Rest and Respite
Dr Emma Hanna - Senior Lecturer in Modern British History
Precipice by Robert Harris
Robert Harris’s latest book Precipice was published last year. If you thought that Herbet Asquith (the British Prime Minister 1908-1916) was concentrating on international crises at the outbreak of the Great War in the summer of 1914, you’re in for a surprise. The most shocking thing is that much of this is true.
SAS: Rogue Heroes (BBC iPlayer)
The dramatised story of the founding of Britain’s special forces. It’s directed by Peaky Blinders creator, Stephen Knight, so do suspend your belief in places. However, many of the most bonkers events they feature are actually true.
Presented by two of my historian friends, one of whom writes professionally about Star Wars, this is a light-hearted podcast which sells itself as ‘First World War meets popular culture and the media’. You might recognise a few of the guests on some episodes!
Dr Declan Kavanagh - Senior Lecturer in Eighteenth-Century Studies
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2020)
An unforgettable story of hope, quiet heroism and tenderness. Based in an Irish town in 1985 during the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, faces into his busiest season. As he does the rounds, he feels the past rising up to meet him - and encounters the complicit silences of a people controlled by the Church.
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (1952)
The Price of Salt “...has the drive of a thriller but the imagery of a romance...This is a book that is hard to set aside; it demands to be read late into the night with eyes burning and heart racing” - Val McDermid
Dr Chrispher Burden-Strevens - Lecturer in Roman History
Imperium by Robert Harris (2006)
Written by bestselling author Robert Harris, Imperium is an epic account of the timeless struggle for power and the sudden disintegration of society. If you’re a fan, you’ll be pleased to know that Imperium is the first book of three!
Colosseum: Rome’s Arena of Death
Witness the epic arena's glory and brutality, through the lives lived and ended on its bloody sands in this BBC eight-part series!
Student picks
These are some of films, shows and podcasts our students say help them switch off, escape the stress or just get through the day.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones follows the conflict between nine noble families as they battle for control of the Iron Throne in the lands of Westeros, while facing threats from within and beyond their borders. If you’re looking for something that will have your jaw on the floor for the duration of the series, this is the show for you!
Severance
Severance is a science fiction psychological thriller series that follows employees at the biotechnology corporation Lumon Industries who have undergone "severance" - a medical procedure that ensures they retain no memories of the outside world while at work, and have no recollection of their job once they leave. This results in two distinct personalities for each employee: the "innie", who exists solely within Lumon, and the "outie", who lives their personal life outside of work.
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
In the aftermath of the Trojan War, the captive women of Troy navigate their new lives as slaves, grappling with grief, resilience, and survival in a world dominated by their Greek conquerors. If you’re a fan of The Song of Achilles, you should add The Silence of the Girls series to your reading list.
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
A comedy podcast, hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster, where celebrity guests reveal their dream meal in their ‘magical restaurant’, sparking amusing food-related chats.
1917
Hard-hitting, immersive, and an impressive technical achievement, 1917 captures the trench warfare of World War I with raw, startling immediacy. - Rotten Tomatoes
Stand up for the Classics, by Natalie Haynes
A comedy series exploring ancient Greek and Roman history and mythology through stand-up routines, blending humor with historical insights