If It Ain't Baroque...

Welcome to a new episode of our #StuartSpring series.  We’l be talking to Steven Veerapen about his book on ANNA OF DENMARK, wife to James VI and I. Anna married James in 1589, thus becoming Queen Consort of Scotland, and when he inherited the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I, she Anna became queen of England as well, thus becoming the first British Queen. Anna of Denmark: ht...

Today is the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution. As we know, her French connections didn’t save her, despite strongly forged links some years previously. Today we talk to Estelle Paranque and ask her all about Anne and her daughter Elizabeth’s relationship with The French Powers-that-Be… Bienvenue, Estelle! Get Thorns, Lust and Glory : https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/451206/thorns-lust-and-glo...

Continuing on from Margaret of Anjou, today we have a new episode for the #MightyMargaret series. This one is about MARGARET OF YORK, or as she became known after marriage, Margaret of Burgundy. This of course is the sister to Edward IV, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard III. The in/famous Duchess who helped strengthen the links between England and Burgundy during her brothers' lives, but who...

Stuart Spring continues! Please welcome historian Gareth Russell and we’lll be talking today about his latest book Queen James, published by William Collins. This is a new biography of James VI of Scotland, I of England, which makes us see James in a whole new light. Let’s find out more. Get Queen James : https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/queen-james-the-life-and-loves-of-britains-first-king-ga...

Right trusty and well beloved, we greet you well! Today we’re sitting down with historian Lauren Johnson and talking about the life and times of Margaret of Anjou, the long-suffering wife of Henry VI of England. She was called the She-Wolf of France, she was villainised by the Yorkists during the Wars of the Roses and by Shakespeare long after her death. Did she deserve this fate? Let’s talk to La...

Welcome to our Royal Romance season. We’re continuing with the #StuartSpring series, but this is the finale of the Royal Valentines season. Today we’re going to look at two Stuart couples that found love within their marriage, despite their unions being arranged. First up, we have Mark Turnbull who will tell us all about Elisabeth Stuart , daughter of James VI & I, and her husband Frederick V...

Right trusty and well beloved, we greet you well! Welcome to SEASON EIGHT of If It Ain’t Baroque…your independent history podcast! This new season we’re kicking off with a brand new mini series dedicated to the Stuarts, titled #StuartSpring .  As our guest today we have Steven Veerapen , and we’ll be chatting all things Mary Queen of Scots. I say chatting, we’ll be busting some myths.  G...

Welcome to our 150th episode! As a treat, we have something very special for you today. Heather R Darsie is back on the show, once more we talk of her upcoming book  " Katharine of Aragon: Spanish Princess: I Am Not as Simple as I May Seem ", published by Amberley Books . This book dives deep into Katharine’s life when she was a young princess in Spain. We get to learn all about her relations...

Welcome to our Royal Romance season. On this episode, we’ll be talking about Georgian Couples that didn’t have a happy ending.  Please welcome Catherine Curzon back as we learn more about the Georgian couples whose Happily Ever After seemed to have an expiration date. We’ll talking about George III of Great Britain & Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz   and Princess Charlotte of...

This is still Shakespeare Week, and today we present our latest episode celebrating this great poet and playwright. Words, words, words, indeed. Next up, we have Carol Ann Lloyd, an author of several books on the Tudors, and she’s also a researcher at the Folger Shakespeare Library. On this episode, Carol Ann and Natalie are exploring Shakespeare's Sassy Leading Ladies, and just how much agency th...

This is Shakespeare Week, so we have a mini series of episodes celebrating this great poet and playwright. Words, words, words, indeed. Next up, we have Ramie Targoff and we’ll be talking about her latest book Shakespeare’s Sisters which celebrates the lives of William’s near contemporaries - the ladies who wrote. Anne Clifford, Aemilia Lanyer, Mary Sidney and Elizabeth Cary - let’s hear more abou...

This is Shakespeare Week, so we have a mini series of episodes celebrating this great poet and playwright. Words, words, words, indeed. Today our guest is Matt Pinches, the co-founder of Guildford Shakespeare Company .  And we’ll be talking about The Comedy of Errors, the play that the company is putting on a bit later in the year…  Find GSC : https://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co...

Today is the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, as well as his potential birthday. We’re here to honour this great playwright and poet with a mini season of episodes, all to do with him. First up, is Darren Freebury-Jones with his latest book - SHAKESPEARE'S BORROWED FEATHERS - published by Manchester University Press , it’s all about William’s writing process and which authors and friend...

Royal Love Stories Told Wrong: Cupid Painted Blind   On this episode we’re looking at the royal love stories which are different from how they’re usually told. To help sort out fact from fiction, we have great historians with us today. The couples we’ll be talking about include:  Isabella of France & Edward II of England ( Sharon Bennett Connolly ) Anne Boleyn & Henry VIII..also...

On the 19th April 1824 at the age of 36, George Gordon Byron, the 6th Baron died in Greece. Today we sit down and talk to Emily Brand, a Georgian historian and the biographer of the Byron family. We’ll be discussing her book The Fall of the House of Byron: Scandal and Seduction in Georgian England released by John Murray Press (Hachette UK). Welcome, Emily!  The Fall of the House of Byron : h...

Please welcome Darren Baker back on the podcast, and we’re going to talk about his latest book - The Confessions and Chronicle of Lord Edward , meaning we’re going to be digging up dirt on the young future Edward I, also known as Longshanks. Darren's Books : Henry III, his brother, his sister and his wife https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/henry-iii/ https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Two-...

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Culloden where in 1746 the British Army defeated the  Jacobites, the supporters of the House of Stuart. It’s considered to be the last civil war fought on British soil. Let’s welcome Dr Callum Watson back on the show. Callum works at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn and who recently released a book on the topic with Pen & Sword Publishing. Ca...

We Found Love Right Where We Are: Arranged Love Blossoming On this episode we’re looking at the Royal Couples, who were brought together by an arranged marriage. Despite this, they found love and comfort in the union. We have great historians with us today. Darren Baker, Sharon Bennett Connolly and Heather R Darsie. The couples in question saluted today will include: Henry III of England and Elean...

Please welcome Dan E Parkes back to the podcast, the author of  Titanic Legacy: The Captain, the Daughter and the Spy with Amberley Publishing. He also has a Youtube channel called Captain Titanic where he searches for the truth about this great ship. Today is the anniversary of the ship’s sinking, so we’ll be busting a lot of myths about Titanic’s maiden voyage and her sinking. Welcome back,...

Join us as we explore the love stories of the past. Uneasy Lies the Spouse that Wears the Crown: Trouble in Paradise... On this episode, we’ll be talking about the many royal couples that didn’t have a happy ending. Their Happily Ever After seemed to have an expiration date. Please welcome Sharon Bennett Connolly, Heather R Darsie and Amy McElroy back on the podcast as we learn more about the coup...

On the 9th April 1806 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, a little boy was born. Few could have predicted the impact his work would have on the world.  His name was Isambard Kingdom Brunel . As a special treat in honour of Mr Brunel’s birthday, today I talk to Rob Bell , an engineer, podcaster and TV presenter. You may recognise him from Channel 5 documentaries on Britain’s Bridges, Ships, Lightho...

Join us as we explore the love stories of the past. Swiped Left: Strange Royal Bedfellows... On this episode, we’ll be talking about the many royal couples that didn’t take to each other and thus the union weren’t ultimately successful. Sharon Bennett Connolly kicks us off with the story of Philip II of France and Ingeborg of Denmark, and we’ll continue with  Henry III of Navarre/ ...

Please welcome John Matthews to the show. And we’ll be talking about his upcoming book  Voyages with the Celtic Saints: Stories and Wisdom for Travellers in Search of Truth.   Voyages of Celtic Saints: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Voyages-Celtic-Saints-Stories-Travelers/dp/0764368796/ (UK) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Voyages-Celtic-Saints-Stories-Travelers-ebook/dp/B0DYL4V2X5/ (UK) https://redf...

Welcome to our Romance Royale series. On this episode, we’ll be talking about the King’s many grannies. The royal couplings that had to happen to further the family tree.  We’re looking at five such couples today,  James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort, Owain Tudor and Catherine of Valois, Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, And of course, James VI/I and...

Many people know the Hundred Years’ War, and almost everyone in the English speaking world has heard of the Battle of Agincourt, but not many would be familiar with the The Battle of Baugé which was fought on the 22nd March 1421 between the English and the Franco-Scottish forces in the territory of Baugé in France. Let’s ask Callum Watson more about this conflict.  Callum works at the site of...