S. C. Gwynne's guest appearances

S. C. Gwynne

Virginia Historical Society Podcasts

Professional Military Education

Town Hall Seattle Civics Series

Write On! Radio

Stonewall Jackson

Victor Davis Hanson

Lawrence Jackson

Sebastian Junger

James Madison

Douglas Brinkley

Woodrow Wilson

Leonard Wong

Robert E. Lee

Cokie Roberts

Jeremy Black

Patrick Henry

Louis Brandeis

John Brown

John Grady

OwlTail

Airships, those airborne leviathans that occupied center stage in the world in the first half of the twentieth century, were a symbol of the future. The British airship R101 was not just the largest aircraft ever to have flown and the product of the world’s most advanced engineering — it was also the linchpin of an imperial British scheme to link by air the far-flung areas of its empire from Australia to India, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, and Singapore. No one had ever conceived of anything like it, and R101 captivated the world. There was just one problem: beyond the hype and technological wonders, these big, steel-framed, hydrogen-filled airships were a dangerously bad idea. Journalist S.C. Gwynne’s book, His Majesty’s Airship, features a cast of remarkable and often tragically flawed characters, including: Lord Christopher Thomson, the man who dreamed up the Imperial Airship Scheme and then relentlessly pushed R101 to her destruction; Princess Marthe Bibesco, the celebrated writer and glamorous socialite with whom he had a long affair; and Herbert Scott, a national hero who had made the first double crossing of the Atlantic in any aircraft in 1919 — eight years before Lindbergh’s famous flight — but who devolved into drink and ruin. These historical figures — and the ship they built, flew, and crashed — come together in a grand tale that details the rocky road to commercial aviation. S.C. Gwynne is the author of Hymns of the Republic and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife.  His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine Third Place Books

Airships, those airborne leviathans that occupied center stage in the world in the first half of the twentieth century, were a symbol of the future. The British airship R101 was not just the largest aircraft ever to have flown and the product of the world’s most advanced engineering — it was also the linchpin of an imperial British scheme to link by air the far-flung areas of its empire from Australia to India, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, and Singapore. No one had ever conceived of anything like it, and R101 captivated the world. There was just one problem: beyond the hype and technological wonders, these big, steel-framed, hydrogen-filled airships were a dangerously bad idea. Journalist S.C. Gwynne’s book, His Majesty’s Airship, features a cast of remarkable and often tragically flawed characters, including: Lord Christopher Thomson, the man who dreamed up the Imperial Airship Scheme and then relentlessly pushed R101 to her destruction; Princess Marthe Bibesco, the celebrated writer and glamorous socialite with whom he had a long affair; and Herbert Scott, a national hero who had made the first double crossing of the Atlantic in any aircraft in 1919 — eight years before Lindbergh’s famous flight — but who devolved into drink and ruin. These historical figures — and the ship they built, flew, and crashed — come together in a grand tale that details the rocky road to commercial aviation. S.C. Gwynne is the author of Hymns of the Republic and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife. <a href="https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781982168278" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781982168278" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine</a> Third Place Books

323. S. C. Gwynne: The Tragic Tale of British Airship R101

S.C. Gwynne is a New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning Historian. His book, Rebel Yell, focuses on the Civil War general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Jackson was a brilliant leader and was consider a real ‘rock ‘n’ roll star,’ during the era where his bold strategic maneuvers became famous on an international level. Find out more about this fascinating man in this week’s episode!   Key Takeaways: [4:35] What was Gwynne’s inspiration to writing the book? [6:05] Who was Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson? [13:35] Why was Jackson against the Civil War? [21:30] When the war starts, what was Jackson’s role in the army? [26:30] How did the weapon technology change during this time period? [29:20] How did Jackson get to The first Bull Run? [34:40] Jackson became a mini celebrity after the First Battle of Bull Run. [35:25] What’s the difference between First Bull Run vs. First Manassas? [39:25] Jackson’s men marched 700 miles in 28 days and fought 5 major engagements. [43:35] How did Jackson achieve such maneuvers so quickly and so brightly? [52:00] After Jackson’s Valley Campaign, Robert E. Lee and Jackson form a strong bond.[1:01:25] What was The Seven Days battle about? [1:04:55] Gwynne asks Tim about the Marine Corps rulebook. Jackson had the flu and was falling asleep with food in his mouth. He could not effectively lead his men in that state. Would he be court marshaled in today’s time? [1:09:35] After The Seven Days battle, Lee and Jackson are finally on the same page and head right into the jaws of the dragon. [1:14:00] Jackson was famous for being able to move the army quickly and effectively. [1:16:25] Jackson did tell his men to pack extremely light. [1:19:25] How did armies gather intelligence back then? [1:25:30] Jackson would use his own scouts to trick the enemy’s scouts and to throw off the trail of where his army was. [1:26:05] Gwynee sets the scene for The Battle of Chancellorsville. [1:37:45] Jackson liked to do his own reconnaissance, and, as you can imagine, his army hated that idea. [1:42:00] What was the public’s reaction to Jackson’s death? [1:49:00] What would have been the impact of the war if Jackson did not die? [1:54:15] Jackson was a very religious man. [1:59:00] There was nothing to suggest that Jackson was against the liberation of slaves, but at the same time Jackson owned 6 slaves himself. [2:05:50] Gwynne discusses his upcoming book.   Mentioned in This Episode: Scgwynne.com  Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S. C. Gwynne Civilwar.org

S.C. Gwynne is a New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning Historian. His book, Rebel Yell, focuses on the Civil War general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Jackson was a brilliant leader and was consider a real ‘rock ‘n’ roll star,’ during the era where his bold strategic maneuvers became famous on an international level. Find out more about this fascinating man in this week’s episode!   Key Takeaways: [4:35] What was Gwynne’s inspiration to writing the book? [6:05] Who was Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson? [13:35] Why was Jackson against the Civil War? [21:30] When the war starts, what was Jackson’s role in the army? [26:30] How did the weapon technology change during this time period? [29:20] How did Jackson get to The first Bull Run? [34:40] Jackson became a mini celebrity after the First Battle of Bull Run. [35:25] What’s the difference between First Bull Run vs. First Manassas? [39:25] Jackson’s men marched 700 miles in 28 days and fought 5 major engagements. [43:35] How did Jackson achieve such maneuvers so quickly and so brightly? [52:00] After Jackson’s Valley Campaign, Robert E. Lee and Jackson form a strong bond.[1:01:25] What was The Seven Days battle about? [1:04:55] Gwynne asks Tim about the Marine Corps rulebook. Jackson had the flu and was falling asleep with food in his mouth. He could not effectively lead his men in that state. Would he be court marshaled in today’s time? [1:09:35] After The Seven Days battle, Lee and Jackson are finally on the same page and head right into the jaws of the dragon. [1:14:00] Jackson was famous for being able to move the army quickly and effectively. [1:16:25] Jackson did tell his men to pack extremely light. [1:19:25] How did armies gather intelligence back then? [1:25:30] Jackson would use his own scouts to trick the enemy’s scouts and to throw off the trail of where his army was. [1:26:05] Gwynee sets the scene for The Battle of Chancellorsville. [1:37:45] Jackson liked to do his own reconnaissance, and, as you can imagine, his army hated that idea. [1:42:00] What was the public’s reaction to Jackson’s death? [1:49:00] What would have been the impact of the war if Jackson did not die? [1:54:15] Jackson was a very religious man. [1:59:00] There was nothing to suggest that Jackson was against the liberation of slaves, but at the same time Jackson owned 6 slaves himself. [2:05:50] Gwynne discusses his upcoming book.   Mentioned in This Episode: <a href="http://www.scgwynne.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scgwynne.com</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451673299/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1451673299&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=pm05c-20&amp;linkId=f28ec4265dd0d0aea04a8b4493b2dbf2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S. C. Gwynne</a> <a href="http://www.civilwar.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Civilwar.org</a>

S. C. Gwynne on The Intricate Strategies of  Stonewall Jackson

On May 7 at noon, S. C. Gwynne delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson." Stonewall Jackson has long been a figure of legend and romance. He is considered, without argument, one of America’s greatest military figures. Jackson’s brilliance at the art of war tied Abraham Lincoln and the Union high command in knots and threatened the ultimate success of the Union armies. In April 1862, Jackson was merely another Confederate general in an army fighting what seemed to be a losing cause. By June he had engineered perhaps the greatest military campaign in American history and was one of the most famous men in the western world. S. C. Gwynne’s Rebel Yell is a vivid narrative that delves deep into Jackson’s private life, including the loss of his beloved first wife and his regimented personal habits. Gwynne traces Jackson’s brilliant twenty-four-month career in the Civil War; his stunning effect on the course of the war itself; and his tragic death, which caused both North and South to grieve the loss of a remarkable American hero. S. C. Gwynne has spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He is the author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson.

Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S. C. Gwynne