Exploring the intersection between history and popular fiction. If you've ever watched a historical movie, TV show, or read a piece of fiction that pulled into its story people, places, and times from our history and wondered "Was it really like that?" this is a podcast for you.
We explore the larger world during the time period, explore the context of the age, its people, places, societies with a grimdark tone and twist. And then compare and contrast the reality of the time period vs what we have on our piece of fiction being reviewed.
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Inspired by the TV miniseries and novel, Pillars of Earth by Ken Follet today's episode looks at the real history surround a period of time in English history known as The Anarchy. A 20 year long civil war between the grandchildren of William the Conqueror over the throne of England. Rightful ruler of England, Empress Matilda lands in England with a force of no more than a few hundred initial supporters, and over a period of 20 years will tear the country in two as she wars with her cousin, King Stephen over who is the rightful ruler.
The events of todays episode come from William of Malmesbury, an English monk who not only lived through the actual events of The Anarchy, but was present in the very room for some of its key moments.
As always if you like to reach me to comment on the show or let me know how your day is going you can reach me at grimdarkhistory@gmail.com
This episode today has also been produced in collaboration with Paul De La Rosa of Double Helix: Blueprint of Nations
Twitter: @HistoryHelix (https://x.com/HistoryHelix)
BlueSky: @historyhelix.bsky.social
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Doublehelixhistory (https://www.facebook.com/DoubleHelixHistory/)
(https://www.facebook.com/DoubleHelixHistory/)Instagram: History_Helix (https://www.instagram.com/history__helix/)
Email: DoubleHelixHistorypodcast@gmail.com (mailto:DoubleHelixHistorypodcast@gmail.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
1 Jul 2025
Revolutionary Era France - France of the 1780's
This episode explores 1780s France, examining the stark contrast between the lavish lives of nobles and the struggles of peasants, revealing the social and economic tensions that ignited the French Revolution.
1 Jun 2025
Revolutionary Era France - The Beast of Gévaudan
This episode explores the terror caused by the Beast of Gévaudan in 18th-century France, where a mysterious animal attacked and killed over 100 people, sparking widespread fear and failed hunting expeditions.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
19,219
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
29
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
68
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