Entirely Unofficial Rest is History Catalogue and Interrogator
Great Library of Chatham High Street
An in-depth catalogue and library of every episode in the archives of the Rest is History podcast. Every historical event and figure mentioned can be found here. Every book, author and guest can be discovered with links to the episodes they have appeared in. AI powered Q&A lets you find that elusive moment you remember, but can't quite place the episode - letting you jump straight to the point where Dom cracks up about Chatham wrestlers, or to discover the truth about the ancient British sport of Dwyle Flonking. Based on complete transcripts of the entire archive.
Banner background featuring the Great Library of Chatham High Street with layered historical imagery.
Myths, legends and origin stories.
Mythic & Legendary
Background image depicting the Mythic & Legendary era.
Tom Holland Meets Tom Holland + The Odyssey Review
In this Rest Is History members‑only special, the host (Dominic Sandbrook) interviews actor Tom Holland about Christopher Nolan’s new adapt…
EpisodeThe Odyssey: Return of the King (Part 2)
In this episode of The Rest Is History the hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook continue their deep‑dive into Homer's Odyssey. After rec…
EpisodeThe Odyssey: Hero of the Trojan Horse (Part 1)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore Homer's epic The Odyssey, using a dramatic reading by Russell Crowe and a transla…
EpisodeDawn of the Samurai: Japan’s Greatest Warrior (Part 3)
In this episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the legendary 12th‑century clash between the warrior monk…
Classical worlds from Mesopotamia to Rome.
Ancient Civilisations & Classical Antiquity
Background image depicting the Ancient Civilisations & Classical Antiquity era.
Why Is Christopher Nolan's Odyssey Controversial?
In this episode Tom Holland welcomes classicist Daniel Mendelsohn back to discuss the upcoming Christopher Nolan adaptation of the Odyssey.…
EpisodeThe Odyssey: Hero of the Trojan Horse (Part 1)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore Homer's epic The Odyssey, using a dramatic reading by Russell Crowe and a transla…
EpisodeRIHC: Is Marathon the Most Important Battle in Ancient History?
In this Rest Is History Club Q&A bonus, hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook revisit the Battle of Marathon, fielding listener questions…
EpisodeGreece vs Persia: The Rise of the First Superpower (Part 1)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the early Persian response to the Ionian Revolt, beginning with the burning of Sa…
Bridging Rome to medieval Europe.
Late Antiquity & Early Middle Ages
Background image depicting the Late Antiquity & Early Middle Ages era.
RIHC: Ancient Iran, Cyrus the Great, and Persian Nationalism
This bonus episode of The Rest Is History features Tom Holland interviewing Professor Ali Ansari about how post‑revolutionary Iran has trea…
EpisodeRIHC: Corrupt US Presidents, Wartime Prime Ministers, and the Birth of Byzantium
This bonus episode reunites Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook for a Rest Is History club Q&A. They open by referencing recent episodes (Sir…
EpisodeRIHC: Irish Kings, Medieval Magic, and The Norman Invasion of Ireland
This bonus episode features historian Gillian Kenny discussing the social, legal and ecclesiastical world of Ireland before the Anglo-Norma…
EpisodeRIHC: The Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward the Confessor’s True Heir, and Vikings Abroad
This bonus Q&A episode of The Rest Is History features hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook answering listener questions collated from T…
Crusades, kingdoms and cathedrals.
High & Late Middle Ages
Background image depicting the High & Late Middle Ages era.
Isabella of France: The First Femme Fatale
In the third episode of the "She-Wolves of England" mini‑series, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by historian Helen Castor, au…
EpisodeEleanor of Aquitaine: Lioness of England
In the second episode of the "She-Wolves of Medieval England" miniseries, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, joined by historian Helen Cast…
EpisodeEmpress Matilda: Civil War and the Fight for the Throne
In this Rest Is History Club mini‑series episode, Tom Holland welcomes historian Helen Castor to discuss the "She‑Wolves" of medieval Engla…
EpisodeDawn of the Samurai: Bloodbath at the Bridge (Part 2)
In this episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook continue their multi‑part series on the rise of the samurai, focu…
Renaissance, reformations and global voyages.
Early Modern & Renaissance
Background image depicting the Early Modern & Renaissance era.
Was Elizabeth I England's Greatest Monarch?
In this bonus episode recorded at the Restless History Festival in Hampton Court Palace, Tom Holland is joined by regular co‑host Dominic S…
EpisodeThe Tudor Da Vinci Code
In this bonus episode of The Rest Is History, host Tom Holland welcomes Tim Ashton, a farmer whose family has long owned Soulton Hall in Sh…
EpisodeImprisoning the Catholic Queen of Conspiracy
In this bonus episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine the eighteen and a half years Mary, Queen of Scots …
EpisodeWhy Was Elizabeth I Such An Effective Queen?
In this bonus episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook launch their "Tudor Cold War" series and discuss a range of Tudor‑era topics. They …
Ideas, empires and revolutions reshaping the world.
Enlightenment & Age of Revolutions
Background image depicting the Enlightenment & Age of Revolutions era.
Conan O'Brien on What The Founding Fathers Got Wrong
In this Rest Is History special, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook welcome American television legend Conan O'Brien to discuss the founding…
EpisodeKen Burns on Why America Really Declared Independence
In this episode of The Rest Is History, host Dominic Sandbrook welcomes documentary filmmaker Ken Burns to discuss the American Revolution.…
EpisodeFranklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2)
In this episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook turn their focus to Benjamin Franklin, the only American to sign …
EpisodeHamilton: Duel to the Death (Part 3)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook open with a dramatized reading of Alexander Hamilton’s farewell letter to his wife Eliza,…
Steam, empire and the long 19th century.
Industrial & Imperial Age (Long 19th Century)
Background image depicting the Industrial & Imperial Age (Long 19th Century) era.
The Successor to the Mayerling Murder
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delve into the extraordinary life of Franz Nopcsa, a self‑taught Hungarian‑Transylvanian …
EpisodeA Murderous Affair: Death at Mayerling (Part 2)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook recount the tragic Mayerling affair of 1888‑89, when Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria fell …
EpisodeA Murderous Affair: The Habsburgs' Greatest Scandal (Part 1)
In this episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the tragic love affair and murder‑suicide of Crown Prince…
EpisodeGermany: The Song Hitler Stole (Part 3)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook trace the tangled history of Germany’s national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen." Beginni…
Total war, upheaval and the uneasy peace between.
World Wars & Inter-war Era
Background image depicting the World Wars & Inter-war Era era.
The Troubles: Murder in Belfast (Part 1)
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook open their series on the Troubles by tracing the foundations of Northern Ireland’s sectarian conflict fro…
EpisodeThe Successor to the Mayerling Murder
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delve into the extraordinary life of Franz Nopcsa, a self‑taught Hungarian‑Transylvanian …
EpisodeThe Fascist World Cup: Mussolini's Football Dictatorship - History of the World Cup
In this episode of The Rest Is History, Dominic Sandbrook welcomes historian Paul Rouse to discuss how dictatorships have exploited footbal…
EpisodeGermany: The Song Hitler Stole (Part 3)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook trace the tangled history of Germany’s national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen." Beginni…
Superpower stand-offs and post-war recovery.
Mid-20th Century & Cold War
Background image depicting the Mid-20th Century & Cold War era.
The Troubles: Bloody Sunday (Part 4)
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine Bloody Sunday, when British paratroopers shot civil-rights marchers in Derry on 30 January 1972, …
EpisodeThe Troubles: The Brink of Civil War (Part 2)
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine the rapid escalation of the Northern Irish conflict between 1968 and 1969. They begin with Prime …
EpisodeThe Troubles: Return of the IRA (Part 3)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine the rapid escalation of the Northern Ireland conflict in 1970‑71. They begin by r…
EpisodeThe Troubles: Murder in Belfast (Part 1)
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook open their series on the Troubles by tracing the foundations of Northern Ireland’s sectarian conflict fro…
Globalisation, technology and the present day.
Contemporary Era (Post-1991)
Background image depicting the Contemporary Era (Post-1991) era.
Tom Holland Meets Tom Holland + The Odyssey Review
In this Rest Is History members‑only special, the host (Dominic Sandbrook) interviews actor Tom Holland about Christopher Nolan’s new adapt…
EpisodeSouth Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the extraordinary political significance of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Sou…
EpisodeUSA: The Star-Spangled Banner (Part 1)
In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook launch a six‑part series timed with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, using national anthems to ex…
EpisodeWine in the New World
In this bonus episode of The Rest Is History, host Tom Holland welcomes wine historian Henry Jeffries, author of Empire of Booze, to explor…
Cross-era specials, biographies and deep dives.
Thematic / Biographical series
Background image depicting the Thematic / Biographical series era.
Jack The Ripper: The Killer Strikes Again (Part 3)
Dominic and Tom delve into how Jack the Ripper managed to kill twice in one night without capture. They explore the possibility of an accom…
EpisodeJack The Ripper: From Hell (Part 4)
In this chilling episode, Tom and Dominic delve into the horrifying details of Jack the Ripper's final murder, dissecting the tragic story …
EpisodeJack The Ripper: Horror in Whitechapel (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our journey into the horrors of Victorian London, Dominic and Tom delve into Jack the Ripper's second victim, whose murder mar…
EpisodeJack The Ripper: History's Darkest Mystery (Part 1)
In the first part of a series on Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders, Tom and Dominic explore the infamous case, probing into the g…