If It Ain't Baroque...

Today we are delighted to chat to the author Annie Garthwaite about her new historical fiction novel ‘The King’s Mother’, which has been published by Penguin. Of course, her debut novel 'Cecily' also makes an appearance. This book features four royal women, all of whom were mothers to the future kings: Marguerite of Anjou, Cecily Neville, Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort. Their sons...

Today‘s guest is historian Jonathan North, who’s talking to us today about his book, published by Amberley, called Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt: An Eyewitness History. What do you do when you're a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte (but before he was THAT Napoleon Bonaparte) and you follow him to North Africa, into a very alien terrain ...for an 18th century Frenchman? Also, how historically accurat...

This time we talk to the historian Sharon Bennett Connolly, who's back on the podcast to talk about her new book Heroines of the Tudor World , released by Amberley Publishing . What was a woman's lot in the 16th century? We all know the Six Wives narrative, but who were the women heroes, or SHEROES surrounding these royal ladies? What are their stories? Tune in and find out. Find Sharon here: @sha...

Today‘s guest is historian John Oliphant, who’s talking to us today about his book, recently published by Amberley, called First British Empire. We’ll dive into the history of empires, why they seem to work, why they don’t. Not least of all, of course the British empire.  Tune in and join the co-hosts Gemma and Natalie. Please find this book here: https://www.amberley-books.com/the-first-brit...

Today ‘s guest is our dear friend, the historian Chris Riley, who’s back on the podcast, to talk about his favourite historical person (or may we say his favourite person, period...), and that is of course, Eleanor of Aquitaine. #herstory Now, She’s famous for being a badass queen of England in the 12th century, and being the mother of both Richard the Lionheart, as well as King John.  S...

Today we are delighted to chat to the author Danielle Burton about her book ‘Anthony Woodville: Sophisticate or Schemer?’  Anthony was the brother of England’s Queen Elizabeth Woodville, who famously married Edward IV and was mother to the Princes in the Tower, the eldest of which - Edward Prince of Wales was Anthony’s ward for many years. Tune in and find out more about this sophisticated (o...

Dear gentle listener, today we shall be discussing the oft-admired show by the name of 'Bridgerton' (2020 -). Do be warned, as spoilers will occur. Our Favourite Bridgerton-verse books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Real-Bridgerton-Hardback/p/23199/aid/1238 https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Real-Queen-Charlotte-Inside-the-Real-Bridgerton-Court-Hardback/p/21481/aid/1238 https://www.mombooks...

Welcome to our FIFTIETH episode! Tune in to find out all about the singing or rather, sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Why does this document matter? Our guest Chris Riley - of The Historians Magazine - chats to us today. You can find Chris on @chrisrileyhistory on IG and  linktr.ee/pastandpresentmedia If you would like to become a member of The Historians Magazine, please see https://theh...

Today we are delighted to chat to the author Clemmie Bennett about her newly re-launched novel The Apple and The Tree, which features time-travel, where a character falls through time from the lockdown England in 2020 - all the way to the court of a very young Henry VIII.  What would you say to this young and handsome King? What would he say to you? How would you adapt to life in the 16th cen...

On this episode we talk to historian David Pilling about his latest book on Edward I's long-forgotten conflict with France. Popular history usually focusses on his wars with Scotland and Wales, and the Anglo-French war goes mostly unnoticed. No more. Tune in to get more details. David's Books: https://www.amberley-books.com/edward-longshanks-forgotten-conflict.html https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/...

Right trusty and well beloved, we greet you well! Today we are talking to author, playwright and screenwriter Catherine Butterfield about her new novel The Serpent and the Rose: Marguerite de Valois and Catherine de Medici: A Mother-Daughter Battle for the Ages. One of the most infamous mothers in history - Catherine de Medici did not have an easy relationship with her children, especially with he...

Today we are talking to historian Thomas Lockley about his new book ‘A Gentleman from Japan: The Untold Story of an Incredible Journey from Asia to Queen Elizabeth’s Court’. What was seafaring like in the 16th century? What were the relations like between England and Japan at the court of Queen Elizabeth? Tune in and join the co-hosts Gemma and Natalie. Please find this book here: https://tinyurl....

Today we have a short bonus episode for you: it’s an excerpt from our chat with author Catherine Curzon about Netflix’ series Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story. Please enjoy! Catherine's Georgian Episodes with us: Sweet Georgian Carolines The Real Bridgerton Catherine's Bridgerton-verse books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Real-Bridgerton-Hardback/p/23199/aid/1238 https://www.pen-and-sword...

Today we are delighted to chat to the creators of a new musical, called The King’s Wife. These creators are Jamie Floyd, who wrote the music & lyrics and Mêlisa Anis who wrote the book.  The musical takes place in Tudor England, between the battle of Flodden in 1513 and the death of Anne Boleyn in 1536. The musical looks at the women of the court of Henry VIII: their friendships, relation...

Today we talk to author Catherine Curzon about Netflix’ series Bridgerton, particularly how to survive a marriage mart in the time of Regency when the show takes place. Dear gentle listener, please be warned, subject of domestic violence will be mentioned briefly.  Catherine's Bridgerton-verse books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Real-Bridgerton-Hardback/p/23199/aid/1238 https://www.pen...

Please join us on another episode of the #StuartSpring movement. Together let's bring spotlight onto this oft-forgotten dynasty, The Stuarts, who ruled Britain in the 17th century, after ruling Scotland for the previous three. Please welcome Heather R. Darsie, the author of the upcoming book Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain , publishe...

Tune into our chat with Don Hollway, the author of the book that's coming out in paperback this week At the Gates of Rome: The Battle for a Dying Empire , published by Osprey. Are there similarities between Modern West and the Roman Empire? How did you get Roman Citizenship and what was it like to be a Roman Citizen? How did one man sack the eternal city of Rome and forever change the Roman Empire...

Please join us with the #StuartSpring movement. Together let's bring spotlight onto this oft-forgotten dynasty, The Stuarts, who ruled Britain in the 17th century, after ruling Scotland for the previous three. Please welcome Ben Norman, the author of several books on the 17th century, published with both Pen & Sword and Amberley Publishing Houses. The book we're discussing in this episode has...

Please enjoy our interview with Rosamund Gravelle, the author of the new play, opening at Barons Court Theatre this week - Three Queens . Mary I, Elizabeth I (as Princess) and the soon-to-be-beheaded Lady Jane Grey all meeting up. What would they say to each other? Who would know about it? And how would it change history? Let's dive into this oft-forgotten corner of Tudor history... If you're in L...

Today’s episode features an interview with the author Andrew Wilson, who has written a book ‘Shadow of Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived’, published by Simon & Schuster.  It’s a very special book that explores the lives of so-called survivors - those who lived to tell the tale. It’s phenomenal how many people did not have the ‘make it count’ attitude to their surviv...

Today’s episode features an interview with the author W. B. Bartlett, who has written three whole books on the topic of RMS Titanic, the causes of her sinking and the immediate aftermath. Tune into our conversation which explores the reasons for the disaster, how it could have been avoided, as well as several profiles on passengers and crew. Please find W. B. Bartlett's books here: https://www.amb...

Today’s episode features an interview with the author Clifford Ismay, whose book ‘Understanding J. Bruce Ismay’ tells us the story of man who is usually presented as a villain of the Titanic Story, but as we’ll see, this is far from the truth. Please find Cliff's book here: https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/understanding-j-bruce-ismay/ Please see some of our favourite books on the topic of...

In this episode Gemma and Natalie talk to Cody Hartman, the director of the new film Unsinkable: Titanic Untold (2024). Please find more information on the film here: https://www.unsinkablethemovie.com/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7137074/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_insinkable See tickets here: https://www.unsinkablethemovie.com/tickets Please see some of our favourite books on the topic of RM...

Today’s episode features an interview with the author Simon Medhurst, whose book ‘Titanic: Day by Day’ is presented as a calendar and chronicles the birthdays and the deathdays of those aboard the famous ship, as well as a plethora of Titanic facts and survivor quotes. Simon is also the great-grandson of Robert Hichens, the ship’s quartermaster, who was holding the wheel as the ship struck the ice...

In this episode Gemma and Natalie fan-girl about the Academy Award winning 1997 film 'Titanic'. Please see some of our favourite books on the topic: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Titanic-Day-by-Day-366-days-with-the-Titanic-Hardback/p/21148/aid/1238 https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/understanding-j-bruce-ismay/ https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Shadow-of-the-Titanic/Andrew-Wilson/...