We Have Ways of Making You Talk

'What is it that makes the history of the Second World War so compelling? Why are the Afflicted afflicted? With these chapters we hope to offer some idea of our approach to, and understanding of, the war, while never forgetting the tumult and terror that came with defeating tyranny. Maybe you will become Afflicted too'
AL MURRAY

'At the time of writing, we have recorded nearly one thousand episodes of the podcast. That's a lot and has taken us longer to chalk up than the duration of the war. Hopefully, this book will draw readers ever further into this utterly absorbing, endlessly fascinating subject that has so captivated both of us'
JAMES HOLLAND

From the most fascinating characters to the bloodiest battles and decisive turning points of the Second World War, We Have Ways of Making You Talk: New Histories of the Second World War brings the energy and insight of James Holland and Al Murray's chart-topping podcast to the page.

From El Alamein to Barbarossa and from the war in China to the ruins of Stalingrad, this book draws on the latest pioneering academic research to rethink how the war was fought - and why it unfolded the way it did. This is the Second World War as you haven't read it before: vivid, forensic and alive with debate.

Experience the darkest hours and narrow escapes of Dunkirk, the perilous Arctic convoys of the North Cape, the devastation of Hamburg and discover the one thing that genuinely terrified Winston Churchill. As with the podcast, the focus is on the overlooked, the misunderstood and the rarely told - the details that change how we understand the conflict as a whole.

Composed from James and Al's detailed show notes, this is essential reading for anyone who thinks they know the Second World War - and for those who want to know it better.

James Holland is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of a number of best-selling histories including most recently The Savage Storm and Cassino '44, he is also the author of ten works of fiction and a dozen Ladybird Experts. He is the co-founder of the annual Chalke Valley History Festival which is now in its twelfth year, and he has presented - and written - many television programmes and series for the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic and the History and Discovery channels.

Al Murray's alter ego, The Pub Landlord, is one of the most recognizable and successful comic creations of the past twenty years, and Murray, who has won numerous awards and accolades, continues to fill arenas and theatres around the world. He is also the author of many successful books including Watching War Films with My Dad and Command, a sharply entertaining analysis of the key allied military leaders in the Second World War.

Goalhanger is the UK's largest independent podcast producer and the biggest outside the US - creating chart-topping, story-first shows across history, politics, sport, business, entertainment, culture, and audio drama.
Goalhanger's shows include The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, Empire, The Rest Is Entertainment, The Rest Is Politics: US, Leading, The Rest Is Money, Journey Through Time, The Rest Is Football, Sherlock & Co., The Rest Is Classified, The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness, and We Have Ways of Making You Talk.

Goalhanger reach tens of millions each month across long-form audio, video, and live events - with over 400 million downloads in 2024, and more than 1 billion lifetime streams.

Al Murray is one of the most successful comics in the UK with his alter-ego The Pub Landlord and has had four previous bestselling books, The Pub Landlord's Book of British Common Sense, The Pub Landlord Says Think Yourself British, Great British Pub Quiz Book and Watching War Films with my Dad. One of the most popular live comedy acts in the country, Al has sold out arenas nationwide, including London's O2 Arena. He has earned numerous awards and accolades, such as the British Comedy Award for his ITV1 series Al Murray's Happy Hour, the Perrier Award and two Olivier Award nominations.

One of WWII's finest historians, James Holland is the author of The Savage Storm, Brothers in Arms, Sicily '43, Normandy '44, Big Week, The Rise of Germany and more. He has written and presented the BAFTA shortlisted documentaries Battle of Britain and Dam Busters for the BBC, and his WWII podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, now has millions of listeners.