Episodes

  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Feb 23 2024
    Welcome to Deconstructed History.
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    2 mins
  • Perkin Warbeck

    Perkin Warbeck
    Feb 24 2024
    In this episode, we’re going to explore the man known to history as the pretender to the English throne, Perkin Warbeck. I’m covering the pieces of contemporary evidence which suggests that maybe we shouldn’t trust everything the Tudors tell us. At least, not when it comes to making their enemies look bad in front of the history books. For full show notes head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/perkin-warbeck/ Resources and Links “The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case” by Philippa Langley (2023). Langley is treating the Princes’ story as a cold case missing person’s report, summing up five years of research. “Perkin: A Story of Deception” by Ann Wroe (2003). Written to compare the confession to the contemporary evidence, where each differs and shares similarities.
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    17 mins
  • Historical Inaccuracy in the Arthurian Legends

    Historical Inaccuracy in the Arthurian Legends
    Feb 24 2024
    I feel the first thing I should mention is that the Middle Ages as a whole span a thousand years. It makes it confusing when someone mentions one thing and assumes it was true for the entire duration of the era. This is particularly true when it comes to Arthurian myths and legends. For full show notes, head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/inaccuracy-in-arthurian-legends/ Resources and Links “Le Morte D’Arthur” by Thomas Malory (rendition by Keith Baines, 2010). Considered the de-facto literature for the Arthurian legends, this is the text everyone has either heard stories from, or they use it as the basis for their retelling. It’s also historically inaccurate and requires complete focus to understand without “updated language.”
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    15 mins
  • The Mycenaeans: The Guys Who *Were* the Greek Myths

    The Mycenaeans: The Guys Who *Were* the Greek Myths
    Feb 24 2024
    In the grand scheme of things, you probably haven’t heard of the Mycenaeans. That’s okay, we all get that Ancient Greek democracy and theatre overshadows everything and all. The Mycenaeans were the people who lived in mainland Greece between approximately 1750 to 1050 BCE. They represent the first distinctively Greek civilization in mainland Greece. They had palatial states, urban organization, distinctly Olympian gods, and the first Greek writing system. This was the last of the Greek Bronze Age, when the city states of Sparta and Athens started to emerge. For full show notes, head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/the-mycenaeans/ Resources and Links “An Introduction to the Ancient World” by L. de Blois and R.J. van der Spek (2019). Not quite as far back as the Mycenaeans, but a great overview of such a vast period of time none the less.
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    13 mins
  • The Difference Between Old and Middle English

    The Difference Between Old and Middle English
    Feb 26 2024
    There’s a common misconception out there about what Old English actually is. Whenever I ask someone what they think about Shakespeare (because I’m a nerd), they always go off on a rant about how Old English is totally incomprehensible and why couldn’t I have asked about something else? For full show notes, head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/old-middle-english/ Resources and Links “Beowulf” Translated by John Porter (2022). A side-by-side literal translation of the poem. Great if you love a challenge. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” by Simon Armitage (2008). A beautiful translation in easy-to-understand plain old English. (Tolkien is rather fanciful in his translation.)
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    18 mins
  • Henry Tudor: The Legitimacy of His Claim to the Throne

    Henry Tudor: The Legitimacy of His Claim to the Throne
    Feb 26 2024
    In this episode, we’re looking at how legitimate the claim Henry Tudor made for the throne was, after he claimed the throne through conquest on 30th October 1485. Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep my irritation at him at bay long enough to get through his episode. For full show notes, head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/henry-tudor/ Resources and Links “The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case” by Philippa Langley (2023). Langley uses contemporary sources rather than later Tudor ones to establish just what was going on in the period before and the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth.
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    15 mins
  • Orpheus: The Man Behind the Myth

    Orpheus: The Man Behind the Myth
    Feb 27 2024
    In this episode, we’re looking at the legendary figure of Orpheus and what his myths can tell us about the world. The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed Orpheus was a real person. He had the ability to create music so beautiful it could make rocks cry. There’s one version where he plays his lyre and the rock someone threw at him just refused to hit him. He was that great at it. These days, musicians have to work a lot harder if they want to be blessed enough to make rocks emote. For full show notes, head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/orpheus/ Resources and Links “Jason and the Golden Fleece” by Apollonius of Rhodes (Oxford World’s Classics, 2009). An updated version of the original published in 1993. It was recommended for its readability, accuracy to the original text, and with annotations within the same chapter. Also, it comes with maps. The game “Hades” by Supergiant Games. A single-player game released for macOS, Nintendo Switch, and Windows following an early access release in December 2018. Later released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in August 2021. Released for iOS in 2024 through Netflix Games. “Hadestown Original Broadway Cast Recording” by Anaïs Mitchell (2019). Represents the Broadway show in its entirety. The deluxe 2-CD set comes with a 64-page booklet, including full libretto and production photos.
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    15 mins
  • Loki: Was He Really Evil After All?

    Loki: Was He Really Evil After All?
    Feb 27 2024
    This episode is about a god. But not just any god “Hijacked by Jesus” and forced into the role of villain. Oh no. This god starred as the villain and/or antihero in another god’s heroic quest to prove his worth. I am, of course, talking about Loki. For full show notes, head to https://georgeelmer.co.uk/loki/ Resources and Links “Norse Mythology” by Neil Gaiman (2017). A fantastic retelling of the original myths. He said he tried to avoid later attestations while writing it. “Loki’s gender fluidity and bisexuality in Norse mythology and in modern adaptations by Alice Martinelli (2022).” An academic article (possibly a dissertation) on the topic of Loki and his portrayal in multiple forms of media.
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    15 mins