In Our Time

Join Rhiannon Purdie, an expert in Older Scots literature, Michael Brown, a scholar of Scottish history, and Steve Boardman, a specialist in the early Stewart kings, as they unravel John Barbour's epic poem 'The Brus'. They discuss its role in depicting Robert the Bruce’s victory at Bannockburn and how Barbour's narrative stirs national pride in Scotland. The conversation explores the poem's historical context and its impact on Scottish identity, as well as the intricacies of medieval chivalry and the cultural significance of the Stewart lineage.

Join experts Jonathan Codd, Steve Brusatte, and Emily Rayfield as they unravel the fascinating evolution of lungs. They discuss how lungs began with ancient fish adapting to land, showcasing the incredible transition from gills to lungs. The guests highlight striking continuities in respiratory systems, from tiny birds to massive dinosaurs. Bet you didn't know hiccups trace back to our amphibious ancestors! This enlightening conversation also touches on unique adaptations in birds that enable high-altitude flight, offering a whole new perspective on breathing.

Diane Silverthorne, an art historian focused on Vienna 1900, Mark Berry, a professor specializing in music and intellectual history, and Leslie Topp, an architecture historian, delve into the dynamic world of the Vienna Secession. They discuss how Gustav Klimt led this artistic revolution in 1897 to blend fine art, music, and design against a backdrop of Vienna's cultural vibrancy. Topics include the significance of Klimt's gold-leaf paintings, the societal impact of Jewish patrons, and the movement's legacy in modernism and architectural innovation.

Catherine Wynne, a Reader in Victorian literature, Devin Terhune, an experimental psychologist, and Quinton Deeley, a neuropsychiatrist, delve into the intriguing history and cultural perceptions of hypnosis. They explore Franz Anton Mesmer's revolutionary techniques and the challenges he faced from the medical community. The discussion reveals the varying degrees of hypnotic susceptibility, its applications in therapy, and the fascinating interplay between language and suggestion. Literary influences, particularly in the 19th century, are also examined, showcasing hypnosis's broad impact.

Chris Clark, Colin Storer, and Anna von der Goltz discuss Paul von Hindenburg, a pivotal figure in early 20th Century German history. They explore his military fame from the Battle of Tannenberg and his controversial presidency during the Weimar Republic. The guests unravel the 'stab in the back' myth he endorsed, which affected Germany's political landscape. They also highlight his dual role as a 'stop Hitler' candidate, ultimately leading to the appointment of Hitler as Chancellor, questioning Hindenburg's legacy and its dark implications for Germany.

In 1710, the British Parliament passed a piece of legislation entitled An Act for the Encouragement of Learning. It became known as the Statute of Anne, and it was the world’s first copyright law. Copyright protects and regulates a piece of work - whether that's a book, a painting, a piece of music or a software programme. It emerged as a way of balancing the interests of authors, artists, publishers, and the public in the context of evolving technologies and the rise of mechanical reproduction. Writers and artists such as Alexander Pope, William Hogarth and Charles Dickens became involved in heated debates about ownership and originality that continue to this day - especially with the emergence of artificial intelligence. With:Lionel Bently, Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law at the University of CambridgeWill Slauter, Professor of History at Sorbonne University, ParisKatie McGettigan, Senior Lecturer in American Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London. Producer: Eliane GlaserReading list:Isabella Alexander, Copyright Law and the Public Interest in the Nineteenth Century (Hart Publishing, 2010)Isabella Alexander and H. Tomás Gómez-Arostegui (eds), Research Handbook on the History of Copyright Law (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016)David Bellos and Alexandre Montagu, Who Owns this Sentence? A History of Copyrights and Wrongs (Mountain Leopard Press, 2024)Oren Bracha, Owning Ideas: The Intellectual Origins of American Intellectual Property, 1790-1909 (Cambridge University Press, 2016)Elena Cooper, Art and Modern Copyright: The Contested Image (Cambridge University Press, 2018)Ronan Deazley, On the Origin of the Right to Copy: Charting the Movement of Copyright Law in Eighteenth Century Britain, 1695–1775 (Hart Publishing, 2004)Ronan Deazley, Rethinking Copyright: History, Theory, Language (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006)Ronan Deazley, Martin Kretschmer and Lionel Bently (eds.), Privilege and Property: Essays on the History of Copyright (Open Book Publishers, 2010)Marie-Stéphanie Delamaire and Will Slauter (eds.), Circulation and Control: Artistic Culture and Intellectual Property in the Nineteenth Century (Open Book Publishers, 2021) Melissa Homestead, American Women Authors and Literary Property, 1822-1869 (Cambridge University Press, 2005)Adrian Johns, Piracy: The Intellectual Property Wars from Gutenberg to Gates (University of Chicago Press, 2009)Meredith L. McGill, American Literature and the Culture of Reprinting, 1834-1853 (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002)Mark Rose, Authors and Owners: The Invention of Copyright (Harvard University Press, 1993)Mark Rose, Authors in Court: Scenes from the Theater of Copyright (Harvard University Press, 2018)Catherine Seville, Internationalisation of Copyright: Books, Buccaneers and the Black Flag in the Nineteenth Century (Cambridge University Press, 2006)Brad Sherman and Lionel Bently, The Making of Modern Intellectual Property Law (Cambridge University Press, 1999)Will Slauter, Who Owns the News? A History of Copyright (Stanford University Press, 2019)Robert Spoo, Without Copyrights: Piracy, Publishing and the Public Domain (Oxford University Press, 2013)In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio production

In this discussion, Frank Close, a theoretical physicist, Steven Bramwell, a condensed matter physics expert, and Jess Wade, a materials science researcher, dive into the life of Lise Meitner, a groundbreaking female physicist. They explore her pivotal role in discovering nuclear fission while facing significant societal challenges. The conversation highlights her collaborations with Otto Hahn and her moral stance against the military use of her discoveries. They also examine the impacts of political persecution on her career and her eventual, albeit delayed, recognition in the scientific community.

In this discussion, Holly Stephens, Derek Kramer, and Nuri Kim dive into Korea's fleeting yet impactful period as an empire from 1897 to 1910. They explore King Gojong's ambitions for sovereignty amidst foreign pressures, the intricate diplomatic maneuvers Korea employed, and the financial challenges that accompanied its modernization. The conversation highlights Korea's cultural shifts and the rising tide of nationalism, culminating in a profound examination of the empire's legacy in contemporary Korea.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the great figures in world literature. The French playwright Molière (1622-1673) began as an actor, aiming to be a tragedian, but he was stronger in comedy, touring with a troupe for 13 years until Louis XIV summoned him to audition at the Louvre and gave him his break. It was in Paris and at Versailles that Molière wrote and performed his best known plays, among them Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope and Le Malade Imaginaire, and in time he was so celebrated that French became known as The Language of Molière.With Noel Peacock Emeritus Marshall Professor in French Language and Literature at the University of GlasgowJan Clarke Professor of French at Durham UniversityAnd Joe Harris Professor of Early Modern French and Comparative Literature at Royal Holloway, University of LondonProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:David Bradby and Andrew Calder (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Molière (Cambridge University Press, 2006)Jan Clarke (ed.), Molière in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2022)Georges Forestier, Molière (Gallimard, 2018)Michael Hawcroft, Molière: Reasoning with Fools (Oxford University Press, 2007)John D. Lyons, Women and Irony in Molière’s Comedies of Mariage (Oxford University Press, 2023)Robert McBride and Noel Peacock (eds.), Le Nouveau Moliériste (11 vols., University of Glasgow Presw, 1994- )Larry F. Norman, The Public Mirror: Molière and the Social Commerce of Depiction (University of Chicago Press, 1999)Noel Peacock, Molière sous les feux de la rampe (Hermann, 2012)Julia Prest, Controversy in French Drama: Molière’s Tartuffe and the Struggle for Influence (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014)Virginia Scott, Molière: A Theatrical Life (Cambridge University Press, 2020)In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production

Miri Rubin, a Professor of Medieval History, junto with Harry Spillane, a Bibliography Fellow, and Sophie Lunn-Rockliffe, an Associate Professor in Patristics, dive into the fascinating realm of typology. They discuss how figures like Moses and Jonah foreshadow Jesus in the New Testament, exploring the historical roots of typology from ancient civilizations to the Renaissance. The conversation touches on its moral implications, the interplay between Judaism and Christianity, and how this interpretative method influenced literature, art, and even Protestant thought.