanding Caesar.

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Implied reference when Mary Beard mentions 'your favourite Roman biographer, Tom, your lad' who wrote 'a systematic account written a century or so later' - this refers to Suetonius's biographical work on Roman emperors including Julius Caesar.

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Referenced when discussing the Battle of Copenhagen, specifically about how the Danes were defending their own capital city in front of their friends and families, which was different from previous battles Nelson had fought on neutral territory.

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Referenced when discussing Captain Edward Ryu's story of using convicts as crew after his ship was damaged by an iceberg. Tom asks if Dominic has read this novel, noting that Ryu's real-life story was a direct inspiration for Patrick O'Brien's plot in this Master and Commander series book.

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Referenced as 'a famous account written by the Athenian Xenophon' describing Greek mercenaries who marched through the Persian Empire. This classical work is cited to explain why Greeks believed they could militarily challenge Persia.

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Mentioned to illustrate Alexander the Great's mythic status extending beyond Western civilization, noting that 'he appears in the Quran, amazingly.'

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Referenced as a comparison to the dynamic between Nelson's wife Fanny and his mistress Emma Hamilton. The hosts discuss whether Fanny Price in Mansfield Park might have been inspired by Fanny Nelson.

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Multiple references to John Sugden's biography of Nelson, described as 'the kind of war and peace of this gigantic epic.' Quoted extensively for historical analysis of Nelson's time in the Mediterranean and his relationship with Emma Hamilton.

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Referenced as 'another great biographer of Nelson' and quoted regarding Nelson's health issues and Britain's strategic situation during the Baltic campaign.

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Referenced as author of a 'titanic Nelson biography, probably the definitive one' when discussing different historians' perspectives on Nelson's actions at Naples

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Referenced as author of a Nelson biography when discussing his more critical view of Nelson's actions at Naples, stating Nelson had 'naive attachment to the point of sycophancy to the Hamiltons'

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Referenced as 'very great naval historian' and author of a biography, quoted saying Nelson was exhausted and defending his actions at Naples as justified

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Quoted regarding Emma Hamilton's behavior during the storm at sea, describing how Emma 'refused to let the experience of being sick defeat her' - appears to be from a biography of Emma Hamilton

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Referenced as 'the Master and Commander books, the Patrick O'Brien books' when discussing how a glamorous woman on board a ship can be destabilizing to the chain of command

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Explicitly mentioned as a book that 'came out just before the pandemic' in 2018, described as a comprehensive analysis concluding Nelson 'did indeed commit a crime at Naples'

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Referenced as author of 'the first kind of celebrated biography of Nelson' who was poet laureate, quoted saying Naples was 'a stain on the memory of Nelson and upon the honour of England'

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Explicitly called 'Barry Unsworth's novel' about a scholar of Nelson who is 'driven mad by the possibility that Nelson might have behaved poorly'

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Mentioned when Tom Holland introduces Mary Beard's credentials, listing books she has written for the general reader

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Mentioned when Tom Holland introduces Mary Beard's credentials, listing books she has written for the general reader

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Mentioned when Tom Holland introduces Mary Beard's credentials, listing books she has written for the general reader (likely referring to 'Twelve Caesars' or similar title)

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Tom explicitly references this biography of Emma Hamilton multiple times, calling it 'fantastic' and noting that Kate Williams wrote her PhD on Emma Hamilton. The book is quoted to describe Emma's birthplace, her childhood, and various aspects of her life.

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Referenced as 'the poet William Haley, who wrote a biography of Romney in 1809' - this is a biography of the painter George Romney, quoted to describe Emma's expressive abilities.

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Described as 'the great historian of Georgian culture' and quoted regarding Covent Garden being 'the world's first creative bohemia.' This appears to be from one of his works on Georgian England.

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Referenced as 'the historian Gillian Russell' and quoted on Emma Hamilton's influence on the cultural movement that became romanticism.

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Quoted as describing King Ferdinand IV as 'a boisterous, big featured buffoon' - likely from one of his historical works, possibly his Nelson biography.

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Explicitly described as 'a great book on Enoch Powell' - a biography that the hosts recommend, saying Heffer 'really gets under Powell's skin'

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Referenced as Virgil's 'great epic poem' from which Powell quoted the Sibyl's prophecy about the Tiber foaming with blood in his famous speech

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Referenced as 'his memoirs' where Dennis Healy praised Powell's 1959 speech about the Hola massacre as 'the greatest parliamentary speech I ever heard'

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Described as 'a brilliant book' about grassroots opinion, where the journalist interviewed people in Blackburn in the late 60s/early 70s about their views on Powell and immigration

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Discussed as an epic written around 250 BC that serves as the big source for the stories of the Golden Fleece. The film Jason and the Argonauts is described as 'a very, very faithful adaptation' of this work.

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Described as 'his tremendous book on the Hellenistic period' and Dominic mentions choosing it 'as one of my favorite history books.' Used as a source for information about the ibis and Greek cultural history.

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Referenced multiple times, including the story that Alexander the Great traveled with a copy and kept it under his pillow. Discussed as foundational Greek epic that later writers tried to emulate.

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Mentioned throughout, including references to Odysseus, Circe, and the sirens. Tom says it was his 'gateway drug' to Greek mythology. They discuss doing a future episode on it when Christopher Nolan's film adaptation is released.

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Discussed as Euripides' play that portrays Medea 'in a very dark light' and became the canonical understanding of the character, influencing later interpretations including Apollonius's treatment.

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Referenced as a work discussed in the previous episode, mentioned in connection with Cadmus, the Prince of Tyre who 'dressed up as a maenad' in this play.

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Described as a bestselling book by philosopher Euhemerus that claimed Zeus and the other Olympians had been mortal kings who were worshipped as gods after death. Called 'a bombshell truth' in the Hellenistic period.

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Discussed as Virgil's adaptation of Homer to tell 'this great epic' about the origins of Rome, drawing on stories of the Trojan War and the Odyssey. Characterized as 'a work of mythology.'

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Described as 'this great collection of stories of transformations' that became 'the great storehouse of Greek myth' for writers and artists through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and into the modern period.

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Discussed as a seminal work where Nietzsche, at age 28 as a professor of Greek, contrasted Dionysus with Apollo and argued for recognizing Dionysian qualities in Greek civilization.

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Described as 'a seminal study of the Bacchae' that came out in 1947, in which Winnington Ingram wrote about the dangers of group emotion after witnessing the Nuremberg rallies.

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Referenced as an ancient poem that discusses where the gods came from, providing the canonical account of the origins of the gods including Dionysus's birth.

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Mentioned as a famous book that addresses the role of the irrational in Greek culture, supporting the argument that darkness and strangeness are central to Greek mythology.

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Referenced as 'an excellent book on Dionysus' from which a quote about the drama festival being performed in a sanctuary of Dionysus is drawn.

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Cited for its discussion of how Athenians viewed the gods as 'benevolent governors or caring parents' who took personal interest in their chosen people.

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Mentioned as Plato's attempt to describe the ideal form a city should take, in which he argues that poets like Homer and Hesiod should be banned.

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Described as 'his great book on Greek religion' from which a quote about Plato's influence on theology is drawn: 'since Plato, there has been no theology which has not stood in his shadow.'

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The podcast opens with a passage from The Odyssey describing Oedipus's story, specifically noting that Daniel Mendelsohn's translation was used and that he appeared on a recent bonus episode.

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Referenced when discussing the Sphinx's origins, noting that Hesiod described her as a sibling of Cerberus and the Nemean lion in this work about the genealogy of the gods.

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Explicitly described as Freud's 'most groundbreaking book' which he had been working on for two years and published in 1899, featuring the story of Oedipus prominently.

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Referenced in connection with Aristotle's lost book on comedy, noting that 'Umberto Eco fans will recognize that in The Name of the Rose.'

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Referenced when discussing the plague in Oedipus, noting that Sophocles might have drawn from the opening of The Iliad where a plague rages in an army encampment.

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Discussed as a foundational ancient Greek poem about the birth of the gods, written around 730-720 BC. The hosts quote extensively from it regarding Zeus's origins and the story of Kronos.

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Referenced multiple times as one of the foundational works of Greek literature, telling the story of the Trojan War. Compared to The Lord of the Rings as an epic adventure narrative.

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Mentioned alongside The Iliad as Homer's second great poem about Odysseus's 10-year journey home after the Trojan War.

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Explicitly referenced as a book when Tom quotes the German scholar on how Homer and Hesiod created spiritual unity for the Greeks through poetry.

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Used as a comparison to explain the relationship between Homer's Iliad and Hesiod's Theogony - the Iliad is compared to Lord of the Rings as a close-up epic adventure.

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Used as a comparison to Hesiod's Theogony, described as providing deep backstory similar to how the Theogony provides context for Homer's works.

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Quoted at length and described by Tom as 'a fantastically odd book, brilliant book, brilliantly original' that presents Greek myths in a fresh way, highlighting what is distinctive and strange about them.

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Referenced as an example of Victorian sensation fiction that the Cleveland scandal story resembles, particularly noting elements like stolen babies and grotesquely fat villains

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Referenced as an example of Victorian sensation fiction, particularly compared to the Cleveland story because it features a widow imprisoned in a lunatic asylum and a villain whose salient feature is being very fat (Count Fosco)

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Mentioned as a book that goes into great detail about the Maria Halpin scandal and Cleveland's involvement, including testimony from witnesses like Minnie Kendall

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Described as the most recent biography of Cleveland, published in 2022. The book argues that Cleveland was likely framed by partisan Republicans and examines the evidence of the scandal. The author is noted as a former speechwriter for George W. Bush

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Referenced as the canonical Cleveland biographer for much of the 20th century, a distinguished professor at Columbia University who won the Pulitzer Prize. His biography is described as one of those vast American presidential biographies thousands of pages long, and he concluded the scandal was pure Republican scandal-mongering

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Explicitly mentioned as a book published in 1724. A passage from the first volume is read aloud describing Rochester and Chatham. Described as 'a massive success' and 'by far his best-selling book' after Robinson Crusoe.

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Mentioned as Defoe's best-selling book when comparing it to his Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain. Referenced as evidence of Defoe's importance as 'Britain's first novelist.'

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Discussed as the novel for which Dickens used Restoration House in Rochester as inspiration for Miss Havisham's 'Satis House.' Dominic mentions winning a school reading competition four years in a row with the opening of this novel.

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Described as Dickens's 'last novel, which he never completed.' The hosts discuss the plot involving 'the opium addict and cathedral organist, John Jasper' and note that Rochester in the novel is called 'Cloisterham.'

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Dominic explicitly recommends this book, saying 'I read a brilliant book called The Fortress by the historian Alexander Watson' and gives 'a massive shout out to this book' as the source for much of the information about the siege of Przemysl.

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Referred to as 'Nick Lloyd's new book on the Eastern Front' - quoted from regarding the Tyrolean Kaiser Jaeger's experiences in the Carpathian campaign. The exact title is not mentioned.

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Referenced when discussing the region of Poland and Ukraine: 'the area that Timothy Snyder calls Europe's bloodlands in the 20th century.' This refers to Snyder's book about mass killings in Eastern Europe.

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Explicitly mentioned as 'in his book, Catastrophe, Max Hastings, tells an awful story' about a woman who loses her three-year-old son at the train station during the evacuation of Przemysl.

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Referenced when discussing the Italian front: 'There's amazing stories in this book, The White War' - used to illustrate the terrible conditions of fighting between Italian and Austrian forces in the mountains.

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Mentioned as a book 'published in the late 1930s' that is quoted in Nick Lloyd's book on the Eastern Front. A primary source memoir about Austrian troops in WWI.

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Discussed as a memoir about the Eastern Front in WWI, published by New York Review of Books in their classics range. Tom reads an excerpt at the beginning of the episode.

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Tom mentions reading this book, quoting Hastings' description of the Austro-Hungarian army and later citing stories from it about the Eastern Front.

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Described as 'a brilliant book on the Eastern Front' and later referenced as 'Nick Lloyd's Eastern Front book' when discussing Serbian soldiers.

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Tom references this book when discussing East Prussia, saying 'These are the bloodlands, then, of Timothy Snyder's book.'

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Mentioned as having 'written a couple of brilliant books about the Eastern Front' and quoted regarding the Russian invasion of East Prussia being a defining experience for Germans.

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Mentioned in the announcement about upcoming book discussion episodes, described as a 'true crime chiller.'

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Mentioned in the announcement about upcoming book discussion episodes, described as a 'horror novel.'

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Mentioned as an upcoming book discussion episode topic, described as a 'dystopian fable.'

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Extensively discussed in the bonus content section as a fantasy classic, with analysis of its themes related to WWI and British mentality in the 1920s-30s.

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Mentioned in comparison to The Hobbit in the bonus content, discussing how it was written later when the Nazi threat was more immediate.

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Tom reads a passage from Mein Kampf describing Hitler's first experience in battle during autumn 1914, marching to Flanders and encountering enemy fire while singing Deutschland über alles

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Mentioned when discussing the history of Ypres as a medieval cloth town - 'It's mentioned in the Canterbury Tales, Tom'

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Described as 'an Australian writer called Paul Ham. He wrote a brilliant book about 1914' - quoted describing the Flanders landscape of gentle hills, fields of tobacco and beetroot with hedgerows

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Referenced multiple times as a source for WWI accounts, including quoting a soldier named Paul Hubb from Württemberg and telling the story of the German 143rd Infantry advancing down the Menin Road

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The episode opens with a quote from Edward Spears' reminiscences about a crucial exchange on September 5th, 1914. Spears was a British liaison officer with the French army, and the quote describes General Joffre's plan. This appears to be from his published memoirs about his WWI experiences.

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Referenced multiple times throughout the episode as a source for WWI history. Explicitly mentioned as 'Max Hastings' book' when discussing details about the Battle of the Marne, including quotes about Lieutenant Lionel Tennyson, abandoned German vehicles, and the gunner Paul Lantier. Max Hastings is a well-known military historian.

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Explicitly mentioned as a book written in 1956 by Jean Dutour, who claimed the taxis of the Marne was 'the single greatest event of the 20th century.' The book is discussed in the context of how this WWI legend became important to French national identity.

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Tom mentions this was the first book he read about WWI as a child and still holds a candle for it, though he acknowledges historians of the First World War despise it and consider it basically 'a brilliant work of fiction.'

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Referenced multiple times throughout the episode. Dominic cites Max Hastings' account from this book about the Battle of Vieton, and later quotes Hastings calling Sir John French 'a poltroon' and describing Asquith's handling of the war.

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Referenced when discussing the terrible treatment of horses during WWI, noting that anyone who has read the book (or seen the drama) knows it's based on horrendous cruelty to horses.

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Explicitly described as 'a brilliant book on Germany and Austria in the Central Powers in the First War' - used to discuss Germany's strategic position and the audacious nature of the Schlieffen Plan

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Explicitly called 'Max Hastings's brilliant book' - used to describe scenes of German infantry being cut down at Liège and later to list German atrocities in Belgian villages

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Described as 'a brilliant study of this by two Irish historians' - referenced for their analysis of German institutional memory of the Franco-Prussian War and fears about franc-tireurs, as well as the composition of German soldiers (teenagers, poorly trained, frightened)

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Referenced as a German historian writing in the 1960s who argued for continuity between the Wilhelmine Empire and the Third Reich, examining German war aims and goals

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Referenced when discussing fighting at schools - the hosts compare the prize fighting scene to the famous fight scene in this Victorian novel, specifically mentioning 'Slugger Williams fights Tom' and noting that Thomas Hughes 'knew exactly what he was writing about'

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This is the guest Professor Robert Coles' book, which is introduced at the beginning when describing him as 'author of the brilliant book' and recommended again at the end of the episode. The Sayers-Heenan fight discussed in the episode has 'a whole chapter' devoted to it in this book

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Mentioned as a book written by an upcoming guest who will be discussing boxing. The hosts note that Coles makes the point that historians tend to neglect sport or condescend to it when writing about it.

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Referenced when discussing the details of Richard Manx's pedestrianism feats in 1851. The host quotes from this book to describe Manx's walking challenges at a cricket club in Sheffield.

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Mentioned in an advertisement for a film adaptation. Described as Stephen King's very first book, written in 1967 and published in 1979, about a competition where 50 boys must keep walking or be shot.

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Dominic explicitly recommends this book as 'brilliant' when discussing details about John Wilkes Booth, including the peephole in Lincoln's box at Ford's Theatre. He references this book multiple times throughout the episode for details about Booth's psychology and the assassination.

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Referenced as 'this book that I've mentioned a few times, brilliant biography' when discussing Lincoln's character and personality. The speaker quotes Burlingame's assessment of Lincoln's rare combination of political skills and personal qualities.

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Referenced as Lincoln's biographer who wrote an approximately 10,000-page biography that was so long parts were cut and put online. Described as covering Lincoln's life in extensive detail.

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Referenced when describing the chaotic scene at Lincoln's inauguration, comparing it to something Dickens would have enjoyed writing about, specifically 'like a scene from Martin Chuzzlewit.'

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Referenced when comparing Vice President Andrew Johnson's drunken behavior at the inauguration to 'Gussie Fink-Nottle after drinking the vodka-laced orange juice in P.G. Wodehouse' - a character from Wodehouse's Jeeves novels.

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Referenced as a novel about Mary Todd Lincoln. The speaker mentions 'I literally know nothing about her beyond what I read in George Saunders's novel. She made me more sympathetic.' This is likely referring to 'Lincoln in the Bardo.'

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This biography is quoted at the opening of the episode and referenced multiple times throughout. The hosts discuss Wormald's critical perspective on Mary, noting that 'She hates Mary, Queen of Scots.' The book is used as a primary source for analyzing Mary's political failures and decision-making.

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A biography of Mary Queen of Scots by John Guy is extensively quoted throughout the episode. While the specific title is not mentioned, the hosts repeatedly cite Guy's work with phrases like 'John Guy puts it really well,' 'to quote John Guy,' and reference 'reading John Guy's kind of comprehensive takedown of the casket letters.' This appears to be a major scholarly biography used as a source for the episode.

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Referenced as 'her wonderful book about Mary, Queen of Scots' when discussing how Fraser described the murder of Lord Darnley as 'the most debatable, as well as surely the most worked over murder in history.' Later mentioned again regarding Fraser's view of Mary's 'tender heart' and belief that Mary would never have committed murder.

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Referenced as one of 'the great books about Mary Queen of Scots' by a 'great historian of early modern Scotland.' Wormald's work is contrasted with Antonia Fraser's, noting that Wormald 'absolutely despises Mary Queen of Scots' and argues that if Mary didn't murder Darnley, she was 'almost the only member of Edinburgh's political society who knew nothing about it.'

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Explicitly identified as a biography of Mary published in 2004 that 'was the inspiration for the Saoirse Ronan film.' Described as providing 'a solution to the crime' of Darnley's murder through careful examination of original documents, particularly English reports to Cecil that had been miscatalogued in Victorian times. The hosts note they 'will be drawing very heavily on Guy's work' for their account.

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The hosts quote Alec Ryrie's characterization of Darnley as 'more arrogant, inconstant, short-sighted, petulant, and incompetent than any other British politician of the 16th century, excepting only those who were actually insane.' This appears to be from one of Ryrie's historical works on this period.

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Referenced twice - first when describing Morton as 'the most villainous of the Scottish lords,' and again when describing the murder of Rizzio. John Guy is a historian known for his biography of Mary Queen of Scots, which is likely the source being referenced.

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Referenced when discussing Mary giving birth to a son, noting that 'Even Jenny Wormald, never one to cut Mary any slack' acknowledged this as 'the one great success of her queenship.' Wormald was a historian known for her scholarly works on Mary Queen of Scots.

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Tom reads from this book at the beginning of the episode, describing John Knox's first meeting with Mary Queen of Scots. Historian Alec Ryrie describes this book as 'gossipy, cantankerous, and enthralling.'

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Referenced multiple times as 'her very negative book about Mary Queen of Scots.' Wormald describes Mary as 'a ruler whose life was marked by irresponsibility and failure on a scale unparalleled in her own day.' The book is quoted extensively regarding Mary's political choices and religious policy.

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Referenced as 'his biography' of Mary Queen of Scots. Quoted regarding Darnley's character being 'tainted by recklessness, sexual excess, pride and stupidity' and other aspects of Mary's reign.

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Referenced as 'her very famous biography' of Mary Queen of Scots. Quoted multiple times, including descriptions of Lord Ruffin and the Earl of Morton, and Mary falling 'violently, recklessly, and totally in love' with Darnley.

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Described as Lady Antonia Fraser's 'celebrated biography of Mary, Queen of Scots.' A passage is read aloud describing Mary's arrival in France, and the biography is praised for its evocation of Mary's upbringing.

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Explicitly mentioned as 'Alec Ryrie, the great historian of British Protestantism, in his book, The Origins of the Scottish Reformation.' The book describes the period as 'not just one of the most extraordinary national transformations in European history' but 'arguably the first modern revolution.'

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The opening dramatic passage about Mary Queen of Scots' execution was read from this book. Tom identifies it as 'the first chapter in Mattingly's account of the Spanish Armada' by 'the American historian, Garrett Mattingly, in 1950.'

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Described as 'a brilliant, groundbreaking book on Mary, Queen of Scots' by the Scottish historian Jenny Wormald, who 'condemned her as a monarch of little wit and no judgment, a woman who absolutely brought about her own downfall.'

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Tom holds up and describes 'this titanic definitive biography of Mary by John Guy, which came out about 20 years ago' - noting it has been retitled for the 2018 film and features Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie on the cover with the subtitle 'Two Queens, One Future.'

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A history of Britain in the 1920s and 1930s. The hosts discuss reading a chapter about Harold Davidson, the rector of Stiffkey. Dominic mentions writing an introduction for the Folio Society edition about 10 years ago. The book is described as 'brilliantly funny, witty' and 'full of strange stories and anecdotes.'

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A biography of Harold Davidson written by a Norfolk author. The book argues that Davidson has been much maligned, and Tucker is described as one of Davidson's 'excellent biographers.'

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Another biography of Harold Davidson. The hosts quote from this work when describing Davidson's father as 'a tiny man with a luxuriant beard that gave him the appearance of a gnome.' Cullen is mentioned as another of Davidson's biographers.

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Referenced when discussing Freud's visits to Blackpool. The hosts mention that 'memories of paddling in the waters there were included in his book on the interpretation of dreams.'

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A history of the interwar period in which Taylor discusses Harold Davidson. The hosts quote Taylor saying Davidson 'offered a great parable of the age of the interwar years' and that Davidson 'attracted more attention than, say, Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury.'

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This is a medieval manuscript from around 1200 that M.R. James discovered and published in 1896. The hosts discuss how M.R. James found this manuscript in a collection bequeathed to a parish in Suffolk. The book documents the alleged murder of a 12-year-old boy in Norwich in 1144 and is central to the episode's discussion of the blood libel against Jews.

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This is described as 'a brilliant study of this case' and is referenced multiple times throughout the episode. Tom cites Rose's research into William's possible background, her arguments about Simon de Novas borrowing money to fund participation in the Second Crusade, and quotes her assessment that 'the hard-headed Norwich merchants, artisans, and aristocracy were not persuaded of William's sanctity.'

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Introduced when describing the guest Ronan McGreevey as 'the author of a brilliant book on the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson, Great Hatred'

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Referenced when discussing the destruction of the Public Records Office: 'there's a famous quote in Ernie O'Malley's book' about the 'white rain' of paper falling on Dublin during the Four Courts battle

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Mentioned as 'a new book by an Irish Army officer called Gareth Prendergast' discussing how quickly the National Army overwhelmed garrisons in Waterford and Limerick

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Referenced when discussing Erskine Childers' execution, describing him as 'a very famous author, the author of The Riddle of the Sands, who is the secretary of the Anglo-Irish delegation'

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Quoted directly when discussing the legacy of the Irish Civil War: 'Charles Townsend writes at the end of his book, The Republic' about the emergent Irish state becoming a 'remarkably stable democracy'