History's Devils

James Crossland
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  • HISTORY

Prof James Crossland takes listeners on a journey through the lives, times and legacies of some of history's worst (and least known) people.

Episodes

  1. First Fascists: How Posh Dreamers, Military Washouts and Thugs Brought Poison to Britain

    FEB 7

    First Fascists: How Posh Dreamers, Military Washouts and Thugs Brought Poison to Britain

    In this inaugural episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, James Crossland and Jayne Friend answer the question of where British Fascism came from, by dialling the clock back a hundred years to the 1920s. In doing so, they delve into the life of Rotha Lintorn Orman – the little-known upper-class alcoholic tomboy who became Britain’s first fascist – and her gang of military has-beens, street-fighters and conspiracy theorists who in 1923 dubbed themselves the British Fascisti. In doing so, Lintorn Orman created a movement that has persist for over a hundred years, rising to prominence in our own times via a new generation of racists, grifters and ambitious politicians.  Just try and get through this first episode without feeling the weight of Britain's past on the back of the present. Follow Jayne Friend on Instagram @drjaynefriend Further Reading Robert Benewick, A Study of British Fascism: Political Violence & Public Order (London: Allen Lane, 1969) Julie Gottlieb, Feminine Fascism: Women in Britain’s Fascist Movement, 1923-1945 (London: I.B. Taurus, 2000) Martin Pugh, Hurrah for the Blackshirts!: Fascists and Fascism in Britain Between the Wars (London: Pimlico, 2006) Music by SOULFULJAMTRACKS Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social

    51 min
  • 1 Episode

About

Prof James Crossland takes listeners on a journey through the lives, times and legacies of some of history's worst (and least known) people.

Information

  • Creator
    James Crossland
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 History's Devils
  • Show Website
    History's Devils