Dominic Sandbrook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dominic Sandbrook
FRHistS
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Sandbrook in 2021
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Dominic Christopher Sandbrook
2 October 1974 Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England
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Catherine Morley
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Dominic Christopher Sandbrook (born 2 October 1974) is a British historian, author, and television presenter. He is well-known for his books about British history. He also co-hosts a popular podcast called The Rest is History with fellow historian Tom Holland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dominic Sandbrook was born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England, on 2 October 1974. He went to Malvern College, which was an all-boys school. After that, he studied history and French at Balliol College, Oxford.
He continued his studies at the University of St Andrews, earning a Master of Letters (MLitt) degree in history. Later, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at Jesus College, Cambridge. His PhD research was about the political career of a US presidential candidate named Eugene McCarthy.
Academic Work and Recognition
Before becoming a full-time writer, Sandbrook taught history at the University of Sheffield. He also worked at Oxford University and was a visiting professor at King's College London. In 2007, he was recognized as one of Waterstone's "25 Authors for the Future." In 2021, he became a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS), which is a special honor for historians.
Writing About History
Dominic Sandbrook has written many books, mostly about British history. His first book was a biography of Eugene McCarthy. Many people praised it for being well-written and researched.
Exploring Post-War Britain
In 2005, Sandbrook published Never Had It So Good. This book looked at Britain from 1956 to 1963, covering events like the Suez Crisis and the rise of the Beatles. Reviewers often called it a "rich treasure chest" of information.
He continued this series with White Heat, which covered the years 1964 to 1970. This book explored the time when Harold Wilson's Labour government was in power. Many found it impressive and full of interesting details. Sandbrook's books often challenge common ideas about the 1960s, suggesting it was more traditional than some people think.
His next books, State of Emergency (2010) and Seasons in the Sun, continued the story of post-war Britain. State of Emergency focused on 1970–74, including the political challenges of that time. Seasons in the Sun took the story up to 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister. Reviewers noted how he combined popular culture with important political events.
The fifth book in the series, Who Dares Wins, was published in 2019. It covered the years 1979–1982. This book was described as a "magnificent history" and a "rich mixture of political narrative and social reportage."
Other Historical Works
In 2011, Sandbrook also wrote Mad as Hell, a book about American populism in the 1970s. This book discussed cultural influences like disco and the presidencies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
Besides his books, Sandbrook has written articles for many newspapers, including the Daily Mail and The Sunday Times. He has also appeared on BBC radio and television. His Radio Four series SlapDash Britain, which looked at British government since the Second World War, was praised as "very brilliant."
Television and Radio Shows
Dominic Sandbrook has presented many history programs on BBC television and radio.
| Year | Title | Broadcaster | Notes |
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| 2009 | Archive on 4: "The Anniversary Anniversary" | Radio 4 | Examining why people are so interested in anniversaries |
| 2009 | Archive on 4: "Pinter On Air" | Radio 4 | Discussing how TV and radio dramas helped Harold Pinter become famous |
| 2010 | SlapDash Britain | Radio 4 | A 2-part series about how British government has worked since the 1950s |
| 2010 | Archive on 4: "A Working-class Tory Is Something To Be" | Radio 4 | Exploring the history of working-class people who supported the Conservatives |
| 2011 | Archive on 4: "Mind Your PMQs" | Radio 4 | The history and importance of Prime Minister's Questions |
| 2011 | The People's Post: A Narrative History of the Post Office | Radio 4 | A 15-part series about the history of the Royal Mail |
| 2012 | Archive on 4: "Tuning in" | Radio 4 | The history of British radio entertainment |
| 2012 | The 70s | BBC Two | A 4-part history of Britain during the 1970s |
| 2013 | Das Auto: The Germans, Their Cars and Us | BBC Two | How the German car industry grew after the war |
| 2013 | Strange Days: Cold War Britain | BBC Two | A history of Britain during the Cold War |
| 2014 | Learning to Listen | Radio 4 | How people's radio listening habits changed in the 1920s and 1930s |
| 2014 | Tomorrow's Worlds: The Unearthly History of Science Fiction | BBC Two | A 4-part history of science fiction |
| 2014 | Archive on 4: "The Eccentric Entrepreneur" | Radio 4 | The life of Captain Leonard Plugge |
| 2015 | Let Us Entertain You | BBC Two | A 4-part history of British culture after the war |
| 2015 | Archive on 4: "The Future of the BBC: A History" | Radio 4 | A history of the BBC and how it might need to change |
| 2016 | The 80s with Dominic Sandbrook | BBC Two | A 3-part history of Britain during the 1980s |
| 2016 | Future Tense – The Story of H.G. Wells | BBC One | How H. G. Wells's early life influenced his science fiction writing |
Popular Podcast
Since 2020, Dominic Sandbrook has co-hosted a very popular podcast called The Rest is History. He presents it with historian Tom Holland. They discuss a wide range of historical topics in an engaging way.
Personal Life
Dominic Sandbrook lives in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He is married to Catherine and they have a son. He is also a big fan of the Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. football team.
