The Stuff of History

A Curated Compendium of Curious Objects and Forgotten People

By: Steven Moore

Narrated by: Steven Moore

'Moore is wickedly charming - the naughty uncle you want to be sat beside at the dinner table' - Daily Telegraph

Too often history focuses on the tales of kings, or those (often men) who were given the credit for shaping our stories. Yet, what fascinates most are the figures who have passed through the cracks of history, people like:

- The fourteen-year-old boy who lived undetected in the chimneys of Buckingham Palace
- Archie Lee, the re-inventor of Santa Claus
- The women at Playtex who helped put the first man on the moon
- Unknown war hero Tommy Brown, whose extraordinary bravery helped the code breakers of Bletchley

But it's not just forgotten heroes that you'll meet, this compendium also reveals the curious back stories behind everyday objects - the humble fork, the china cup, the real history of tea, and Queen Victoria's underwear - to name but a few.

The Stuff of History is a thoughtful, entertaining and carefully curated miscellany of fascinating forgotten histories from Antiques Roadshow stalwart, and popular historian with a huge Instagram following, Steven Moore.©2025 Steven Moore (P)2025 Bonnier Books UK

Delightful book about history of things

Loved this book, which is a fun telling of stories regarding various objects like Faberge eggs, porcelain tea pots, the fork, the resolute desk in the White House, and many others. Stephen’s voice is like warm brandy or honey and his stories delight. I hope he writes a second volume!

Good stuff

A fun and light listen for history lovers and those looking for a good listen while doing chores, etc. Great!

The research.

fascinating oddments with clear explanations and derivations. The time periods were varied as were the locations.

Luv History ?

Then you’ll Luv this Book ! He’s Brilliant and all the connections from tidbits of info into factual accounts of what really happened make this so interesting! I felt like I should have taken notes !