British Library Podcasts

This book of psalms was Henry's personal copy, used for private devotion. The rich illustrations show how he wanted to be seen as a modern-day King David, a pious harpist slaying the Goliath of the papacy. His marginal notes on the other hand reveal his innermost thoughts. James Carley of York University, Toronto, talks to Rob Ainsley about this beautiful and intriguing little book.

In this lively, compelling and opinionated lecture - the first of three - Dr Starkey examines Henry VIII's upbringing as a second son, his education and induction into chivalry, the dominant figures of his childhood and youth, the tensions with his father, and his accession.

Brett Dolman of Historic Royal Palaces describes it as 'half international summit, half It's A Knockout' in this fascinating and lively talk, recorded at Hampton Court Palace. The extraordinary campsite carnival of 1520 spawned tales of excess and hedonism to beat any modern-day rock festival while Henry and Francis, rival young kings of England and France, were sizing each other up.

Music was a vital part of young King Henry VIII's life. Hear music written for him, including the Rose Canon in full, and some of Henry's own compositions. Experts discuss him, his musical world, and its significance. With Nicolas Bell and David Skinner, introduced by Andrea Clarke. Extracts from Henry's Music (Obsidian CD705) courtesy of Obsidian Records.

Among Henry VIII's less-recognised achievements was to pioneer modern cartography. Tudor maps expert Peter Barber explains how Henry changed maps, and how maps changed England. Introduced by Andrea Clarke.

The British Library has acquired the complete extant literary archive of Graham Swift. Here he talks with Head of Modern Literary Manuscripts Jamie Andrews about his thoughts on seeing his archive transferred to the national collections. He also discusses his newly-published collection of non-fiction Making an Elephant.

Britain gave its former colonies constitutions – but hasn't got round to writing one itself. What shape are our freedoms and rights in today, 800 years after Magna Carta? Not a very good one, say Professor AC Grayling, and exhibition guest curator Professor Linda Colley. Covering every major domestic constitutional event from the Laws of Forests to the Human Rights Act, this debate is for anyone interested in liberty then and now.

From a series of events to accompany the Taking Liberties exhibition. Trevor Phillips, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, asks why human rights has such a bad press when it's such a good thing – and talks about the best way to make it work for a better Britain. Listen to find out how the Human Rights Act is misunderstood and misused, and how it can be made to work for all of us – and what the Jeremy Kyle show can teach us about it.

From a series of events to accompany the Taking Liberties exhibition. Panel debate on where the ceiling is on our freedoms and rights when we must decrease emissions of greenhouse gases. With Dr Gabrielle Walker; Simon Retallack (Institute for Public Policy Research); Andy Atkins (Friends of the Earth); David North (Tesco); and Ken Livingstone (former London mayor).

From a series of events to accompany the Taking Liberties exhibition. In this fascinating lecture, Professor Nicholas Vincent – author and Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia, and one of the world's leading experts on Magna Carta – talks about the great icon of liberty: its background, its significance, and its various physical incarnations

Shami Chakrabarti talks to Joan Bakewell in this interview recorded at the British Library on 31 October 2008, part of the Taking Liberties exhibition events series. Chakrabarti talks in detail about how quick-fix legislation, which has created 3000 new offences since 1997, is eroding our freedoms and rights

Curator Kristian Jensen discusses the 1957 Wolfenden Report, which caused controversy upon its appearance for recommending that homosexual acts between consenting adults in private be legalised, but which led not only to a change in law but also public attitudes

Curator Matthew Shaw discusses Thomas Paine's radical 1791 text The Rights of Man: its political background in the English and French Revolutions, the response to Burke, its remarkable reception at the time, and its pioneering vision of social welfare and justice that was many decades ahead of its time

Richard Fairman of the British Library Sound Archive discusses The Spoken Word – British Writers and The Spoken Word – American Writers: CD sets containing rare and previously unpublished recordings of famous and influential authors. Includes discussion and audio clips of Arthur Miller, Arthur Conan Doyle and Virginia Woolf. Interviewed by Sarah Espiner.

Curator Matthew Shaw talks about some of the remarkable documents on show in the Library's forthcoming exhibition on Britain's struggle for freedoms and rights (31 Oct 2008 - 1 Mar 2009): from Magna Carta, through the Rights of Man and suffragette diaries, to today's debates about human rights, ID cards, and detention without trial.