The story of British Tommies sent 'over the top' to fight the Germans in the trenches of the First World War is a vivid emblem of powerlessness in the face of military discipline - and social...

Dr. Geoff Bunn presents a journey through 5000 years of our understanding of the most complex thing in the known universe: the brain, in this major ten-part BBC Radio 4 series.In Episode 1,...

This epic narrative tells the history of the United States through the voices of those who lived it, exploring three abiding national themes: empire, liberty and faith.'Volume 1: Liberty &...

Melvyn Bragg examines some of the many different varieties of English spoken around the world today, taking in Spanglish from the USA, Indian English, Caribbean English, Australian English, South...

James Naughtie, in this major Radio 4 series, uncovers the roots of our music, revealing the soundtrack to our history. Volume 2 opens with the modernism of Wagner and Liszt.On the eve of a...

English becomes the language of liberation as Afrikaans takes on the label of oppression.

In 1994 the first free democratic elections in South Africa were held, bringing Nelson Mandela...

Authentic voices from the past illustrate this unique history of the twentieth century, written by Joanna Bourke and presented by Tim Pigott-Smith.'Eyewitness' provides a rare and fascinating...

A selection of Alistair Cooke’s finest radio Letters in chronological order from his earliest broadcasts.

Alistair Cooke was a radio legend, entertaining millions of listeners for...

Dr. Geoff Bunn presents a journey through 5000 years of our understanding of the most complex thing in the known universe: the brain, in this major ten-part BBC Radio 4 series.In Episode 2,...

Melvyn has fun and games with puns, wordplay and tongue twisters. Twisting, manipulation and stretching of the English language is an integral part of everyday communication.

This...

2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, a seminal text that remains the most widely published and influential book in the English language. Once described as 'the noblest...

The BBC’s Nick Robinson continues his fascinating and absorbing Radio 4 series featuring eight famous British Prime Ministers.This series explores how Prime Ministers have used their power and...

Having been put off Shakespeare by unimaginative schoolteachers, Lenny Henry recently confessed to a late-flowering passion for the plays. Pursuing his new-found enthusiasm, he now gets to grips...

Alistair Cooke presents his own personal selection of ‘Letter from America’ broadcasts from the early years 1946-1968.Alistair Cooke is the microphone’s great observer, the doyen of...

Battlefields is what every Richard Holmes fan has been waiting for. Richard Holmes skilfully clarifies the complexities of four major World War 2 military campaigns: El Alamein, Italy, Arnhem and...