Radical comedian Mark Steel takes a sideways look at some of the most tumultuous moments in history

Mark Steel turns his analytical mind to the theme of revolutions in these six entertaining lectures, examining some of the major historical forces at work and holding up a mirror to our own age.

In these entertaining lectures, he reinterprets the French Revolution, examining everything from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotine; looks at the politics of the sexual revolution (taking in the pill, the women’s movement and the Stonewall riots); and assesses the motivating factors and key players in the Russian Revolution – including the Romanovs, Rasputin and the Red Guard.

He also explores how the Industrial Revolution transformed our perception of time, work and money; argues that the American Civil War was not just a rebellion but a full-blown revolution; and shows how Darwin’s revolutionary theory of natural selection was so shocking, he kept it quiet for 20 years for fear of a backlash...

With readings by Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonça and witty comic sketches, this amusing, informative series is packed with fantastic stories, extraordinary characters and fascinating historical facts.

Written and presented by Mark Steel
With Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonça
Produced by Phil Clarke

Contents:
The French Revolution
The Sexual Revolution
The Russian Revolution
The Industrial Revolution
The American Civil War
The Theory of Evolution

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 June – 4 August 1998