Hey folks, just a quick heads up before you dive into the episode.

My new book, Alita Legacy, a history of Ireland in 18 murders, is coming out on September

the 14th.

You can still pre-order your copy today, or if you're going to be in Dublin next week,

it will be great to see you at the launch.

It's on at 6pm on Thursday, September the 14th in Hodges, Figgus.

That's 6pm on September the 14th in Hodges, Figgus on Dawson Street in the city center.

Swing in on your way home from work, it'll be a great event.

Sure I'll see you there.

In 1897, the United Kingdom celebrated the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne.

Now as you can imagine, this was marked by parades and demonstrations.

However, amid the excitement, the Glamorgan Free Press, a local newspaper in Wales,

got somewhat carried away and proclaimed the diamond jubilee to be,

and I quote, one of the greatest events in the history of the world.

Now the ink can hardly have been dry on that claim before it was obvious that it was an exaggeration.

Victoria was a constitutional monarch, power rested with the parliament,

so her influence over events was limited.

However, in defense of the Glamorgan Free Press,

claims to be living through momentous events that will be remembered long after we're gone,

is to one extent or another part of the human condition.

We all do us.

So throwing all caution to the wind, I thought finishing 2022 with an episode asking,

...