Best Harper Collins Publishing Podcasts (2024)

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The Bloomsbury Group 43:02

17h ago43:02

43:02

Send us a text The Bloomsbury Group was an eclectic circle of intellectuals, artists, and writers who defied convention and redefined the cultural landscape of early 20th-century Britain. Imagine a salon where Virginia Woolf's groundbreaking narratives, John Maynard Keynes' revolutionary economic theories, and Vanessa Bell's avant-garde paintings c…

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The Freemasons - Their Secrets Revealed 1:02:10

7d ago1:02:10

1:02:10

Send us a text The Freemasons have long been a subject of fascination and intrigue, shrouded in secrecy, mystique, and conspiracy theories. Originating as a stonemason guild in the late medieval period, the organization evolved into a global fraternity with a complex system of rituals, symbols, and philosophies. The allure of the Freemasons lies in…

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Napoleon - The Greatest Art Thief of All Time 37:15

14d ago37:15

37:15

Send us a text Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t just a military genius; he was also one of history’s most audacious art thieves. During his campaigns across Europe, he systematically looted countless masterpieces, amassing an unparalleled collection of art for France. His most notorious haul came from Italy, where he plundered treasures like the "Laocoön …

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Robin Hood 1:02:57

23d ago1:02:57

1:02:57

Send us a text In the heart of Sherwood Forest, the legendary Robin Hood, along with his loyal band of Merry Men, including the formidable Little John, the cunning Will Scarlet, and the ever-faithful Friar Tuck, waged a relentless war against the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham. By his side stood the enchanting Maid Marian, whose love and cour…

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Hawaii - Paradise Stolen 54:53

28d ago54:53

54:53

Send us a text The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 was a dramatic and tumultuous event, marked by a strategic and calculated coup orchestrated by a small group of American and European business interests. Queen Lili'uokalani, the last reigning monarch, its first Queen, faced mounting pressure from these powerful elites who sought to annex…

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The Trafalgar Chronicles: Nelson's Finest Hour 57:00

1M ago57:00

57:00

Send us a text At the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, Admiral Horatio Nelson solidified his legendary status in naval history. Leading the British fleet with unparalleled strategic brilliance, Nelson defied conventional tactics by dividing his forces into two columns and charging directly at the Franco-Spanish line. This bold maneuver shat…

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Agatha Christie - The Missing Eleven Days 33:44

1M ago33:44

33:44

Send us a text Agatha Christie, the renowned mystery writer, became the subject of her own real-life mystery when she disappeared for 11 days in December 1926. On the evening of December 3, Christie left her home, and her car was later found abandoned with an expired driving license and clothes inside. The ensuing search, involving over a thousand …

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The Kaaba - That Mysterious Cube 43:55

2M ago43:55

43:55

Send us a text The Kaaba, a cuboid structure draped in black silk and gold-embroidered fabric, stands majestically at the heart of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Revered as the most sacred site in Islam, this ancient edifice draws millions of pilgrims annually, who circle it in a profound act of devotion known as Tawaf. Built by the Proph…

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George Orwell 57:26

2M ago57:26

57:26

Send us a text George Orwell was a British writer and journalist whose works have left an indelible mark on literature and political thought. Known for his keen observations on social injustice and totalitarianism, Orwell's most famous works, "1984" and "Animal Farm," are masterful critiques of oppressive regimes and the dangers of unchecked power.…

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Ghosts of the Ninth: Rome's Lost Legion 37:50

2M ago37:50

37:50

Send us a text The Ninth Legion, or Legio IX Hispana, stands as one of the most enigmatic and storied units of the Roman Empire, its fate shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Formed in the 1st century BC, this elite legion earned its stripes in the fierce battles of Hispania and played a pivotal role in the Roman conquest of Britain. Stationed in the …

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Letters of Note - Letters that Changed the World 31:02

2M ago31:02

31:02

Send us a Text Message. Historical letters and correspondence offer an invaluable window into the past, serving as personal time capsules that reveal the thoughts, feelings, and day-to-day experiences of individuals from different eras. These documents provide a unique insight into the social, political, and cultural contexts of their times, allowi…

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Amelia Earhart 50:30

2M ago50:30

50:30

Send us a text Amelia Earhart, a pioneering aviator and one of the most daring adventurers of the 20th century, captivated the world with her fearless spirit and groundbreaking achievements. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, defying the odds and battling fierce storms and mechanical issues to land in Ireland…

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The Book Forger 41:03

2M ago41:03

41:03

Send us a Text Message. In the shadowy literary underworld of 1930s London, Thomas Wise reigned supreme as a master forger, weaving intricate deceptions that captivated the most astute bibliophiles. His forgeries were so exquisite that they fooled even the most discerning eyes, transforming mundane texts into priceless artifacts. Wise's creations i…

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Rudyard Kipling 46:55

3M ago46:55

46:55

Send us a text Rudyard Kipling, the master storyteller of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, captivated the world with his vibrant tales set against the exotic backdrops of British India and beyond. His timeless works, such as "The Jungle Book" and "Kim," overflow with vivid characters and thrilling adventures, painting a picture of colonial l…

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Lady Mary Wortley Montagu - Trailblazing Writer, Adventurer and Poet 1:02:47

3M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Send us a text Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was a trailblazing writer, poet, and adventurer of the early 18th century, whose audacious spirit and keen intellect set her apart in a male-dominated society. Known for her wit and eloquence, she defied convention by traveling extensively through the Ottoman Empire, where she penned vivid and insightful let…

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The Scottish Wars of Independence - William Wallace and Robert the Bruce (Part 3) 53:29

3M ago53:29

53:29

Send us a text William Wallace and Robert the Bruce are towering figures in Scottish history, renowned for their fierce resistance against English domination during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Wallace, known for his unyielding spirit and tactical genius, led the Scots to a legendary victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, embodying…

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The Scottish Wars of Independence - Sir William Wallace (Part 2) 32:13

3M ago32:13

32:13

Send us a text The Battle of Stirling Bridge, fought on September 11, 1297, was a pivotal clash in the First War of Scottish Independence, showcasing the military genius of William Wallace and Andrew Moray. These two Scottish generals led a vastly outnumbered Scottish force against the English. The Scots strategically used the narrow, wooden Stirli…

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The Scottish Wars of Independence - The Beginning (Part 1) 29:10

3M ago29:10

29:10

Send us a text The Scottish War of Independence was a dramatic and fierce struggle for national sovereignty, and is a captivating chapter in history, marked by legendary figures and heroic battles. It began in 1296 when Edward I of England invaded Scotland, seeking to subjugate the fiercely independent Scots. Join Keith as he takes you through the …

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Magic, Empire and Beastly Bullies - The Real Harry Potter (Part 2) 1:11:37

3M ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Send us a text Harry Potter has captivated the imagination of children from all over the world for decades. A fantasy series inspired by a long lineage of stories, from Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit and Narnia, all committed to the importance of the building of moral character. Join Keith as he traces the roots of J.J Rowling's novels, uncovering T…

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The Campbell's and the MacDonald's - The Massacre of Glencoe 28:15

4M ago28:15

28:15

Send us a text The Massacre of Glencoe, a dark and chilling event in Scottish history, unfolded on the snowy morning of February 13, 1692. Amid the serene beauty of the Glen, the MacDonald clan awoke to the horror of betrayal. Soldiers they had hosted with Highland hospitality for almost two weeks turned on them with ruthless precision. Under order…

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Plagues and Pandemics - Does History Repeat Itself? 23:06

4M ago23:06

23:06

Send us a text From a plague in Athens during the Peloponnesian War in 430 BCE, to another in 540 that wiped out half the population of the Roman Empire, down through the Black Death in the Middle Ages and on through the 1918 flu epidemic which killed between 50 and 100 million people, to SARS and COVID 19, plagues have been been a much more relent…

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DreamReads: Dracula (First Published in 1887) 47:00

4M ago47:00

47:00

Send us a text I’m always worried about my listeners staying up late at night to listen to my podcasts – and falling asleep by them…and there are some serious topics there that I wouldn’t want you falling asleep to– so I decided to create DreamReads, stories that will lull you to sleep, that won’t have you worrying about the world and it’s problems…

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Napoleon - The Battle of Waterloo 39:57

3M ago39:57

39:57

Send us a Text Message. The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a pivotal confrontation between the French army, led by Napoleon, and the Allied forces, commanded by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The battle saw intense fi…

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Raiders of The Lost Ark - Where is The Ark of The Covenant? 59:10

4M ago59:10

59:10

Send us a text The Ark of the Covenant has fuelled stories for millennia, whether as a weapon of mass destruction, an elaborate filing cabinet for sacred laws, or as the very location where God and man meet. Join Keith as he delves into the mysteries surrounding the Ark of the Covenant, its creation, its importance and its eventual disappearance...…

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DreamReads: The Picture of Dorian Gray (First Published in 1890) 34:45

4M ago34:45

34:45

Send us a text For this second episode I'm introducing you to Oscar Wild, and "The Picture of Dorian Gray". The Picture of Dorian Gray" tells the story of a young and handsome man named Dorian Gray who becomes the subject of a portrait painted by his friend Basil Hallward. Dorian becomes increasingly influenced by the hedonistic philosophy of Lord …

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Ancient Schools and Students that Revolted - The Real History of Hogwarts (Part 1) 59:56

4M ago59:56

59:56

Send us a text "To be a boy at one of these schools was to be both tyrant and slave" 18th century British Public Schools were hotbeds of violence and uproar, despite their deeply Christian origins. From raucous rebellions featuring students fighting armed militias, and building barricades and taking hostages and firing pistols, to animal assassinat…

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DreamReads: A Conspriacy of Paper (First Published in 2000) 32:03

4M ago32:03

32:03

Send us a text I’m always worried about my listeners staying up late at night to listen to my podcasts – and falling asleep by them…and there are some serious topics there that I wouldn’t want you falling asleep to (lol) – so I decided to create DreamReads, stories that will lull you to sleep, that won’t have you worrying about the world and it’s p…

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Lawrence of Arabia - T.E Lawrence 1:02:41

5M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Send us a text Who was Lawrence of Arabia? Born Thomas Edward Lawrence, he was a British archaeologist, military officer, diplomat and spy who became famous for his pivotal role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. His extraordinary leadership and strategic acumen, combined with his deep understanding of Arab culture an…

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The East India Company - Mutiny and Rebellion 54:22

5M ago54:22

54:22

Send us a Text Message. In 1857 tensions in Company controlled India came to a head in what the British called 'The Indian Mutiny', now referred to in India as the First War of Independence. The uprising and the bloody reprisals sent shockwaves through the British Empire and ended the rule of the East India Company, and led to the creation of the R…

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The East India Company Rule India 1:00:29

5M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Send us a text Emerging victorious from the battles of Plassey and Buxar, The East India Company under Sir Robert Clive cements its grip on power in India. Join Keith as he discusses the nature, the horrors and the key figures of "Company Rule" in India at its height in the early 19th century.By Keith Hockton

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The East India Company - Spice and India 1:07:03

6M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Send us a Text Message. Join Keith as he discusses the rise of The East India Company, exploring how a small start up, a corporation founded in Tudor England, with only a handful of employees, came to rule India.By Keith Hockton

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Is Trump Caesar or Nixon? 37:07

6M ago37:07

37:07

Send us a text In this podcast Keith asks is Donald Trump a modern day Caesar, willing to do anything to stay in power, or is Trump the natural successor to the disgraced Richard Nixon? Keith draws parallels between the modern White House of the 1970's and ancient Rome and comes to a stunning conclusion.…

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Le Marquis de Sade - Philosopher of Pleasure 1:00:52

6M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Send us a text The man whom sadism was named after, a prophet of totalitarianism, the Marquis de Sade was a french aristocrat and writer, an uncompromising and unashamed libertine with the weird ability to completely corrupt those around him. Arrested by the French monarchy, the revolutionaries and then Napoleon he spent most of his life in jail, n…

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The Furies - Goddesses of Vengeance 26:33

6M ago26:33

26:33

Send us a text The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have been written about for thousands of years. From their home atop Mount Olympus, they reigned over the land, the sea and the sky. The course of human history was shaped by the whims and the wishes of these deities, and the Furies were no exception. Join Keith as he talks about the Greek god…

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Pythagoras's Utopia - The Greatest Hippy of all Time 35:35

6M ago35:35

35:35

Send us a text What comes to mind when you think of Pythagoras? His triangle, his theorem and a foundational principle of mathematics? Absolutely, but he was also the enigmatic founder of Pythagoreanism, a mysterious secret society that strove to create a Utopia on earth. Today Keith delves into this ancient social experiment, and talks about other…

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H. Rider Haggard - King Solomon's Mines and Much Much More 1:08:18

7M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

Send us a Text Message. King Solomon's Mines was one of the first English quest adventure novels set in darkest Africa, a story about treasure, bravery and romance featuring the all action hero, Alan Quartermain and his fellowship. Haggard's words inspired the likes of Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P Lovecraft, Wilbur Smith, George Lucas and Steven Speilbe…

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Haggis - Scotland's Mouth Watering National Dish 22:57

7M ago22:57

22:57

Send us a Text Message. Picture the Haggis, a culinary marvel and the heartbeat of Scottish feasts. It's like a poetic symphony of flavors dancing on your taste buds. Imagine a savory blend of minced sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, expertly mixed with oats, onions, and spices, all encased in a sheep's stomach, ready to be transformed into a dish t…

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Alexander's Lost Library 1:08:11

8M ago1:08:11

1:08:11

Send us a text One of, if not the greatest institution in the world, the great Library of Alexandria was the embodiment of ultimate learning and a repository of everything. Or was it? Built within the same complex as the tomb of Alexander The Great, it stood as a beacon of knowledge, boasting an unparalleled collection of scrolls and manuscripts fr…

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The Clans of Scotland 31:42

8M ago31:42

31:42

Send us a text Scottish clans are traditional kinship groups that have played a significant role in Scottish history and culture. Each clan is associated with a specific surname and often has its own tartan pattern, crest, and motto. These clans have their own unique histories, traditions, and ancestral lands in Scotland. Clans started to appear in…

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Sir John Soane - Master of Light and Magic 38:14

8M ago38:14

38:14

Send us a text Sir John Soane (1753-1837) stands as a magical and special luminary in the realm of architecture. His visionary creations, notably exemplified in the Sir John Soane's Museum in London, transcend conventional boundaries, weaving classical principles with an enchanting touch that transports visitors into a narrative-rich journey. Soane…

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The Parthenon Marbles 42:24

8M ago42:24

42:24

Send us a text The question of whether the Parthenon Marbles should be returned is a complex and contentious issue. Advocates for repatriation argue that the sculptures were removed from the Parthenon under controversial circumstances by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, and their rightful place is in Greece. Opponents, on the other hand, often…

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Oscar Wild (Part 2) 43:11

9M ago43:11

43:11

Send us a Text Message. It's 1895, and with the libel case brought against the Marquess of Queensbury having collapsed, Oscar Wilde is arrested and charged with committing acts of "gross indecency". With former lovers, hotel servants and chambermaids lining up to give evidence, and the evening papers, night after night, full of scandalous allegatio…

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Oscar Wilde (Part 1) 56:34

9M ago56:34

56:34

Send us a text "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde's most famous play, hints that Oscar Wilde's life was a complicated one. Perhaps the most famous gay martyr in history, Wilde is often presented as the sacrificial victim destroyed by a bigoted government whose Prime Minister was in fact gay himself. …

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The Assassination of Julius Caesar 59:39

9M ago59:39

59:39

Send us a text He was trapped - he couldn't get up. There was blood everywhere. The faces were coming closer, the knives rose and fell. And then to his relief he saw Brutus. The most iconic death in history, Caesars assassination is the climax to an impressive series of victories: from conquering Gaul (France) and Britain, to outlasting Pompey and …

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Capability Brown - Visionary or Vandal? 38:15

9M ago38:15

38:15

Send us a text Lancelot Brown, famously known as Capability Brown, stands as a legendary figure in the realm of landscape architecture, leaving an indelible mark on the English countryside during the 18th century. Born in 1716, Brown's visionary approach to garden design transformed the rigid, formal landscapes of the time into sweeping, naturalist…

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Sir Christopher Wren - Polymath Extraordinaire 39:38

10M ago39:38

39:38

Send us a Text Message. Best known for designing and building St Paul's Cathedral, Christopher Wren was the greatest architect Britain has ever known. But he was so, so much more! He was an astronomer first, he was fascinated by meteorology and he loved anatomy. He also ran the nation's biggest architectural office with all its petty jealousies and…

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The Beatles and The Reformation of 1520 48:55

10M ago48:55

48:55

Send us a text There will never be another group like them. The band's ability to evolve and experiment with diverse styles, from the early Beatlemania era to the psychedelic exploration of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, showcased their exceptional versatility. And the parallels to what they did in the 1960's and the 1520's reformation is u…

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The First World War - The Crazy Causes 44:00

10M ago44:00

44:00

Send us a text Whose fault was it? Does the question even make sense? Are wars, and was this war somebody's fault? Should the British have joined the war in the first place, and should they have joined the Germans instead of the French and Russians? Join Keith as he answers these questions and many more in this mind bending episode that opens the d…

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The Mitford Sisters - A Frivolity of Evil 1:03:27

10M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

Send us a text The Mitford Sisters were the most glamorous aristocrats on the London scene in the 1920's. At their head was Diana, the most beautiful woman in England, who would eventually marry Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet, and founder of the British Union of Fascists. However it was her younger sister Unity who would strike up a relationship wi…

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Shakespeare - Pure Genius 29:45

11M ago29:45

29:45

Send us a text Arguably the world's greatest ever dramatist, after five and half centuries William Shakespeare remains as popular as ever. But how did he become so famous? And why has he stayed supreme above all other writers? Why was he known as an upstart crow and seen as a sexy poet? Keith Hockton asks all the big questions and gives all the ans…

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