麻豆约拍

Stars of South London

David Cannadine celebrates the joys of South London via Raymond Chandler and PG Wodehouse.

• 10 mins

Political and Military Leaders

David Cannadine reflects on the relationship between political and military leaders.

• 10 mins

Special Elephants

David Cannadine traces the remarkable history of the Asian elephant.

• 10 mins

Endings of Empire

David Cannadine looks back at the ceremonies which marked the end of Britain's empire.

• 10 mins

New Old Fashioned

Lisa Jardine reflects on changing fashions in architecture over the last four centuries.

• 10 mins

A Pioneering Scientist

Lisa Jardine reflects on the colourful career of the founder of the British Museum.

• 10 mins

Women Behaving Badly

A weekly reflection on a topical issue.

• 10 mins

A History of Fireworks

Lisa Jardine reflects on the history and political significance of fireworks.

• 10 mins

Reputation Building

Lisa Jardine reflects on how reputations are won and lost.

• 10 mins

Memory and recall

Lisa Jardine reflects on memory and muses at her newly acquired facility to recite Horace.

• 10 mins

Book Choice

Book-lover Lisa Jardine muses on her latest conversion to the e-book.

• 10 mins

The Sistine tapestries

Lisa Jardine reflects on the extraordinary tapestries in London for the Pope's visit.

• 10 mins

Cakes and coupons

Lisa Jardine on the conflict between her twin passions - saving money and lavish baking.

• 10 mins

Huizinga and the human cost of cuts

Lisa Jardine puts an historical perspective on the upcoming government spending cuts.

• 10 mins

Student Psyche

Sarah Dunant reflects on the character of the new generation of students.

• 10 mins

Baby Boomers

Sarah Dunant owns up to being part of the greediest generation - the baby boomers.

• 10 mins

Conspicuous Consumption

Sarah Dunant reflects on public attitudes in the past to conspicuous consumption.

• 10 mins

Sarah Dunant: Tribute to Teachers

Sarah Dunant pays tribute to outstanding women teachers who inspired her own generation.

• 10 mins

Traces of the Past

Sarah Dunant sees the balance between past and present epitomised at Kensington Palace.

• 10 mins

History through Religion

Sarah Dunant finds religion a powerful lens for a fresh look at history.

• 10 mins

Reading for Free

Joan Bakewell reflects on the irreplaceable value of reading.

• 10 mins

Sex and Religion

Joan Bakewell reflects on organised religion and secular society's attitudes to sex.

• 10 mins

Living Forever

Joan Bakewell reflects on the process of ageing and the efforts of science to reverse it.

• 10 mins

Extreme Food

Joan Bakewell reflects on our current obsession with ever more elaborate food and cookery.

• 10 mins

A Time for Empathy

Joan Bakewell wonders how we recover true empathy in a culture of self-regard.

• 10 mins

Dear Diary

Joan Bakewell celebrates the art of diary writing.

• 10 mins

What humanities should teach

Alain de Botton with a controversial view of the teaching of humanities in universities.

• 10 mins

'News' and concentration

Alain de Botton on our inability to concentrate.

• 10 mins

The ecological sublime

Alain de Botton gives a philosopher's take on our ecological dilemmas.

• 10 mins

Are museums our new churches?

Alain de Botton asks if museums are our new churches.

• 10 mins