If It Ain't Baroque...

Have you ever heard of Frederick Rutland ? The British hero of WW1, who ended up working as a freelance spy for America, as well as Japan? Let’s find our more, today we’re talking to Ronald Drabkin, who has written a biography of Frederick: Beverly Hills Spy. Called so because during his espionage days, Fred lived it up large in Hollywood. Published by Harper Collins . Welcome, Ronald! Get Beverly...

Today we’re talking to Andrew Taylor, the author of the best-selling series Ashes of London , set in the 17th century. Published by Harper Collins . Welcome, Andrew! Get Ashes of London: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-ashes-of-london-james-marwood-cat-lovett-book-1-andrew-taylor?variant=40027853750350 (UK) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-ashes-of-london-andrew-taylor?variant=4...

Today we’re talking to Catherine Ostler and her book Duchess Countess , all about the extraordinary and perfectly scandalous life of Elizabeth Chudleigh . Why was she one of the most famous women of the 18th century? Did she really meet Catherine the Great? How did a girl from the English countryside end up running a vodka distillery in the Baltics AND owning a Chateau in France? Let’s find out mo...

Welcome to our 200th episode! Good News! Heather R Darsie is back on the show, this time to talk about Henry VIII's professional life. What was he like as a King, whose job it was to keep his country safe? How did the law play into his kingship? Let's find out... Welcome back, Heather! Pre-Order The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn (...Henry VIII definitely did that...) https://www.amberley-books.co...

Let’s talk Charlotte Brontë and the last few years of her life.  What was the big scandal about the biography that came out soon after her death? Who was affected? And how do we know what really went on with this remarkable woman? Joining us today is historian and author Graham Watson , who has written a book on the topic, called Inventing Charlotte Brontë, published with The History Press in...

On the 19th November in the year of our Lord 1600, a boy was born in Scotland at Dunfermline Palace - he was the second son and the third child of the King of Scotland, James VI. Few could have predicted he would one day be king, not just of Scotland, but also of England and Ireland. No one could have foretold this boy would die on the scaffold for treason against his own country… This boy was of...

Today we're talking to Hannah at Royal Museums Greenwich! Let's find out why a trip to the National Maritime Museum is crucial when visiting London.   Find Royal Museums Greenwich : https://www.rmg.co.uk/ Find Pirates Exhibition: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/pirates Visit Greenwich (...best place to be) : https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/whats-on/pirates-exhibition...

On the 16th November 1272 Henry III of England breathed his last. The grandson of Eleanor of Aquitaine, son of King John and father of Edward I, he often gets overshadowed by his retrospectively more illustrious relatives and nemeses. Let’s look at the king who preferred peace to war, giving money instead of taking it, and who had one of the longest reigns in the history of the British isles.&nbsp...

Today we have a special treat: we're going to put all those Anne Boleyn myths to bed. Once and for all. Returning to the podcast we have Heather R Darsie , who will bust all those myths and mysteries surrounding the second wife of Henry VIII. Why did she have to die? What was her actual crime? Could she have had another fate? Why was the French executioner involved? Tune in, relax and get some Tud...

John Matthews is back on the podcast, this time to talk about his new book - Realms of the Round Table , which is a collection of stories of King Arthur like you’ve never seen them before.  Published by Harper Collins in the UK and Pegasus in the USA. Welcome back, John! Get Realms of The Round Table : https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/realms-of-the-round-table-john-matthews?variant=548646...

What do we know about the woman’s lot at the court of Charles II? Breeze Barrington’s new book The Graces (published by Bloomsbury ) explores the lives of several women of the Stuart court.  These ladies include Maria d’Este, a.k.a. Mary of Modena, consort to James VII & II, as well as those of her Maids of Honour: Anne Finch, a revered poet, Hortense Mancini, a favourite of Charles II, S...

Today we’re talking to Gareth Russell , a historian and author, whose book on the history of Hampton Court Palace we’ll be discussing today. It was published with William Collins in the UK and Atria Books in the USA. Welcome back, Gareth! Get Palace : https://www.williamcollinsbooks.co.uk/products/the-palace-from-the-tudors-to-the-windsors-500-years-of-history-at-hampton-court-gareth-russell-97800...

Today’s guest is Annie Whitehead, and we’re talking all things Mercia, the lost Kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England.  Welcome Back, Annie!  Annie Whitehead wrote a book the topic: Mercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom , published by Amberley . Find Annie : https://anniewhiteheadauthor.co.uk/ Murder in Anglo-Saxon England : https://www.amberley-books.com/murder-in-anglosaxon-england.html Merc...

On the 5th November 1605 many men were set up to lose their lives in a Catholic coup at the Palace of Westminster. One of those was the King of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The first British King.  Let’s talk about King James and get to know him better. Coming back to the podcast we have Steven Veerapen , who has penned James’ bio for Birlinn books, titled The Wisest Fool: The Lavish...

Today we’re talking to the Pulitzer winning author Michael Hiltzik , and we discuss his new book - The Golden State , all about the history of the great state of California. Published by Mariner Books in USA and Amberley in UK. Welcome, Michael! Get Golden State: https://www.waterstones.com/book/golden-state/michael-hiltzik/9781398109025 (UK) https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-pa...

The Oscar season is around the corner, and William Shakespeare is once again frequenting the red carpet, so why not look back and talk about a film that won 7 (!) Academy Awards, and is literally one of the best films of all time when it comes to the bard. I’m talking of course, about Shakespeare in Love (1998). Joining me today is Darren Freebury-Jones, another fan of this oeuvre. Darren has writ...

Today we’re talking to Aimee Fleming , the author of the solo biography of Margaret More, the eldest daughter of Thomas More. Published by Pen & Sword. Margaret  was one of the most educated women of the Tudor era and definitely deserves her story told. Let’s find out more about her. Get Margaret More Roper : https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Female-Tudor-Scholar-and-Writer-Hardback/p/5...

Today we're talking to Vittoria, the curator at the Queen's House in Greenwich. Let's find out why this Stuart masterpiece is so special.   Find Royal Museums Greenwich : https://www.rmg.co.uk/ Find Pirates Exhibition: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/pirates Visit Greenwich (...best place to be) : https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/whats-on/pirates-exhibition-p2274551 F...

Today we’re talking to Rosemary Goring, and her latest book, which covers the exile years of one Mary, Queen of Scots. Let’s look at these years in more detail, and find out why those years hold the key to many of Mary’s mysteries. Published with Birlinn Books. Exile: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/exile/ https://www.waterstones.com/book/exile/rosemary-goring/9781780278384 Get Rosemary's Book Babi...

Today we have a very special guest, Michael Livingston and we’re going to talk about his new book - and why we need to change the label of the Hundred Years’ War. Published with Head of Zeus in UK and Basic Books in USA. Get Michael's Books : https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/two-hundred-years-war-9781035906369/ https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/agincourt-9781472855169/ https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/never...

Today our guest is Rachel Morris, who has just published a book on the home life of Renaissance Magicians, including one John Dee. Let’s cast some spells. Welcome, Rachel! Get Rachel's Books : https://septemberpublishing.org/product/the-years-of-the-wizard-the-strange-history-and-home-life-of-renaissance-magicians-hb/ https://septemberpublishing.org/product/the-museum-makers/ https://www.waterston...

Today we’re talking to Verity Babbs, who has just published a book, where she traces 500 years of art history, but in a very unique way. Welcome, Verity!  Get Verity's Book : https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/history-of-art-in-one-sentence-9781526686893/ https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/the-history-of-art-in-one-sentence/verity-babbs/9781526686893 Find Verity : https://www.veritybabbs.com/ https:...

Let’s talk about Witches and James VI/ I. What drove him to seek action against them? Were witches persecuted under his mother MQS or his godmother Elizabeth I? What were the consequences of James’ obsession?  Today we’re talking to Steven Veerapen, who has just published a book on this topic. Get Witches: A King's Obsession : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witches-Kings-Obsession-Steven-Veerapen/d...

The 18th Century: Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Great Masculine Renunciation, life at sea, the slave trade. The new novel Ravenglass by Carolyn Kirby has all of that and more. Let’s find out how this book about Baroque-n-Roll Adventures of a Gender Fluid Seafarer came to be. Welcome, Carolyn! Get Ravenglass : https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/ravenglass-paperback Find Carolyn : https://www.car...

Today we’re talking to Olwen, a curator at Handel & Hendrix House here in London. It’s a museum where both George Frederic Handel once lived, the composer behind Zadok the Priest, used in coronations since the 18th century. Almost two centuries later, The same house was inhabited by the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Let’s find out more. Find Handel & Hendrix House: https://tickets.handelh...