About this episode

This episode explores the myth of Admiral Nelson and the complexities of heroism in maritime history.

You know the image: towering column, tricorn hat, one good eye. Admiral Nelson, Britain's ultimate naval hero. But how much of that legend is actually true? And how much was carefully constructed and sold to us? This week, Sarah Dowd is joined by Roy Clare, retired Rear Admiral, former boss of the National Maritime Museum, and someone who has spent a career thinking about how we remember (and misremember) our maritime past. Tune in for a brilliant conversation about heroes, myths, and who history tends to forget. They explore Nelson's very human flaws, his Blackadder afterlife, the women and non-European sailors who shaped British naval history but rarely get a mention, and why the stories our museums tell are finally starting to change. History is a lot more interesting when you tell the whole story. Highlights: 00:00 The myth-making of Nelson's death 00:38 How public heroism is forged 01:11 Nelson in Blackadder: caricature and shifting belief 02:03 Roy Clare: from Navy life to questioning hero worship 04:02 Who gets remembered and who gets erased? 05:12 Leadership and empathy on the high seas 09:32 From Admiral to museum director 14:14 Rethinking "maritime": migration, trade…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Dowd

Guest: Roy Clare

Topics covered

• heroism
• myth-making
• maritime history
• memory
• representation
• leadership

Keywords

• Admiral Nelson
• myth-making
• Blackadder
• maritime history
• heroism
• representation
• leadership
• memory

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Maritime Museum

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