If It Ain't Baroque...

Let's travel back to the 8th century England, to the kingdom of Mercia to be precise. Rory Naismith has just published a book with Yale on KING OFFA - the King of Mercia who also might be crowned the king of puns... Welcome, Rory! Get this great OFFA: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300257465/offa/ Find and Follow RORY: https://x.com/Rory_Naismith https://bsky.app/profile/rorynaismith.bsky.social...

Today we sit down with IAN BRADLEY to talk about his new book THE LAST ENCHANTED PLACES: SPA TOWNS OF EUROPE, recently published by Icon Books . Let's talk what and where are these OG spas in UK and Europe, what is their history and what are their secrets... Welcome, Ian! Get The Last Enchanted Places: https://www.iconbooks.com/ib-title/the-last-enchanted-places-2/ Find Baroque: https://www.instag...

Today we sit down with DR AMY BOYINGTON to talk about her new book THE COUNTRY HOUSE DINING ROOM: A HISTORY OF GEORGIAN FEASTING, recently published by Yale University Press London . Let's talk why this era is infamous for its parties, to what excess did the Georgians gorge themselves to, and most importantly, at what expense? Welcome, Amy! Get A History of Georgian Feasting: https://yalebooks.co....

Today we sit down with Dr Helen Fry , a WW2 historian, whose account of Howard Triest at the trial in Nuremberg is getting a new edition with Yale University Press London . Let's dive into the story of Howard Triest, a German-Jewish interpreter of the Nazi War Criminals, present at one of the most important trials in human history. Warning - as this involves WW2, the Holocaust and religion-based c...

Today we sit down with GUY CUTHBERTSON to talk all things Lady Chatterley's Lover. Why was this book written, what was the journey to get it printed? What afterlife did this novel have, and most importantly, what impact? Lady C: The Long and Sensational Life of Lady Chatterley's Lover is published by Yale University Press London . Welcome, Guy! Get Lady C: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/978030026637...

Today we have a special treat: a glimpse into the highly anticipated new book by STEVEN VEERAPEN , wherein he explores Henry VIII's reign on the subject of empire-building... What was Henry's relationship like with Wales, Scotland and Ireland? How was he planning to annex territories to England and was he successful in any way? Let's find out. Steven's new book OVERLORD is available for pre-order...

Please welcome back Dr Thomas W Smith and we’re going to talk about his latest book The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt , published by Yale University Press London . Welcome back, Tom! Find Tom: https://thomaswsmith.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/medieval_tom/ https://linktr.ee/twsmith The Fifth Crusade : https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300283952/the-fifth-crusade...

Let's play... TRUE OR FALSE... about Anne Boleyn. ..on the day of her execution... Tune in, relax and get some Tudor closure. Welcome back, Heather R Darsie ! Get The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn (...Henry VIII definitely did that...) https://www.amberley-books.com/if-any-person-will-meddle-of-my-cause.html Find Heather: https://maidensandmanuscripts.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hdarsiehistory...

Let's talk all things Masquerade and how it became the IT event in the 18th century. Who was attending them? What was special about the Georgian period that made it happen? What are the modern day parallels? Tune in and find out. Today we're talking to Meghan Kobza about her newly launched book Masquerade: A History of Extravagance and Intrigue , published by Yale University Press London . Welcome...

Today we’re talking to Sophie Bacchus Waterman about her solo biography of Elizabeth Boleyn , nee Howard - mother to the queen and one-time mother-in-law of Henry VIII. What was Elizabeth and Anne’s relationship like? Why was Elizabeth asking Wolsey for tuna at one point? And what is unique about this 16th century noblewoman? Let’s find out… Sophie’s book is published by The History Press . Welcom...

On our last episode we discussed Tracy Borman's new novel, The House of Boleyn , set at Hever Castle. Published by Hodder & Stoughton Books . This time we're delving into the history of this magnificent building with Dr Owen Emmerson . Welcome, Owen! At present, there is a new exhibition at Hever Castle called Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn . See the link below to get your tickets...

Today we’re talking to Tracy Borman and her highly anticipated novel The House of Boleyn , published by Hodder and Stoughton . Let’s cast our minds back to the 16th century and picture ourselves at Hever Castle with The Boleyn family in residence.  Welcome, Tracy! Get The House of Boleyn: https://www.hodder.co.uk/titles/tracy-borman/the-house-of-boleyn/9781399709477/ (UK) https://groveatlanti...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season . In this episode we chat to Angela Young , author and historian and we’ll be discussing her new book The Aristocrat and the Able Seaman , published by The History Press . The Aristocrat in the title is the author's great grandmother, the Countess of Rothes, and the Able Seaman is Thomas Jones, the mariner in charge of lifeboat #8, where he and the Countess fo...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season . In this episode we chat to Richard M Jones , author and historian and a fellow lover of ships. We'll be talking about the afterlife of Titanic - the searches for the wreck and the dives to the bottom of the Atlantic in search of Titanic's mysteries. Richard's book Titanic: The Searches and the Dives is published by Pen & Sword . Welcome, Richard! Get The...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season! In this episode we chat to Brad Payne , author and historian and we’ll be discussing his book 11:40 - Analysis of Evasive Manoeuvres & Damage Assessment on RMS Titanic , published by The History Press . What did the lookouts see at twenty to twelve on that fateful night? What were the immediate actions of the officers on watch? Could the tragedy have been...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season . In this episode we chat to Kevin Brown , author and historian and we’ll be discussing his book and documentary about The Ship of Lost Illusions: A Floating Microcosm of Edwardian Society , published by Pen & Sword . Welcome, Kevin! Get The Ship of Lost Illusions: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Titanic-Ship-of-Lost-Illusions-Hardback/p/52038 Other P&...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season . In this episode we chat to Steven Schwankert , author and historian and we’ll be discussing his book and documentary about The Six: The Untold Story of Titanic's Chinese Survivors , published by The History Press . Welcome, Steven! Get The Six: http://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/the-six/ (UK) http://www.pegasusbooks.com/books/the-six-9781639368679-hard...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season . In this episode we chat to Victoria Brown , author and historian and we’ll be discussing her debut book The Death Ship: Recovering the Bodies of Titanic’s Dead , published by The History Press . As we’ll be touching upon the subjects of death, embalming, suicide, hypothermia, death of children and graves, this is your warning that what’s to follow is not for...

Welcome to our Titanic Sailing Season . In this episode we present to you our chat with Gareth Russell, author of the wonderfully researched book The Ship of Dreams, published with William Collins in the UK and Atria Books / Simon & Schuster in the USA. Welcome back, Gareth ! Get Ship of Dreams: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-ship-of-dreams-the-sinking-of-the-titanic-and-the-end-of-t...

Welcome to the start of our Titanic Sailing Season . In our first episode we present to you our chat with Lucy, the curator at National Maritime Museum . Stay tuned as we unearth the links between this great heritage display and this infamous tragedy. Welcome, Lucy! Find Royal Museums Greenwich : https://www.rmg.co.uk/ Find National Maritime Museum: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime...

Please welcome Dr Victoria Bateman , the author of one of the most important books of our time: ECONOMICA. The Financial Times already called it the best book of 2025. Let's find out why it's so important to see the real link between women and economy. Welcome, Victoria! Get Economica: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/victoria-bateman/economica/9781035415779/ (UK) https://www.hachettebookgroup.co...

Sharon Bennett Connolly is back on the podcast, and today we're talking of the Daughters of the Conquest. Let's find out why a medieval princess wasn't just marriage fodder for strengthening foreign alliances. Welcome back, Sharon! Find Sharon here: @sharonbennettconnolly on Instagram https://historytheinterestingbits.com/silk-and-the-sword-the-women-of-the-norman-conquest/ Sharon at Lincoln Castl...

Let's re-visit Alnwick Castle and the history of the Percy family. Today we're talking to Daniel, the host of the Alnwick Castle Podcast and the man who knows everything about this mighty fortress and its past. Welcome, Daniel! Visit Alnwick : https://www.alnwickcastle.com/ https://www.visitalnwick.org.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/alnwickcastleofficial/ https://www.facebook.com/alnwickcastle Visi...

Today we're talking to Emily Akkermans, the curator of time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. And if you want to know about John Harrison, the man who solved the longitude problem, she's the one to talk to. Welcome, Emily! Find Royal Museums Greenwich : https://www.rmg.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/royalmuseumsgreenwich/ https://x.com/RMGreenwich Visit Greenwich (...best place to be) : htt...

Today we sit down with Caroline Boggis-Rolfe , and we're going to get a glimpse into her book on the BALTICS - a story of the Baltic lands, the Baltic sea and the Baltic peoples. The book was published by Amberley . Welcome, Caroline! Get THE BALTIC STORY: https://www.amberley-books.com/the-baltic-story-9781398103306.html Get ADRIATIC: https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/b/ca...