Long before the word ‘vaccine’ existed, campaigners battled against the life-saving new technology, spewing lies which sound eerily familiar from today’s online anti-vaxxers. Historian Nigel Jones talks to presenter Jenny Longden about how the anti-vaccine movement began at almost the very moment a country doctor, Edward Jenner, noticed that milkmaids were immune to smallpox and tested a truly revolutionary idea - and how this offers lessons for us today.

Long before the word &lsquo;vaccine&rsquo; existed, campaigners battled against the life-saving new technology, spewing lies which sound eerily familiar from today&rsquo;s online anti-vaxxers. Historian Nigel Jones talks to presenter Jenny Longden about how the anti-vaccine movement began at almost the very moment a country doctor, Edward Jenner, noticed that milkmaids were immune to smallpox and tested a truly revolutionary idea - and how this offers lessons for us today.

Author and historian Guy Walters presents a Mail+ history podcast talking to top experts on stories from the past which still have an impact on our lives today

Author and historian Guy Walters presents a Mail+ history podcast talking to top experts on stories from the past which still have an impact on our lives today

History Now

Jab wars: The long, strange history of the anti-vaccine movement

Even today, there are pubs and a horse race named after John of Gaunt, a 14th century prince and warrior who rose to become one of the most powerful men in England, and whose son would return from exile to claim the throne, and found the House of Lancaster. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to Helen Carr, author of The Red Prince, on how John of Gaunt schemed his way through a real-world game of thrones, becoming the forefather of all English kings and queens.

Even today, there are pubs and a horse race named after John of Gaunt, a 14th century prince and warrior who rose to become one of the most powerful men in England, and whose son would return from exile to claim the throne, and found the House of Lancaster. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to Helen Carr, author of The Red Prince, on how John of Gaunt schemed his way through a real-world game of thrones, becoming the forefather of all English kings and queens.

The real Game of Thrones: The true story of John of Gaunt

From half a billion buried in a Polish palace to submarines full of glittering loot, ‘lost Nazi gold’ is an urban myth which refuses to die - but there IS one place where there genuinely is a huge amount of Nazi treasure still waiting to be discovered. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to World War 2 expert James Holland on why most hoards of Nazi treasure are never found - and where the thugs of the Third Reich REALLY hid their loot (so safely that it’s still there today).

From half a billion buried in a Polish palace to submarines full of glittering loot, &lsquo;lost Nazi gold&rsquo; is an urban myth which refuses to die - but there IS one place where there genuinely is a huge amount of Nazi treasure still waiting to be discovered. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to World War 2 expert James Holland on why most hoards of Nazi treasure are never found - and where the thugs of the Third Reich REALLY hid their loot (so safely that it&rsquo;s still there today).

Hitler's hoard: The real place where looted Nazi treasures still lie hidden

Alan Turing was the oddball genius who single-handledly broke the Enigma code, ended World War II, and was hounded to death by the ungrateful authorities over his homosexuality… right? Wrong, says his nephew Dermot Turing, who tells author and historian Guy Walters that his uncle’s story has been seriously distorted to fit in with modern-day obsessions - and that the story told in films such as The Imitation Game risks masking many of Alan Turing’s real achievements in the field of computer science. 

Alan Turing was the oddball genius who single-handledly broke the Enigma code, ended World War II, and was hounded to death by the ungrateful authorities over his homosexuality&hellip; right? Wrong, says his nephew Dermot Turing, who tells author and historian Guy Walters that his uncle&rsquo;s story has been seriously distorted to fit in with modern-day obsessions - and that the story told in films such as The Imitation Game risks masking many of Alan Turing&rsquo;s real achievements in the field of computer science.&nbsp;

Jab wars: The long, strange history of the anti-vaccine movement

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