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Book of the Week: Peter Snow - When Britain Burned the White House

Jamie Parker

Peter Snow

David Roper

Book of the Week: Peter Snow - When Britain Burned the White House: Episode 1

Factual: History

When Britain Burned the White House

Episode 1

Peter Snow - When Britain Burned the White House

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Peter Snow - When Britain Burned the White House, Episode 1

The British arrive to end the war of 1812, and the president waits for their attack.

4 Extra Debut. The British arrive to end the war of 1812, and the president waits anxiously to see where they will attack. Read by Jamie Parker.

Nearly 200 years ago, Britain attacked the heartland of the United States. The President and his wife had just enough time to pack their belongings and flee the White House before the British army entered and set fire to the building. From here, the British army turned its sights to Baltimore.

Peter Snow tells the story of this extraordinary confrontation between Britain and the United States, the outcome of which inspired America's national anthem. Using eyewitness accounts, Peter describes the colourful personalities on both sides of this astonishing battle - from Britain's fiery Admiral Cockburn, to the cautious but widely popular army commander Robert Ross and the beleaguered President James Madison whose nation was besieged by a greater military force.

In the first episode, the American watchman at Chesapeake Bay wakes one August morning to find fifty ships of the Royal Navy at anchor. The British have arrived to end, decisively, the war of 1812. In Washington, President Madison waits nervously to see where they will attack first.


Read by Jamie Parker 

Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Peter Snow tells the story of the 1814 confrontation between Britain and the United States

Peter Snow tells the story of the extraordinary confrontation between Britain and the United States almost 200 years ago. Read by Jamie Parker

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Episode 1

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