Matthew Parker
Author of Hell's Gorge: The Battle To Build The Panama Canal. Discusses the nineteenth-century history of Panama and the French campaign to drill a sea canal through the isthmus.
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Jul 23, 2025 • 44min
275. The Battle To Build The Panama Canal (Part 3)
In this episode, Matthew Parker, author of *Hell's Gorge: The Battle To Build The Panama Canal*, explores the wild ambitions behind the Panama Canal's construction in the 1880s. He shares how the Gold Rush transformed Panama into a transit hub for adventurers. The eccentric Ferdinand de Lesseps even flew a hot air balloon over Paris to rally support for the canal. Parker also touches on the human tragedy and fierce challenges faced by laborers, painting a vivid picture of the madness and missteps of this grand engineering endeavor.
Oct 15, 2024 • 33min
Imperial spectacle: inside Britain's 1924 'Empire Exhibition'
Matthew Parker, an expert in British imperial history and author of "One Fine Day, Britain's Empire on the Brink," takes us back to the monumental 1924 Empire Exhibition. He reveals how this event attracted 27 million visitors, showcasing imperial power through extravagant pavilions and sporting spectacles. Parker discusses the exhibition's complex legacy, highlighting its role as propaganda while capturing a diverse multicultural atmosphere. He also examines Britain's struggles for global relevance post-World War I, making it a captivating reflection on an empire in transition.
