Happy Birthday J. David Markham!
Dec 26 is Mr Markham’s birthday so please send him your birthday wishes. Rather than buy him a present, why not buy someone else a copy of one of his books as a gift? I’m sure he’d appreciate that.
When I originally had the idea to start a podcast about Napoleon, I thought about doing it myself but knew that my knowledge was sorely inadequate. When I started looking for a co-host, I had no idea I would ever be so lucky as to find someone like David willing to do the show. I thought I should share with you how that came about.
On my other podcast, G’Day World, I had earlier interviewed New York-based author Staton Rabin about her book “Betsy and the Emperor” (listen to the interview). When I finally was toying with the idea of the Napoleon show, I thought I’d try to get an author involved in each episode. I sent Staton an email asking if she would be interested in doing an episode on St Helena. She said she didn’t really consider herself an expert on the subject either, but knew a few historians and would be happy to introduce me. Her introductions didn’t need to go further than David. She introduced us via email and he said yes and I was very excited.
In all honesty, when we started the show, I never thought it would find much of an audience, I mean, who wants to listen to a show about a guy who has been dead for 200 years?? I just thought it would be awesome to have an excuse to talk to David once a month about one of my favourite subjects. And here we are, almost two years and 34 episodes later, getting close to wrapping up this series but planning lots of other projects together.
I am very fortunate to consider him a colleague and a friend and so, on behalf of myself, my family (David has had light saber duels with my kids via webcam), and you, his 30,000 closest friends, I’d like to say:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIRE!
December 27th, 2007 at 10:02 am
And a very good follow up to Napoleon for Dummies would be JD’s Napoleon and Doctor Verling on St. Helena…and you can connect to Amazon from JD’s website which gives him credit.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Happy Birthday David!
Thanks for all your hard work on the podcast and Napoleonic History in general. Perhaps more than anyone else you promote interesting in this exciting period of history which I wish was taught in History class in Australia.
Its so refreshing to hear older folk embracing new technologies and not dismissing them as for ignorant youths, I hope when I’m your age I continue to keep up with emerging technology too David.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Happy Birthday David! I actually gave 2 copies of Napoleon for Dummies as Christmas presents this year. Trying to spread the Bonapartist cause around this Christmas. Hope you enjoyed your birthday.
I’ve always been what you might call a little obsessed with Napoleon, but the podcasts have taken it to a new level even I didn’t think possible. Thank you to both David and Cameron for your hard work and hope to hear much more from you in 2008. Happy Holidays and hope you and your families have a great 2008!
December 28th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Happy birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and thanks for all the entertainment and education you have given us in 2007.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:30 am
Happy birthday david! Cant wait till next episode.
December 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Thanks, Cameron, for those very kind words. And thanks to one and all for your wishes and for giving my books as presents. Of course I’m sending Joshua a belated lump of coal for referring to me as ‘older folk.’ I have no idea to whom he refers!
Its been a great run on the podcast, and, believe it or not, we still have a long way to go. Indeed, its been a great run for me on all things Napoleon. I’ve been very lucky and have found myself doing things I’d never have dreamed possible.
And that, of course, includes the podcast. I’m glad that Cameron is pleased and we are certainly good friends. But it is I who should be (and I am) grateful. He gave me an opportunity to reach an audience far beyond any other direct audience I’ve ever had. We have been doing this for about two years now, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
So thanks, Cameron, for giving me this opportunity.
And thanks to all of our listeners for making it all very worthwhile!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Your devoted friend,
David
January 9th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Happy birthday David! Sorry for being so late - but hey, my birthday is on December 26th, too! As was Mao Zedong’s (oh well)…
By the way, when can we expect the next episode? I am checking the feed nearly each day
Best greetings from Austria!
Arno
January 9th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Arno we’re scheduled to record one this week!
February 1st, 2008 at 6:31 pm
what a great podcast. one comment. last month on the history channel they had biography of Andrew Jackson. It said that at the battle of New Orleans that the British launched a barrage of rockets on the American positions. The soldiers commented at the time how pretty they were.It would seem that rockets were as much a psychological weapon as any thing else.I’m sure that this can be very effective by its self.