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Empire: World History

78. The Battle of the Spies

Empire: World History

Goalhanger

History

4.55.4K Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2023

⏱️ 47 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The rivalry between Russia and Britain continues to grow as both of their attentions begin to centre more and more on Afghanistan. In a bid to gain influence in the region, both empires send young, daring spies to infiltrate the region. Alexander Burnes and Jan Prosper Vitkevich will both battle to gain the upper hand. Listen as William and Anita discuss these two spies and their thrilling roles in the Great Game. Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com Goalhangerpodcasts.com Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Jack Davenport + Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

If you want access to bonus episodes reading lists for every series of empire, a chat community,

0:06.7

discounts for all the books mentioned in the week's podcast, add free listening and a weekly

0:11.5

newsletter, sign up to Empire Club at

0:14.4

W.

0:15.1

W. Empire pod UK.com. Hello and me and welcome to Empire with me Anita Arnan.

0:32.8

And me, William Drample.

0:34.8

So, oh, shall we call it Battle of the Spies, this one?

0:37.6

Because that seems to fit, doesn't it?

0:39.2

It's a proper spy story we've got here today.

0:42.3

So where we left you on Tuesday let me remind you we are

0:46.6

discussing the beginnings of the great game. The tournament of shadows. The

0:51.4

They had the better title I do, they had the better title.

0:53.0

I do think they had the battle title in Russia.

0:55.0

And we're going to talk about the events that lead up to the first Anglo-Afghan War.

1:01.0

Let me just remind you what we talked about on Tuesday, shall I say we were discussing this growing

1:05.6

tension, this mistrust that is bubbling away between the British and the Russians.

1:10.8

So you have Lord Ellenbro who's saying look all we have to concentrate on now all Britain has to do is stop expansion of Russia and they have reason to fear the Russian expansion but as William was saying actually they whip up a

1:26.1

great storm of suspicion and hawkishness that you were saying that maybe they

1:30.1

create the problem that they didn't have to face, William, that's right.

1:33.0

Yes, there's this wonderful moment with William Moorcroft.

1:37.0

Now, William Moorcroft, again, is one of these fabulous figures who is on one hand a Bon fide explorer stroke I think is actually he runs the East

1:47.4

India company stud is his job.

...

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