Skip to content
PodcastMentions logo
PodcastMentions
Back to The Rest Is History
The Rest Is History artwork
Indexed 4 mentions
The Rest Is HistoryApr 11, 2022

174. Merlin, Magic and the British

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 174. Merlin, Magic and the British with Francis Young on The Rest Is History.

Guest
Francis Young
Books mentioned
Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britainthe first book of SamuelRichard II+1 more
Listen
Loading the embedded player…
Open audio sourceMore from The Rest Is History
Context before you listen

In 174. Merlin, Magic and the British, Francis Young and the hosts mention Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain, the first book of Samuel, Richard II, and magical quietism with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britainthe first book of SamuelRichard IImagical quietism
3 books from this episode
Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain

I haven't enjoyed a history book this much in ages.

the first book of Samuel

Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft.

Richard II

he comes to believe his own propaganda, if you like, about himself as this kind of mystical world emperor who will, you know, bring world peace and b…

Guest: Francis Young
Episode summary
Richard II, Prince Charles, and Tony Blair. From Merlin, to the middle ages, to the modern day, the mysterious world of magic, necromancy and the occult has had a notable presence in the lives of British monarchs, politicians and members of high society. Tom and Dominic are joined by Francis Young, author of 'Magic in Merlin's Realm: A History of Occult Politics in Britain' to discuss this infinitely interesting and entertaining topic. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook
Mention timeline

Jump between the book moments.

View every mention
Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain

The host mentioned the book to highlight its exploration of how rulers in Britain have utilized occult practices thro…

Card
the first book of Samuel

The host references 'the first book of Samuel' to illustrate how accusations of witchcraft were used rhetorically dur…

Card
Richard II

The host discusses how Richard II's over-reliance on occult beliefs contributed to his downfall as a king. This serve…

Card
magical quietism

The host discusses the concept of magical quietism and its implications for rulers, particularly highlighting how an…

Card
Book mentions4
Media mentions0
Quick answers

Quick FAQ

Answers to common summary, books, and takeaway questions for this episode.

What is 174. Merlin, Magic and the British about?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 174. Merlin, Magic and the British with Francis Young on The Rest Is History.

Listen to the episode

What are the main takeaways from 174. Merlin, Magic and the British?

These are the strongest takeaways surfaced by the transcript, summary copy, and linked mentions for 174. Merlin, Magic and the British.

  • The conversation centers on magical quietism dangers.
  • A second recurring theme is occult politics in Britain.
  • Referenced books include Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain and the first book of Samuel.
  • The strongest audience signal points to Readers interested in history and the occult and Historians and those interested in political rhetoric.
Listen with timestamps

Which books are mentioned in 174. Merlin, Magic and the British?

Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain, the first book of Samuel, and Richard II are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

Jump to books mentioned

Why are listeners searching for 174. Merlin, Magic and the British?

174. Merlin, Magic and the British keeps attracting summary-style searches because this page combines episode context, transcript quotes, book references, and direct jump links back into the audio.

See topic signals
Topic and sentiment signals

Aggregated from transcript-derived mention metadata for better topical navigation and citation.

Top triggers
magical quietism dangers(1)occult politics in Britain(1)Richard II's occult beliefs(1)witchcraft accusations in history(1)
Mention sentiment
Critical Analysis(2)Deep Dive(1)Highly Recommended(1)
Audience signals
Readers interested in history and the occultHistorians and those interested in political rhetoricListeners interested in medieval history and political leadershipHistorians and political leaders

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer quote context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain cover
Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain
Best for Readers interested in history and the occultOften cited around occult politics in Britain

“Your book, Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain, is just fabulously, fabulously entertaining and just full of incredible detail.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in history and the occult
Key quote: “I haven't enjoyed a history book this much in ages.”
The host mentioned the book to highlight its exploration of how rulers in Britain have utilized occult practices throughout history. They found the book to be learned, judicious, and rich in entertaining detail, making it a standout read in the genre.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Check price
the first book of Samuel cover
the first book of Samuel
Best for Historians and those interested in political rhetoricOften cited around witchcraft accusations in history

“As it says in the first book of Samuel, it's this idea that you are as bad as a witch because you have betrayed your king, that you have no sense of loyalty and so forth.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Historians and those interested in political rhetoric
Key quote: “Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft.”
The host references 'the first book of Samuel' to illustrate how accusations of witchcraft were used rhetorically during the Civil War. This connection highlights the belief that betrayal of the king was equated with witchcraft, reflecting the intense political and religious tensions of the time.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Check price
Richard II cover
Richard II
Best for Listeners interested in medieval history and political leadershipOften cited around Richard II's occult beliefs

“The discussion revolves around Richard II, a king known for his unsuccessful reign and over-reliance on occult beliefs, leading to his downfall.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Listeners interested in medieval history and political leadership
Key quote: “he comes to believe his own propaganda, if you like, about himself as this kind of mystical world emperor who will, you know, bring world peace and bring an end to all strife.”
The host discusses how Richard II's over-reliance on occult beliefs contributed to his downfall as a king. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of leaders becoming detached from reality due to their mystical convictions.
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Check price
magical quietism cover
magical quietism
Best for Historians and political leadersOften cited around magical quietism dangers

“The speaker mentions a book discussing the dangers of magical quietism, where rulers become addicted to prophecy and neglect real-world issues.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Historians and political leaders
Key quote: “if you become almost addicted to prophecy or divination, then you will stop acting in the real world.”
The host discusses the concept of magical quietism and its implications for rulers, particularly highlighting how an over-reliance on occult beliefs can lead to a detachment from reality. This is illustrated through the historical example of Richard II, whose reign suffered due to his obsession with prophecy and divination.
Amazon search results · affiliate link
Find on Amazon
Weekly source-backed picks

Get the strongest books from new The Rest Is History episodes.

A short weekly email with transcript-backed book recommendations, source quotes, and exact moments from recently indexed episodes.

Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain
The Rest Is History · 52:47
I haven't enjoyed a history book this much in ages.
the first book of Samuel
The Rest Is History · 43:09
Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft.
Richard II
The Rest Is History · 20:35
he comes to believe his own propaganda, if you like, about himself as this kind of mystical world emperor who will, you know, bring world peace and b…
One useful email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shop This Episode

Pick up the books after you hear them in context.

Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain cover
Mentioned at 52:47
Magic in Merlin's Realm, A History of Occult Politics in Britain

The host mentioned the book to highlight its exploration of how rulers in Britain have utilized occult practices throughout history. They found the…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
the first book of Samuel cover
Mentioned at 43:09
the first book of Samuel

The host references 'the first book of Samuel' to illustrate how accusations of witchcraft were used rhetorically during the Civil War. This connec…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Richard II cover
Mentioned at 20:35
Richard II

The host discusses how Richard II's over-reliance on occult beliefs contributed to his downfall as a king. This serves as a cautionary tale about t…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Movies & Documentaries Mentioned

No movie or documentary mentions yet

This episode does not have extracted media mentions yet.