British Library Podcasts

The 2010 series of Panizzi lectures, given by James Raven offers fresh perspectives on the early modern and 18th-century book trade in England. London dominated this industry, but relatively little has been known about the commercial environments in which books were published. Recorded live in the Conference Centre on 10 November 2010.

The 2010 series of Panizzi lectures, given by James Raven offers fresh perspectives on the early modern and 18th-century book trade in England. London dominated this industry, but relatively little has been known about the commercial environments in which books were published. Recorded live in the Conference Centre on 3 November 2010.

The 2010 series of Panizzi lectures, given by James Raven offers fresh perspectives on the early modern and 18th-century book trade in England. London dominated this industry, but relatively little has been known about the commercial environments in which books were published. Recorded live in the Conference Centre on 27 October 2010.

Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education, chairs a lively discussion on the future of university and research libraries with Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Newnham College, University of Cambridge; Clive Bloom, Emeritus Professor of English at Middlesex University; Sarah Porter, Head of Innovation at JISC and Martin Lewis, Director of Library Services at the University of Sheffield. Accompanies the British Library's Growing Knowledge exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 26 October 2010.

Ed Parsons, Geospatial Technologist for Google Maps and Steve Chilton from OpenStreetMap discuss recent developments. From the Magnificent Maps events series, recorded live in the Conference Centre on 7 September 2010.

Dr David Starkey and Peter Barber, Head of Map Collections at the British Library, discuss the importance of maps in medieval and early modern palaces, and how they combined art, science, and power to enhance their impact. From the Magnificent Maps events series, recorded live in the Conference Centre on 14 June 2010.

The election of Barack Obama was greeted with enthusiasm at home and abroad. Has his administration seen a reverse of the anti-Americanism of the Bush years? Simon Jenkins is well known for his columns in the Guardian and the Evening Standard.

Beowulf is the greatest Anglo-Saxon epic, a tale of warriors, monsters and dragons. The poem has inspired films and musicals, graphic novels and computer games. All this is owed to the unique manuscript, which was nearly destroyed by fire in the 18th century. Julian Harrison, Curator of Medieval Manuscripts, explains.

Producers John and Lisel Gale are interviewed by Rebecca Novell, and Iain Mackintosh, who founded Oxford's Prospect Theatre Company, talks with Dr Alec Patton. Introduced by Jamie Andrews, Head of Modern Literary Manuscripts. From the 2009 Theatre Archive Project live event. Recorded on 14 September 2009

In 1987, Ken Livingstone, former head of the recently abolished Greater London Council (GLC), discussed the need to reform the political system at the Institute of Contemporary Arts as part of the ongoing ICA Talks series. Two decades on, we invited Ken in to discuss how the political landscape has changed in the intervening years - and how it hasn’t.

Alison Weir is one of Britain's best-loved and most-read historians. Her works include The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Henry VIII: King and Court and Mary, Queen of Scots. Her next book will be a detailed account of the dramatic and controversial imprisonment and execution of Anne Boleyn. In this intriguing talk, she makes a compelling case that Anne went to her death an innocent, wronged woman.

In the third and final lecture of this enthralling series David Starkey examines the paradox of Henry's life. For the divorce from Katherine of Aragon and break from Rome, which wrecked his character, also laid the foundations for the great achievements of his reign. Recorded on 30 June 2009.

Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most important books in the world. Handwritten over 1600 years ago, the manuscript contains the Christian Bible in Greek, including the oldest complete copy of the New Testament. Dr Juan Garcés of the British Library talks to Amy Myshrall, one of the team who helped create the digitised Codex Sinaiticus.

Geoff Dyer - novelist, writer, and author of Ways of Telling: the Work of John Berger - talks to Head of Modern Literary Manuscripts Jamie Andrews, on the eve of Berger's donation of his archive to the Library.

In this lively, compelling and opinionated lecture - the second of three - Dr Starkey looks at the change in Henry: from the ideal prince at the time of his accession, with his high ideals of virtue, glory and immortality, to the tyrant of his maturity. It blames the crisis of his divorce, which split his family and destroyed his closest friendships. Recorded on 2 June 2009.