An Evening with Dan Jones on War, Plague and Lion Hearts (Part One)

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 October 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

‘Unforgettable characters, written with irrepressible verve and historical accuracy [...] thrums with swordswinging energy.’ ― Simon Sebag Montefiore The Hundred Years’ War was an age-defining conflict. The violent struggle between England and France spanned over a century and permanently transformed the art of European warfare itself. Rich with stories of iconic figures, from Joan of Arc to Henry V, the sheer scale of it continues to inspire fictional retellings today. In his Essex Dogs trilogy, bestselling historian and author Dan Jones retells the battles and bloodshed through the eyes of the Essex Dogs, a fictional platoon. Now, as the series reaches its climax, he joins us on stage for an exploration of war, plague, and the third and final instalment of the trilogy – Lion Hearts. Jones’ story resumes as the Black Death is tearing through Europe. The Essex Dogs have scattered: Romford thrives in the glittering court of King Edward III, Loveday struggles with loss and a reluctant return to violence, and Millstone and Thorp enlist themselves on a deadly mission to escort a princess to Castille. Yet an explosive turn of events is set to pull them back together. Jones returned to Intelligence Squared to explore the brutal realities of the Hundred Years' War, the profound impact of the bubonic plague, and the craft of weaving together fact and fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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1:12.0	Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet.
1:14.2	I'm producer Mia Serenti.
1:20.7	Today's episode is part one of our recent live event with historian and broadcaster Dan Jones on war, plague and lion hearts.
1:24.6	The Hundred Years' War was an age-defining conflict. The violent struggle between England
1:29.8	and France spanned over a century and permanently transformed the art of European warfare itself.
1:37.0	In his Essex Dogs trilogy, historian and author Dan Jones retells the battles and bloodshed through
1:42.1	the eyes of the Essex dogs, a fictional platoon.
	...

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