Otto English goes in search of the truth behind the myths in 'Fake Heroes'

Good Reading Podcast

From the author of Fake History, comes a shocking yet hilarious look at ten of the greatest liars from our past, examining these previously unquestioned idols and exposing what they were trying to hide. Whether it's virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations? Exploring everything from Captain Scott's reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol's flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel's murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history's most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time. In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Otto English about the narrative arc of the hero that all these candidates share, the JFK post-assassination myth constructed by Jacqueline Kennedy, the revolutionary Che Guevara who turned out to be a brutal murderer, and the curious case of the Bunyip aristocracy that Australia narrowly avoided.