Five Hundred Years of Friendship: A BBC Radio 4 History

Friendships, for many of us, are at the very centre of our daily existence and identity. Yet it hasn't always been this way. Our modern view of what makes a friend is shaped by centuries of political and social upheaval. In this landmark study, Dr Thomas Dixon considers both the differences and similarities between friendships in history and those we experience today.

Now we tend to view friendships among children as a good thing, but did you know that in the 18th and 19th century they were ...