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Welcome to the History Extra Podcast, Fascinating Historical Conversations from the

makers of BBC History magazine.

Today, the age of 18 is seen as a significant marker in the transition from childhood to adulthood.

But how has this boundary shifted over time? Well in this episode public historian

Alice Lockston speaks to Danny Bird about her new book 18 which explores the young lives of 18 well-known figures from British history.

From the venerable bead to Vivian Westwood, how have young people made history and what forces have propelled them? How have

been made history and what forces have propelled them to greatness?

Alice, thank you for joining me and congratulations on your new book,

which charts the lives of 18 individuals across more than 1,000 years of British history,

each from the perspective of their 18-year-old self.

I'd like to demonstrate in by asking you where the idea for this book came from.

Yes, well thank you first of all for this book came from.

Yes, well, thank you first of all so much for having me.

It's wonderful to be here.

The idea for 18 came really when I was walking around

the National Portrait Gallery, and it's something I've always thought about is when you look at these figures from history you think of them via the portraits that they created and often that depicts them in their later life or I suppose in the years of their success and because of this this is how we always think about them we always think about them or we often think about them as much older. And I love the idea when you see these portraits of

grown-up people that of course once upon a time they were children and they were

teenagers and they had all the hopes and fears and dreams that teenagers once had.

And I really just wanted to shine a light on younger people throughout history.

...