Bloomsbury Trade triumphs in nine-way auction for two books based on The Rest is History podcast

Bloomsbury Trade has triumphed in a nine-way auction for two books based on "The Rest is History" podcast.

Non-fiction editorial directors Jasmine Horsey and Ariel Pakier bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Goalhanger Podcasts and Florence Dodd at WME. North American rights were pre-empted by Clive Priddle at PublicAffairs.

Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, "The Rest is History" podcast tackles everything from Alexander the Great to Agatha Christie, Watergate to the Wars of the Roses. Last month the podcast embarked on a three-date live UK tour, which sold out London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Set to publish on 26th October 2023, the synopsis said: "The Rest is History: History’s Most Curious Questions, Answered will serve as collection of trivia that blends Holland and Sandbrook’s trademark banter with rigorously researched deep-dives into historical moments great and small.

"It will explore questions such as: Did the Trojan War actually happen? What was the most disastrous party in history? Was Richard Nixon more like Caligula or Claudius? How did a hair appointment almost blow Churchill’s cover? Why did the Nazis believe they were descended from Atlantis?"

Jack Davenport, co-founder and managing director of Goalhanger Podcasts, said: "It’s a privilege to be working with such a brilliant publisher on The Rest Is History book. We were blown away by Bloomsbury’s passion for the project and their vision for translating what makes the podcast great onto the page. With Jasmine and Ariel’s expert guidance, we’re confident in creating something to be loved by both existing fans of the show and those who are yet to discover it."

Horsey and Pakier added: "We are both huge fans of ’The Rest is History’, so could not have been more excited when this proposal landed in our inboxes. Every week the podcast delivers episodes that are both hilarious and driven by top-notch historical research – whether it’s a debate on the meaning of greatness or a celebration of history’s most famous pigeons. The book will be a fascinating, fun offering, true to the spirit of the podcast, that we believe will delight existing fans and newcomers alike."