Heroism: 3. The Death of the Hero
Rory Stewart: The Long History of...
BBC
4.6 • 593 Ratings
🗓️ 18 August 2025
⏱️ 30 minutes
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Summary
Rory Stewart explores ideas of what it means to be a hero from the ancient world to the present day. How have these ideas changed? Why do heroes matter? Who are the heroes we need today?
With the help of leading historians, psychologists, philosophers and theologians, he examines how heroism is continually questioned and re-invented in every age, and how these contrasting visions of the hero might speak to us in our own time. What does it mean for our moral life? How should we perceive and pursue human excellence?
In this episode, Rory explores ideas of the hero in the early 20th century.
Presenter: Rory Stewart Producer and sound design: Dan Tierney Editor: Tim Pemberton Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Your time starts now. You're about to listen to a BBC podcast. Absolutely right. So you might like to know that the BBC makes loads of other podcasts. Really? Wow. Many of them are very funny. Which I think means... A hatful of ha-hars. And energy. Even if we do say so ourselves. I agree 100% of us. Find them all on BBC sounds. Just tell us a joke. Come on, tell us a joke. Tadus! |
| 0:24.4 | I'm on Tadass! Even if we do say so ourselves. I agree 100% with us. Find them all on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:22.6 | Just tell us a joke, come on, tell us a joke, tell us a joke, come on, tell us a joke. |
| 0:25.3 | Just search comedy on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:27.5 | I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in. |
| 0:31.4 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:35.2 | This is Rory Stewart and welcome to the long history of heroism. |
| 0:39.8 | Episodes are released weekly, wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:43.6 | But if you're in the UK, you can listen to the whole series right now, first, on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:50.6 | The Victorians were passionate about heroes and hero worship. |
| 0:56.0 | I saw a man this morning who did not wish to die. I ask and cannot answer if otherwise wish I. |
| 1:04.5 | Patrick Shaw Stewart was one of those Victorians. He was born in 1888. His career was one of great |
| 1:10.1 | academic brilliance. He was a classicist. |
| 1:13.2 | He came first in the Eton Scholarship Exam in 1901. At Oxford, he won almost every prize and |
| 1:19.0 | became a fellow of all souls. Fair broke the day this morning, against the Dardanelles. |
| 1:25.6 | The breeze blew soft. The morn's cheeks were cold as cold seashells. |
| 1:32.2 | When war was declared in 1914, he joined the Royal Naval Division, serving with the poet Rupert Brook, |
| 1:39.5 | and while he was stationed at the island of Imbros, he seemed to enjoy speaking ancient Greek to the local people. |
| 1:46.6 | But other shells are waiting across the Aegean Sea. Shrapnel and high-explosive shells and |
| 1:55.2 | hells for me. Shaw Stewart fought in the Gallipoli campaign and in 1916 won the cross of the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor and the Quad de Guerre. |
| 2:05.6 | Oh, hell of ships and cities. Hell of men like me. Fatal second Helen. Why must I follow thee? |
| 2:16.0 | He defied orders to return repeatedly to the front line |
... |
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