The History Book Buffs

Roger Moorhouse and Antonia Senior

Welcome to The History Book Buffs. For reviews and chat about history books, fact and fiction, hosted by award-winning historian Roger Moorhouse, and novelist and critic Antonia Senior. 🔎 Discover new and classic titles, with two history-obsessed writers 💬 Join a community of readers who love history as much as you do Subscribe and turn on notifications to explore the past with us!

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    The Day Capitalism Broke: The Wall Street Crash of 1929 & the Road to Hitler

    On 29 October 1929, the world changed forever. As share prices collapsed, panic ripped through Wall Street, fortunes vanished in hours, and confidence in capitalism itself cracked. What began as a stock market crash in New York spiralled into the Great Depression, reshaped global politics, radicalised Europe – and helped pave the way for Hitler, Stalin, and the extremes of the 1930s. In this episode of Days That Changed the World, historians Antonia Senior and Roger Moorhouse take you inside the human drama of the Wall Street Crash:– exhausted traders sleeping on cots– terrified small investors crowding the streets– markets collapsing faster than the technology could record prices– and a world discovering, in real time, that those “in charge” didn’t really know what they were doing Using Andrew Ross Sorkin’s 1929: The Inside Story of the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History, we explore not just what happened, but why it mattered — and why its consequences are still with us today. ✔ What caused the Wall Street Crash of 1929✔ How debt, speculation and mass share ownership fuelled panic✔ Why technology made the crash worse✔ The myth — and reality — of suicides on Wall Street✔ How the crash destabilised Europe and radicalised German politics✔ Whether Hitler could have risen without 1929✔ Why capitalism entered an identity crisis — and extremism filled the vacuum This isn’t just a financial story.It’s a story about fear, belief, human behaviour, and the fragility of systems we assume are permanent. 1929: The Inside Story of the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History – Andrew Ross Sorkin When Money Dies – Adam Fergusson The Way We Live Now – Anthony Trollope Wall Street Crash 1929, Great Depression explained, stock market crash history, 1929 crash causes, rise of Hitler economics, Great Depression Europe, capitalism crisis, financial bubbles history, days that changed the world, history podcast, economic history, Nazi rise explained, 20th century history

    41 min

  2. 8 JAN

    🎆 The History Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2026 🎆

    Happy New Year from History Book Buffs! After our 21 Days of Christmas Book Gifts, we’re back with a special episode looking ahead to the most exciting history and historical fiction books coming out in 2026. From Soviet assassins and Baltic crusades to Cromwells, Bolsheviks, Weimar Germany and the Cambridge Five, this episode is packed with bookish fireworks. These are the titles we’re genuinely excited about as historians, writers, reviewers, and unapologetic history obsessives. 📚 Books discussed include: The Death of Trotsky by Josh Ireland Rasputin by Antony Beevor The Black Cross: A History of the Baltic Crusades by Alexander Pluszkowski The House of Cromwell by Miranda Malins Red Dawn Over China by Frank Dikötter White River Crossing by Ian McGuire Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe by Katja Hoyer The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman Stalin’s Apostles by Antonia Senior (out April 2026) We talk serious history, brilliant storytelling, fresh angles, and why these books matter now—from espionage and ideology to power, betrayal, and the human cost of history. If you love:✔️ narrative history✔️ Cold War & Soviet history✔️ Tudor, Civil War & medieval Europe✔️ historical fiction that actually knows its facts✔️ smart, opinionated book chat …this episode is for you. 👉 Subscribe for more history book recommendations, deep dives, and author conversations👉 Available as a podcast wherever you get your podcasts👉 Let us know in the comments which 2026 history books you’re most excited about

    27 min

  3. 18/12/2025

    Brilliant Books for Christmas Stockings PART 2

    Welcome back to History Book Buffs for Part 2 of our 21 Days of Christmas Books series — a bumper festive episode packed with brilliant history (and a couple of cracking novels). I’m Antonia Senior — writer and journalist — joined by my fellow book buff Roger Moorhouse, and together we’re sharing some of the very best titles we’ve read this year. In this episode we range from the Battle of Britain and the Blitz seen through German eyes, to the birth of modern British party politics, to spies getting uncomfortably close to Hitler’s inner circle — plus Baltic geopolitics, terrorism and revolution in the 1970s, and two brilliantly atmospheric works of fiction. Books featured in this episode: Eagle Days — Victoria Taylor The Rage of Party — George Owers The Spy and the Devil — Tim Willasey-Wilsey The Artist — Lucy Steeds Baltic — Oliver Moody Appointment in Paris — Jane Thynne The Revolutionists — Jason Burke Inside the Nazi Mind — Laurence Rees The Holocaust (The Hitler Years series) — Frank McDonough The Spy in the Archives — Gordon Corera 1945: The Reckoning — Phil Craig Thank you for listening (and reading along) with us through 2025 — this is our last episode until January. We’ll be back in 2026 with more history books and more recommendations.

    59 min

  4. 04/12/2025

    Brilliant Books for Christmas Stockings — Part 1

    🎄 21 Days of Christmas Book Gifts – Round-Up of the First 10 Books 🎄 In this special episode, we run through the first ten titles in our 21 Days of Christmas Book Gifts series — a curated collection of the very best in history, espionage, military narrative, and historical fiction. If you’re looking for the perfect present for the history lover in your life, or simply want a fast-paced guide to the standout books of the season, this round-up has you covered. We revisit each title, why it matters, and who it’s perfect for — from gripping World War II narratives to dazzling Tudor intrigue and brilliantly reimagined classics. 📚 Featured Books Victory 45 — James Holland & Al Murray’s vivid account of the final months of WWII. The Boleyn Traitor — Philippa Gregory’s tense Tudor power struggle brought to life. Tank — Mark Urban’s masterful deep-dive into armoured warfare. Sharpe’s Storm — Bernard Cornwell’s Napoleonic hero at his very best. Suetonius (trans. Tom Holland) — A fresh, sharp, and wildly readable take on the Twelve Caesars. Tunisgrad — Saul David’s gripping portrait of catastrophe and courage in North Africa. Wolfpack — Roger Moorhouse’s thrilling history of the U-boat hunters who helped win the war. The Pretender — Jo Harkin’s brilliant, witty, and genre-bending historical novel. The White Lady — Helen Fry’s powerful account of Belgian resistance and forgotten heroism. The Mission — Tim Weiner's compelling account of the CIA in the 21st Century. 🎧 In This Episode Fast, insightful rundowns of each book Why these titles make exceptional gifts The wider historical themes tying them together Recommendations for readers who love: WWII history, Cold War intrigue, Tudor drama, classical biography, Napoleonic campaigns, and literary historical fiction If you’re following along with the full 21-day series or simply need the ultimate history-lover’s gift guide, this episode is your festive cheat-sheet.

    40 min

  5. 20/11/2025

    Nuremberg: Day 1...20.11.1945. The Days that Changed the World

    Eighty years ago, the world watched as the Nuremberg Trial opened in a ruined German city — the first time leaders of a defeated regime were prosecuted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace.In this episode of our series Days That Changed the World, we take you inside Courtroom 600 on the historic opening day of the Nuremberg Trials and uncover how this moment reshaped international law, justice after dictatorship, and the way the world confronts atrocity. We explore the atmosphere in the courtroom, the unprecedented media attention, the indictments against the Nazi leadership, and the reactions of the defendants as the evidence unfolded. From conspiracy charges to the final verdicts — including both acquittals and death sentences — this episode breaks down why Nuremberg remains a defining legal and moral turning point in modern history. If you’re interested in World War II, international justice, the origins of human rights law, or the drama behind major historical events, this episode is for you. Why the Nuremberg Trial became a pivotal moment in world history How it established the foundations of modern international criminal law What the opening day felt like inside Courtroom 600 Who the defendants were — and what they were charged with How the world’s media covered the trial The emotional reactions inside the courtroom The final verdicts and their long-term consequences 00:00 The Significance of Nuremberg01:58 The Context of the Trials04:43 The Opening Day of the Trials07:16 The Defendants and Their Backgrounds10:00 The Atmosphere in Nuremberg13:07 The Proceedings and Indictments15:36 The Reactions of the Defendants18:54 The Verdicts and Their Implications21:45 Reflections on Justice and Accountability

    39 min

  6. 06/11/2025

    The Days that Changed the World: 23 August, 1939. The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.

    On 23 August 1939, two dictators who despised each other made a decision that reshaped the world. In this episode, we explore the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact — often known as the Nazi-Soviet Pact — and its profound impact on Europe and the outbreak of the Second World War. In the first of a new series on THE DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, Roger Moorhouse and Antonia Senior discuss the tense negotiations in Moscow, the secret territorial agreements, and the shock felt across the political spectrum when Stalin and Hitler aligned their interests. Far from being a footnote, this moment led directly to the invasion of Poland and the dismemberment of Eastern Europe, sealing the fate of millions and altering global history. We also examine how this episode has been remembered — and misremembered — and why it remains crucial to understanding both Stalin’s strategic mindset and the origins of the war.Recommended readings are shared at the end of the conversation for those looking to dive deeper. Why the 1939 pact changed the course of history Stalin and Hitler’s unlikely diplomatic manoeuvring What the secret protocols really meant for Eastern Europe Reactions inside the international communist movement The pact’s human and geopolitical consequences Where this moment fits in wider WWII historiography Realpolitik and ideological betrayal The invasion of Poland and division of Eastern Europe Historical memory and overlooked turning points The scale of suffering unleashed by the agreement “Stalin is a very canny operator.”“The suffering is immense on both sides.”“It’s a day that changed the world.”

    38 min

  7. 23/10/2025

    Inside Operation Biting: The History Book Buffs read Max Hastings.

    🔍 Inside Operation Biting: Antonia and Roger review Operation Biting, Max Hastings's account of one of WWII’s Most Daring Raids | Churchill, Radar & Revolution Step into the shadows of World War II as we uncover the high-stakes raid known as Operation Biting, brilliantly chronicled by legendary historian Max Hastings. In this thrilling breakdown, we explore one of the war’s most fascinating and covert missions — where technology, strategy, and courage collided on the cliffs of Nazi-occupied France. Discover how Churchill’s bold strategic vision led to one of the first successful British airborne operations, and how the scramble to dominate radar technology turned warfare into a science. We spotlight the personalities behind the mission, the “Boffins” driving innovation, and the raid's lasting impact on military strategy and propaganda efforts on the home front. 💥 Whether you're a student of military history, a fan of WWII deep dives, or fascinated by the blend of warfare and invention, this episode delivers insights, surprises, and plenty of storytelling firepower. 👥 Featuring: Max Hastings🎯 Topics: Operation Biting, Churchill’s War Cabinet, airborne operations, radar capture, technological warfare, WWII strategy, and more! 🔥 Key Highlights:00:00 – What Was Operation Biting?01:48 – The Boffin's War: How Tech Changed the Battlefield06:33 – Churchill’s Role in Taking the Fight to the Nazis12:02 – The Human Element: Soldiers, Scientists & Strategy17:42 – The Raid Itself: Execution, Challenges, and Heroism23:18 – What Came After: Lessons, Legacy & Military Evolution 💬 Memorable Moments:“Would you rather jump out of a dark plane?”“Warfare is the mother of invention.”“Everything went right during the raid.” 📚 Related Keywords:WWII, Operation Biting, Max Hastings, military history, Churchill, radar, airborne raid, British commandos, World War 2, technological innovation, The Boffin’s War, espionage, war strategy, WWII operations, history documentary 👍 Like this content? Don’t forget to Subscribe, Like, and Comment with your thoughts on Operation Biting or your favorite WWII military operation! #WWII #MilitaryHistory #OperationBiting #MaxHastings #Churchill #RadarWar #AirborneOperations #BoffinsWar #WW2Raid #WarfareTechnology Let me know if you want a shorter version or a version tailored to a different audience (e.g. more casual viewers or academic enthusiasts).

    27 min

  8. 09/10/2025

    The horrors of U-boat warfare: the books that inspired Wolfpack by Roger Moorhouse.

    KeywordsU-Boat War, Wolfpack, Das Boot, WWII, German perspective, naval history, PTSD, memoirs, historical narrative, empathySummaryIn this conversation, Antonia Senior and Roger Moorhouse dive into the complexities of the U-Boat War during World War II, discussing the launch of the book 'Wolfpack' and its influences. They explore the historical narratives surrounding German soldiers, the psychological impacts of U-Boat warfare, and the importance of empathy in understanding the experiences of those involved. The discussion also highlights the conditions faced by U-Boat crews and the significance of memoirs and accounts in shaping our understanding of this dark chapter in history.The books that inspired Wolfpack include Das Boot, by Lothar-Günther Buchheim; U-Boat Commander, Peter Erich-Kremer; Iron Coffins, Herbert Werner. TakeawaysThe U-Boat War is a complex and often overlooked aspect of WWII.'Wolfpack' aims to provide a German perspective on the U-Boat experience.'Das Boot' serves as a significant cultural reference for understanding U-Boat life.Writing about German soldiers requires a nuanced approach to avoid glorification.Empathy is crucial in recounting the experiences of U-Boat crews.The psychological toll of U-Boat warfare was immense, with many suffering from PTSD.Conditions aboard U-Boats were horrific, leading to severe health issues.Memoirs provide valuable insights into the personal experiences of U-Boat crews.The average age of U-Boat casualties was alarmingly young, highlighting the tragedy of war.Understanding the U-Boat War is essential for a complete narrative of the Battle of the Atlantic.TitlesDiving Deep into the U-Boat WarUnveiling 'Wolfpack': A New PerspectiveSound bites"It's a very exciting day today.""What if we flip that 180 degrees?""It's a pretty horrific experience."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the U-Boat War and Book Launch02:31 The Genesis of 'Wolfpack' and Influential Works05:21 Exploring 'Das Boot' and Its Impact08:11 The Complexity of Writing About German Soldiers11:29 Humanizing the U-Boat Experience14:18 The Horrors of U-Boat Warfare17:33 Mental Health and Combat Stress in U-Boat Crews20:19 Memoirs and Accounts of U-Boat Life23:10 Conditions and Challenges Faced by U-Boat Crews26:01 The Role of Empathy in Historical Narratives29:11 The U-Boat War's Human Cost32:05 Conclusion and Reflections on the U-Boat Experience

    39 min
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to The History Book Buffs. For reviews and chat about history books, fact and fiction, hosted by award-winning historian Roger Moorhouse, and novelist and critic Antonia Senior. 🔎 Discover new and classic titles, with two history-obsessed writers 💬 Join a community of readers who love history as much as you do Subscribe and turn on notifications to explore the past with us!

Information

  • Creator
    Roger Moorhouse and Antonia Senior
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Roger Moorhouse and Antonia Senior
  • Show Website
    The History Book Buffs

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