Dan Snow – Death or Victory
Written by Rachel on October 24th, 2009From William Pitt to American football | BBC History Magazine
Written by Rachel on October 14th, 2009The street was full of fans. They were doing what fans do: shouting, laughing, drinking as much beer as possible before it was confiscated at the gates of the stadium. The University of Pittsburgh were playing Connecticut State and the home fans were out in force. It was a typical Saturday afternoon and could have been any town in the English speaking world. But one thing made this crowd stand out from others – nearly all of them had the name of one of Britain’s most influential statesmen emblazoned across T-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps and even painted on their faces: PITT.
via From William Pitt to American football | BBC History Magazine.
Henley on Thames – Dan Snow review
Written by Rachel on October 12th, 2009THE session with Dan Snow must rate highly in the minds of those who heard and saw him. His talk and the questions and answers format riveted everyone’s attention with his total commitment and enthusiasm.
Whilst his new book Death or Victory: Wolfe, Quebec and the Birth of Empire suggests a different lecture than one on the American conquest, his brilliantly constructed talk and book brings together in a comprehensive, colourful picture just how significant the defeat was of the French and local Indians at Quebec in 1759.
It was more than the defeat of the colonial French as it changed the nature of all of North America, of Britain itself and world history, the benefits of which abound.
Discussing the military nature of the seven years war, of which this was a part, Snow fervently believes that it was far more exciting than the more understood Napoleonic Wars and feels it is a much neglected area of British history. Perhaps his book will change that.
Because of his well recognised appreciation of military history, Snow described the logistics and battle plans of both sides and how the armies were disciplined, suffered, yet fought on.
His audience was captivated by his grasp and his ability to pass on his research in such an easy-to-follow style that left them queuing for his books at the end.
It is good to know he is now turning his attention to the British Navy.
Laureen Williamson
via Henley on Thames – Dan Snow review.
Daily Express | Books :: Death Or Victory – The Battle of Quebec and The Birth of Empire: Dan Snow
Written by Rachel on October 2nd, 2009THE year 1759 was the decisive turning-point in the conflict between various European powers that later came to be known as the Seven Years’ War.
It resulted in the British occupation of Canada, formerly New France, and ensured that the cultural identity of the North American continent would be Anglo-Saxon rather then French. While battles would be fought in Europe, Africa and India, it had been the French incursion southwards into the Ohio Valley in 1754 that had already provoked the British to war.
via Daily Express | Books :: Death Or Victory – The Battle of Quebec and The Birth of Empire: Dan Snow.
BBC History Magazine Podcast
Written by Rachel on September 19th, 2009Dan is interviewed in this month’s BBC History Magazine podcast.
This month Dan Snow gives his opinions on the momentous battle of Quebec that took place 250 years ago. Plus we speak to Tracy Borman about how Elizabeth I grew envious of the other women at her court.
The podcast can be downloaded here.
BBC – BBC Two Programmes – Montezuma
Written by Rachel on September 16th, 2009Montezuma
Saturday, 20:00 on BBC Two (except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue))
Synopsis
Dan Snow travels to Mexico to investigate the history, character and legacy of Montezuma, the last great ruler of the Aztecs of central America.
He uncovers the extraordinary story of the Aztecs themselves, a cultured and civilised people whose lives were governed by eleborate ceremony and blood-curdling ritual.
Dan Snow also discovers how, in a titanic clash of cultures, their leader Montezuma faced up to a mortal threat from another world – the weaponry, gold-lust and greed of 16th century Spanish conquistadors.
via BBC – BBC Two Programmes – Montezuma.
Montezuma
Written by Rachel on September 16th, 2009From BBC History Magazine:
How the mighty fall
History hasn’t been kind to Montezuma (also known as Moctezuma). Unfortunate enough to lead his people as the conquistadors eyed the riches of the New World, Montezuma is most often seen as a hapless traitor. But is this fair? Should we instead see him as a tragic figure, a man who played a game of psychological chess against his enemies but lost? As a new exhibition on the emperor opens at the British Museum, these questions are considerd by Dan Snow.
A flutter of protest, and some dog-walkers | BBC History Magazine
Written by Rachel on September 14th, 2009Yesterday was the 250th anniversary of the battle of Quebec, fought on 13 September 1759, on the Plains of Abraham outside the town of Quebec, the capital of France’s vast North American empire. It was a strange day – a large re-enactment had recently been cancelled due to protests made by French Canadian- Quebecois- Separatists.
via A flutter of protest, and some dog-walkers | BBC History Magazine.
Henley on Thames – The history girls and boys prepare for festival
Written by Rachel on September 3rd, 2009Dan Snow, military historian and son of veteran broadcaster Sir Peter, is the last to take the stage, on Sunday. “History is the most exciting thing that has happened to anyone on this planet,†he says, and he has certainly experienced its thrills.
His hands-on approach to the past has seen him gassed, piloting Second World War aircraft, training as a sniper, and shovelling muck in London’s sewers. His visit to the literary festival takes him to the more elegant setting of Henley’s Town Hall where he describes the hardships faced by troops in the battle for North America 250 years ago, outlined in his book, Death or Victory.
via Henley on Thames – The history girls and boys prepare for festival.
From disaster at Upnor to triumph at Quiberon Bay | BBC History Magazine
Written by Rachel on August 28th, 2009Dan’s started blogging for the BBC History magazine and his enblogginating can be found here.
“In one week I’ve gone from the very nadir of British maritime history to its zenith. On Monday I visited the excellent but low key Upnor Castle on the Medway, where in 1667 King Charles II had laid up his fleet ‘in ordinary’ because he had no money to send them to sea and no inclination to go to parliament and ask for more.”
via From disaster at Upnor to triumph at Quiberon Bay | BBC History Magazine.