Star Wars

How closely do the events of the First World War relate to those in ‘A Galaxy Far, Far Away’?

In this episode Chris, Jessica, and Angus discuss the historical inspirations of the Star Wars saga from the depiction of body horror and the creation of those who are ‘more machine than man’ via Stormtroopers, cavalry charges, and the cinematic impact of Paths of Glory.

References

Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror by W. Scott Poole

The First Cyborg by Kate Macdonald

Andy Serkis says pain and greed drive Supreme Leader Snoke in The Last Jedi

From World War to Star Wars: Stormtroopers

The Cinema behind Star Wars: Paths of Glory

A Complete Guide to the Cinematic References and Inspirations of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Other episodes

The Monocled Mutineer

June 1, 2025 No Comments

What happens when a controversial real-life figure becomes the centre of one of the BBC’s most politically charged wartime dramas?

Dope Girls

April 1, 2025 No Comments

What was the real story behind the BBC series Dope Girls?

Reginald Hill

March 1, 2025 No Comments

What happens when a late-twentieth-century detective novelist develops strong opinions about the First World War?

Professor of Modern British History at Leeds University. My research interests lie at the intersection of the histories of gender, particularly masculinity, medicine and warfare.

Read More >>

A historian focusing on the First World War and popular representations of warfare. I received my PhD from the University of Sussex in 2013. My thesis examined relations between British and French soldiers during the First World War.

Read More>>

Is a Visiting Research Fellow at Leeds University. My current research focuses on manpower and authority in Britain, starting with the First World War and running through until the end of the Second World War.