Culture | The best of times is now

Why history podcasts are booming now

Listening to stories about the past is a present pastime

The illustration depicts a lively concert scene with three historical figures performing on stage. From left to right, there is Cleopatra dressed in traditional ancient Egyptian attire, Abraham Lincoln in a top hat and suit, and King Henry VIII in regal clothes
Illustration: Mark Long

If you think history is old hat, try getting a seat at the Royal Albert Hall on October 18th. The soirée at London’s most famous concert venue sold out in May. Some 5,000 people will enjoy a bit of Mozart and Beethoven; the big draw, however, is a pair of chatty historians.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The best of times is now”

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