Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of William McGonagall, widely considered to be the worst English-language poet that history has ever seen.

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In this episode, hear the tale of Jean de Carrouges, who fought a duel to the death to seek justice for his wife Marguerite.

WARNING: this episode contains content that may be distressing and is not appropriate for younger listeners.

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The smartphone is an invention that is currently bringing about a technological transformation of human civilisation - and an invitation to think about how other inventions from history have similarly impacted peoples' lives.

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Changes are coming to Half-Arsed History in 2026! Some positive, some negative - here is the TL;DL:

• There will now only be two episodes released each week: the usual full-length episode and a new series called This Week in History, replacing QAH

• I'm pulling back a little bit to try to bring my unsustainable workload back under control, reduce burnout, and find better balance

• Half-Arsed History's second book is coming later in 2026, the manuscript is currently being written and edited

• A brand-new Half-Arsed History card game is in the works, and you can be involved with playtesting and illustration

• The show's merch will undergo a full and proper refresh later in the year - artists are encouraged to submit portfolios

• A big goal for the show in 2026 is growth, so please tell your friends, enemies, and people about whom you feel largely ambivalent about Half-Arsed History

List of historical figures likely to appear in the card game: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KEsNw2oTfuXZOn-dU3-dtVhHJAvY0dt0DNbzhIVBbMY

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Quarter-Arsed History presents: the very amusing history of Sealand, an unrecognised micronation located on an abandoned military fort off the coast of Britain.

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In this week's episode, meet five more historical figures with strange epithets: Æthelred the Unready, Constantine V Koprónymos, Louis Do-Nothing, Malcolm the Maiden, and Piero the Unfortunate.

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The internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes.

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Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the Stone of Scone, a block of sandstone upon which Scottish, English, and then British kings and queens have been coronated for well over a thousand years.

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