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Histories of the Unexpected — History
Histories of the Unexpected

Histories of the Unexpected explores the past in ways that you never dreamt possible. Surely there’s nothing unexpected about the past? About History? Aha, well Histories of the Unexpected adopts a new approach to exploring our past. Gone is the traditional linear plotting of battles, monarchs and political movements. Histories of the Unexpected argues that everything has a history, even the most unexpected of subjects. Like SLIME. Or COURAGE. or APPLAUSE…. Presented by Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

SHEPHERDS! Dec 12, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive again and offer another Christmas special on the unexpected history of SHEPHERDS! Which is all about costume and social status, shepherd's staves and the link with bishops' croziers (hooked pastoral staffs of office), Christian pastoral care, and the German Reformation! It's also all about Christmas carols in the eighteenth century, medieval mountain life, heresy and the Inquisition, and oral histories of post-WW2 nativities. Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DONKEYS! Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive again and offer another Christmas special on the unexpected history of DONKEYS! Which is all about A.A. Milne, Eeyore and the history of gloom, WWI and military transportation, nativities and childhood memories! It's also all about the cheesy Italian-American Christmas song, Dominick the Donkey, the architecture of medieval cities, and of course the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and dragons at the birth of Jesus! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CHRISTMAS 2021! Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive and offer for your delectation for this 2021 yuletide season an episode on the unexpected history of CHRISTMAS! Which is all about neolithic mince pies found at Stonehenge, Charles Dickens, selling Christmas Carol, and expensive first edition books; its also all about markets, theft, the history of emotions, festive feasts, shopping lists and spices in the reign of Henry VIII, and Christmas dinners in a can! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SQUID! Dec 04, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis are inspired yet again by the blockbuster Netflix drama series Squid Game and plumb the depths in search of the unexpected history of SQUID! Which is all about H.G. Wells, 'The Sea Raiders' and Ladram Bay in Devon - walk there if you dare! It's about Archie the Giant Squid at the Natural History Museum in London, zoological specimens, cataloguing and the archaeology of knowledge; it's about tales of sea monsters from the deep and fossilized ink that is more than 160 million years old, and of course fossil-hunter extraordinaire, Mary Anning. It's also all about the history of perfume, and odours from the past! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEBT! Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis are inspired by the blockbuster Netflix drama series Squid Game and dig deep into their pockets to discuss the unexpected history of DEBT! Which is all about the age of American Independence and character, morality and charity, debtors prisoner, the law and punishment (via Charles Dickens). It's about genealogy and discovering skeletons in closets (debtors in your family tree), economic bubbles (including the South Sea Bubble, and Tulipmania), King Croesus, tally sticks and the Roman views of ethics on the acquisition of art! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rain! Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis run for cover to discuss the unexpected history of RAIN! Which is all about superstitions, rain-making, rain dances and prayers for rain, Jonathan Swift and the etymology of 'It's raining cats and dogs', Hollywood rain scenes in Singing in the Rain, the sixteenth-century Spanish explorer, Francisco de Orellana, Alexander von Humboldt and the Americas, WWI and the trenches, and much much more. Oh yes, and of course, COP26!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COWBOYS! Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get inspired by the Jeymes Samuel film The Harder They Fall and uncover the unexpected history of COWBOYS! Which is all about black cowboys in the Wild West, Gunslingers, medieval chivalry and the duel; Victorian honour codes, and much much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SKIN! Oct 30, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of SKIN! Which is all about the history of love and beauty, seduction and eroticism; it's about the skin as a canvas onto which society imprinted itself (tattoos, scars, markings), colour, race and identity; it's also about protection; and the consumption of skins (fur and leather); and it's also about HALLOWEEN via books bound in human skins and witches and amniotic membranes and love spells! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaves! Oct 10, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of LEAVES! Which is all about agent orange and the Vietnam War, good luck, four-leaf clovers, superstition and nettle-eating, Christmas and what to do with festive foliage, and leaf-peeping in modern day New England! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dolls! Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of DOLLS! Which is all about seventeenth- and eighteenth-century fashions, the history of Barbie, twentieth-century consumerism and patriarchy, Lord and Lady Clapham and the Victoria and Albert Museum and Victorian Automatons! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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