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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Professor Richard Overy Interview! (3/14/14)


Professor Richard Overy, acclaimed historian and author of, The Twilight Years: The Paradox of Britain Between the Wars joins John & Frank for an exclusive interview! Frank has mentioned his book multiple times on the show, now he and the professor have a chance to discuss it.

Richard Overy is currently Professor of History at the University of Exeter (2004.) He was educated at Caius College. He taught at Cambridge from 1972 to 1979, at Queens' College from 1976-79. From 1980 to 2004 he taught at King's College, London, where he was made professor of Modern History in 1994. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (1977), Fellow of the British Academy (2000) and Fellow of King's College (2003). In 2001 he was awarded the Samuel Elliot Morrison Prize of the Society for Military History for his contribution to the history of warfare. He received both the Wolfson History Prize and Hessell-Tiltman Prize for his book, The Dictators: Hitler's Germany; Stalin's Russia. In 2007 as The Times (UK) editor of, Complete History of the World, he chose the 50 key dates of world history. His work on World War II has been praised as "highly effective (in) the ruthless dispelling of myths" by noted historian (A. J. P. Taylor), "original and important" by the (New York Review of Books), and "at the cutting edge" by The Time (UK). Frank recommends many of his other great books including, 1939: Countdown to War and Why the Allies Won.

The professor explains just what was "the paradox" of Britain between the Wars...He also explains the unique and somber mindset in Great Britain that WWI created. Also, was Stalin's Great Terror ignored by the British socialists because it clashed with their ideological beliefs?

"Progressive" socialism versus "barbaric" fascism, is there really a difference?

John A. Hobson's effect on the British Aristocracy...

Frank makes an insightful and not often made comparison between the communist's attack on Finland in 1939 and the socialist's attack on Franco's Spain... Frank wonders if the two attacks were treated similarly in Britain?

Also, the famous historical debate from the 1980's between Professor Overy and Marxist historian Timothy Mason is discussed...

Plus, like only John of SI can, he shares with the Professor his thoughts on the historical failures of world-wide socialism!




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