Spain 1808-Iraq 2003: Some Thoughts on the Use and Abuse of History

Napoleon on his Imperial throne. Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres.

This podcast was recorded by the Bolton Branch of the Historical Association on Monday 1^st February 2010, at the Parish Hall in Bolton.  We were pleased to welcome Professor Charles Esdaile of the University of Liverpool back to the branch to speak on ‘Spain 1808-Iraq 2003: Some Thoughts on the Use and Abuse of History'.  Taking as his starting point cartoons in the U.S. press that compared George Bush to Napoleon, Professor Esdaile examined commentaries which presented parallels between the two men's campaigns in 2003 and 1808.  He argued that these apparent similarities could be undermined at every turn, and that this was an abuse of history. 

An audience of about 50 people enjoyed the lecture, which was followed by plenty of formal and informal discussions, then refreshments and our annual ‘bring and buy' history book sale.  The branch meets each month between September and May, usually on the first Monday evening of the month.  Professor Esdaile is the author of many books and articles on the Napoleonic period and, especially, the Peninsular War, and is currently working on a study of the French occupation of Andalucia in the period 1810-1812.