Vulgar History: Regency Era

Today we're talking about Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess raised in Queen Victoria's court as the Queen's goddaughter. Author Denny S. Bryce's new book The Other Princess takes its inspiration from this recently rediscovered historical figure. Learn more about Denny and her work at dennysbryce.com -- Buy The Other Princess from bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: http...

Today we're talking about Mary Shelley, Claire Clairmont, Percy Shelley and (a fictional) MURDER with author Heather Redmond, author of Death and the Sisters. Learn more about Heather and her work at heatherredmond.com -- Buy Death and the Sisters from bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781496737991 -- Get merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for...

NOTE: This episode was updated in June 2024 to include Elagabalus's score on the Fredegund Memorial Scandiliciousness Scale. Thinking about the Roman Empire? If you weren't before, you are now! Friend of the podcast Dr. Kit Heyam is back to discuss the fascinating life of ancient Roman emperor Elagabalus (aka Heliogabalus). Elagabalus's reign was short, and odd, and the way it was written about (b...

This week, author Rosie Harte joins us to talk about her new book The Royal Wardrobe: A Very Fashionable History of the Monarchy. In this book, she discusses iconic fashion moments of the British royals from the Tudor era to present day, answering questions like: how tits out was Anne of Denmark? Whither James VI/I's padded doublets? And, what's the deal with Charles II's pubic hair wig??? Plus: F...

As a grand finale to the Mary, Queen of Scots series, we're taking a look at her girl squad: The Four Marys. Who were Mary Beaton, Seton, Fleming, and Livingston? If they were Golden Girls, who is the Dorothy? If they were in Blackpink, who is the main visual (and who is the lead dancer)? How do they match up with Reign's Aylee, Greer, Kenna, and Lola? Where did Mary Seton learn to do perms? Which...

Continuing on in our academic/linguistics era, I'm joined today by Dr. Jenni Nuttall to talk about her new book Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words. So many of the words that we use to chronicle women’s lives feel awkward or alien. Medical terms are scrupulously accurate but antiseptic. Slang and obscenities have shock value, yet they perpetuate taboos. Where are the plain, hone...

Bess of Hardwick (birth name: Elizabeth Cavendish) appeared a few times throughout the Mary, Queen of Scots series. And today, we're diving into just how this low(ish) born woman became the second-wealthiest woman in Tudor England (after Queen Liz I). We spill all the tea: the four husbands, the attempted poisonings, the embroideries, her dealings with the Grey family, the house building, the usel...

This week, we're talking with Yunte Huang about his new biography of movie star Anna May Wong, Daughter of the Dragon. A trenchant reclamation of the Chinese American movie star, whose battles against cinematic exploitation and endemic racism are set against the currents of twentieth-century history. Learn more about Yunte Huang and his books at yuntehuang.com. -- Buy Daughter of the Dragon from b...

As part of the Mary, Queen of Scots series today we're talking about Mary's sister-in-law, Elisabeth of Valois. Our guest is Leah Redmond Chang, whose biography of Elisabeth, Catherine de'Medici, and Mary, Queen of Scots has just been published. Young Queens: Three Renaissance Queens and the Price of Power follows the intertwined stories of the three women from girlhood through young adulthood, pa...

This week, I'm joined by author Rachel Cantor to talk about her new book, Half-Life of a Stolen Sister, a retelling of the story of the Brontë siblings. Chapter by chapter, the novel brings together diaries, letters, home movies, television and radio interviews, deathbed monologues, and fragments from the sprawling invented worlds of the siblings’ childhood. As it does so, a kaleidoscopic portrait...

This week, we're talking with author Craig Shreve about his new novel, The African Samurai. Set in late 16th-century Africa, India, Portugal, and Japan, The African Samurai is a powerful historical novel based on the true story of Yasuke, Japan’s first foreign-born samurai and the only samurai of African descent. Learn more about Craig Shreve and his books at craigshreve.com and follow him on soci...

Today we're talking with debut novelist Jamila Ahmed about her book Every Rising Sun. Every Rising Sun is a retelling of the tale of Scheherazade, set amid the real-life events of twelfth-century Persia and the third crusade. -- Buy Every Rising Sun from bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781250887078 -- Support Vulgar History on Patreon  Vulgar Hi...

When it comes to Mary's legacy and scandilicious score, there's too much for one person to cover. Which is why I've brought in Vulgar History all-stars (and Mary QofS fans) Allison Epstein and Lana Wood Johnson for this discussion. We also got input from author and Scottish person Jennifer Morag Henderson to help figure out the scores. Is it any wonder this is nearly 2.5 hours long? Mary deserves...

Talking about 10th-century Norway, the mythical figure of Gunnhild, and the importance of women's work with Genevieve Gornichec! Learn more about Genevieve and her books at genevievegornichec.com Buy The Weaver and the Witch Queen from bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9780593438244 -- Support Vulgar History on Patreon  Vulgar History merch availab...

As a way to tie a bow on this season, we're learning more about Mary, Queen of Scots's inner life, motivations, and emotions through her use of textiles. I'm joined by author Clare Hunter, author of Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power, to discuss what we can learn about Mary from what she wore, and what she stitched. Learn more about Clare and her work at her web...

I'm joined this week by Nikki M. Taylor to discuss her fascinating new book, Brooding Over Bloody Revenge: Enslaved Women's Lethal Resistance. Nikki is Professor and Chair in the Department of History at Howard University. She specializes in nineteenth-century African American History. From the colonial through the antebellum era, enslaved women in the US used lethal force as the ultimate form of...

The saga of Mary, Queen of Scots concludes with the ultimate outfit reveal. And: so much spy shit!! -- References: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots: Elizabeth I and her Greatest Rival by Kate Williams Embroidering Her Truth: Mary Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter Imprisoning Mary, Queen of Scots: The Men Who Kept the Stuart Queen by Mickey Mayhew https://www.historytoday...

Vanessa Riley's new book Queen of Exiles is about Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid Christophe, Queen of the Kingdom of Hayti. The story of her Regency reign and exile is ripped from the headlines for this historical fiction novel. Learn more about Vanessa, her book, and where she'll be appearing to promote this book at vanessariley.com  -- Buy Queen of Exiles from bookshop.org and support Vulgar Histor...

In this week's episode we get to talk about Mary's various treason embroidery projects AND learn the fates of several of our least-favourite Scottish men. Here is a link to Mary's embroideries we discuss today, including the treason pillow, the rhinocerote, and the "byrd of America". A Catte (by Mary, Queen of Scots) A Catte Named Hepburne (by Jan Jupiter) in the Vulgar History merch store -- Refe...

Where did The Patriarchy™️ come from? Why has it been fucking up peoples lives in so many cultures in so many eras and geographic locations?  Angela Saini is here to explain all in this chat about her book The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality. — Buy The Patriarchs at bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9780807014547 -- Support Vulgar History on...

In this week's episode, our girl is BACK as Mary dons at least one disguise and manipulates numerous fools around her! -- References: Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary Queen of Scots by Jennifer Morag Henderson Embroidering Her Truth: Mary Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter Homecoming: The Scottish Years of Mary Queen of Scots by Rosemary Goring Mary Queen of Scots...

Amid the unrelenting grimness of the Mary, Queen of Scots story comes a NICE story with a HAPPY EVER AFTER ENDING. Let's all take a brain break to learn about Jean Gordon, daughter of Cock o' the North, briefly the wife of Bothwell, and how her life turned out GREAT after all that happened. My guest is Jennifer Morag Henderson, who wrote the book Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary, Queen...

In this week's episode, Mary pays a visit to her baby son and then everything goes really badly. Content warning SA: 1:08:10-1:09:29 -- References: Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary Queen of Scots by Jennifer Morag Henderson Embroidering Her Truth: Mary Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter Homecoming: The Scottish Years of Mary Queen of Scots by Rosemary Goring Mary...

Talking with author Claudia Cravens about her queer wild west brothel revenge historical novel, Lucky Red! Keep up with Claudia on Instagram @claudia.cravens and Twitter @claudia_cravens -- Buy Lucky Red at bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9780593498248 -- Support Vulgar History on Patreon  Vulgar History merch available at vulgarhistory.com/store...

In which Mary attends the wedding of two of her favourite servants. Content warning: murder Here's the drawing of Kirk O'Field we discuss. And here's the mermaid drawing. -- References: Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary Queen of Scots by Jennifer Morag Henderson Embroidering Her Truth: Mary Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lo...