The Soul

The history of thought on immortality, the self and the afterlife.

• 28 mins

The American West

Melvyn Bragg explores the myths and harsh reality of the 19th century American pioneers.

• 45 mins

Wagner

Melvyn Bragg examines the position of Richard Wagner and his music in German culture.

• 45 mins

Cultural Imperialism

Melvyn Bragg examines how a dominant power can exert a cultural influence on its empire.

• 45 mins

Freedom

Melvyn Bragg considers what it is to be free and how freedom became such a powerful value.

• 45 mins

Psychoanalysis and Democracy

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the impact of politics on psychoanalysis.

• 41 mins

Heritage

Melvyn Bragg explores the relationship between heritage culture and the study of history.

• 45 mins

Slavery and Empire

Melvyn Bragg examines British imperialism and its captives, both slaves and Britons.

• 45 mins

The Scientist

Melvyn Bragg explores the origin of the concept and the historical role of the scientist.

• 45 mins

Architecture and Power

Melvyn Bragg explores the ideas architecture expresses about our past and identity.

• 45 mins

Human Nature

Melvyn Bragg examines whether our natures are innate or defined by unbringing.

• 45 mins

Victorian Realism

Melvyn Bragg explores Victorian realism and its focus on the ordinariness of life.

• 45 mins

Muslim Spain

Melvyn Bragg examines Muslim Spain, from Cordoba’s golden age to the fall of Granada.

• 45 mins

Imagination

Melvyn Bragg investigates the creatives forces of the imagination.

• 45 mins

The Enlightenment in Scotland

Melvyn Bragg examines the emergence and impact of the Scottish Enlightenment.

• 45 mins

Man and Disease

Melvyn Bragg examines how humans have understood and fought disease throughout history.

• 45 mins

The Calendar

Melvyn Bragg explores the ancient origins of our Gregorian calendar.

• 45 mins

The Epic

The history of the epic, from Homer's Odyssey to Joyce’s Ulysses.

• 45 mins

Chance and Design

Melvyn Bragg explores the question and theories of a grand design in the universe.

• 45 mins

The Lindisfarne Gospels

Melvyn Bragg examines the manuscripts that united Celtic and Roman cultures in England.

• 45 mins

The Aztecs

Melvyn Bragg examines the creation, power and legacy of the Aztec Empire.

• 45 mins

Meteorology

Melvyn Bragg explores the fascinating and mystifying science of meteorology.

• 45 mins

Redemption

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss redemption, crucial for Judeo-Christian thought.

• 45 mins

Originality

Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the creative force of originality.

• 45 mins

The Life of Stars

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life cycle of stars.

• 45 mins

The Spanish Civil War

Melvyn Bragg examines the causes, events and repercussions of the Spanish Civil War.

• 45 mins

Proust

The life and work of the celebrated 20th century French novelist Marcel Proust.

• 45 mins

Youth

Melvyn Bragg examines the history of concepts and ideas on youth from antiquity to today.

• 45 mins

Roman Britain

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 400 year history of the Romans in Britain.

• 45 mins

The Jacobite Rebellion

Melvyn Bragg examines the Stuart dynasty's final attempt to reclaim the throne of England.

• 45 mins