Vulgar History: Regency Era

* Audio note: my mic was a little different this week just FYI ** I'm joined this week by Mattie Kahn, author of the new book Young and Restless: The Girls Who Sparked America's Revolutions.  From the American Revolution itself to the Civil Rights Movement to nuclear disarmament protests and the women’s liberation movement, through Black Lives Matter and school strikes for climate, Mattie Kahn unc...

This week, Mary, Queen of Scots hosts an eventful dinner party. Content warning: murder -- References: Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary Queen of Scots by Jennifer Morag Henderson David Rizzio and Mary Queen of Scots: Murder at Holyrood by David Tweedie Embroidering Her Truth: Mary Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnle...

As a Pride Month treat, enjoy this remastered version of last year's episode about La Chevalière d'Éon, with special guest Maya Deane! Maya's book Wrath Goddess Sing was recently nominated for a Lambda Literary Award, and has just come out in paperback, so it seemed a great time to revisit this, one of my favourite interviews! Learn more about Maya and Wrath Goddess Sing at mayadeane.com Purchase...

* The audio is a bit different sounding in this episode, just FYI, due to mic issues on my end * Today's a special author interview, because this is a historical fiction novel about someone already profiled on Vulgar History! In the previous episode, I referred to this person as Zheng Yi Sao, which is a name referring to her as the wife of someone else. This novel is all about her story on its own...

In this week's episode, Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I both engage in some matchmaking. References: David Rizzio and Mary, Queen of Scots: Murder at Holyrood by David Tweedie 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...

In this episode, I'm joined by author Logan Steiner to discuss her new novel After Anne. After Anne is a historical fiction novel that explores the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series. Learn more about Logan and After Anne at logansteiner.com -- Buy After Anne at bookshop.org and support Vulgar History with this link: https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9780063246454 --...

In which Mary, Queen of Scots goes with her half-brother James to visit the Northern parts of her kingdom. -- 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: The True L...

I'm joined for an incredibly interesting conversation with author Debra Magpie Earling, author of the new historical fiction novel The Lost Journals of Sacajewea. Among the most memorialized women in American history, Sacajewea served as interpreter and guide for Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery. In this visionary novel, acclaimed Indigenous author Debra Magpie Earling brings this mythologized...

Our in-depth discussion of the life of Mary, Queen of Scot’s begins! In France! Just like Reign! 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: The True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy Mary Was Here: where Mary Queen of Scots Went and what...

Everyone knows the name Cleopatra, but her daughter Cleopatra Selene is little-known these days. Jane Draycott has written the first modern biography of one of the most influential yet long-neglected rulers of the ancient world: Cleopatra Selene!. -- Learn more about Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen, here Learn more about Jane and her research here Follow Jane on Twitter...

Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d'Aulnoy, aka Countess d'Aulnoy, aka Madame d'Aulnoy, was a French author who invented the term "fairy tales". She also was one of many real-life figures who inspired Celia Bell to write her historical fiction novel, THE DISENCHANTMENT. Celia joins us to talk about her book, which is a fictional story about a passionate love affair between two noble...

Nesta, or Nest ferch Rhys, was a Welsh princess in the late 11th and early 12th century. Her father was the last King of Wales, and Nesta was taken to England where she became mistress of the future Henry II.  Her story is so fascinating and deserves to be better known, which is why it's so great bestselling historical fiction author Elizabeth Chadwick has written a new book about her! Elizabeth j...

So who was the real Queen Charlotte aka Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz? Was she at all like the spirited heroine of the Bridgerton spinoff series? Or was she actually the most basic and bland person ever profiled on this podcast? And if the latter, how low will her score be? This episode was recorded before QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY came out on Netflix, and contains no spoilers! But a...

The new Netflix series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story adapts the real-life story of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, presenting her as a Black woman living in 18th-century England. There have long been rumours about Charlotte's real-life Black ancestry. To understand this complex situation, I sat down with two experts to learn more. ** Content warning: at around 1:33:25, the derogatory raci...

All scandalicious things must come to an end, and so it is with the unrelentingly wild saga of Catherine de'Medici. But how will she score on the Fredegund Memorial Scandilicous Scale??? -- Here's a link to Lana Wood Johnson's two YA novels: Books by Lana Wood Johnson -- References: Blood, Fire & Gold: The Story of Elizabeth I & Catherine de'Medici by Estelle Paranque The Rival Queens: Catherine D...

This week we're talking about the history of language with Dr. Valerie Fridland, author of the new book Like Literally Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English. Valerie has a PhD in linguistics and is a Professor and former Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of English at the University of Nevada in Reno.  Learn more about Valerie and her book here  Click to buy a copy on Bookshop.org...

The second part of Catherine de’Medici’s story, or, how do you solve a problem like De Guises? -- Here's a link to the fundraiser: Tits Out For Trans Rights Here's a link to Lana Wood Johnson's two YA novels: Books by Lana Wood Johnson -- References: Blood, Fire & Gold: The Story of Elizabeth I & Catherine de'Medici by Estelle Paranque The Rival Queens: Catherine De' Medici, Her Daughter Marguerit...

It's a super special! This time we're joined by Vanessa Wilkie, author of the new biography A WOMAN OF INFLUENCE: THE SPECTACULAR RISE OF ALICE SPENCER IN TUDOR ENGLAND. This book has crossover with the Vulgar History episode about Anne Stanley Countess of Castlehaven, in that, Alice Spencer was Anne Stanley's mother. She was also the wife of VH fav Ferdinando Stanley, and also a member of the Spe...

No discussion of Mary Queen of Scots is complete without talking about her one time mother-in-law, Catherine de'Medici. In part one, we set the stage for Catherine's long life of relentless scheming. Also, I learn how to correctly pronounce her name! Plus: discussion of her husband's maybe wonky dick. And, how she, her husb, and his mistress were not really a Diana/Charles/Camilla scenario. Plus:...

***Note: the audio quality is a bit different in this one because my computer was having a fit, but don't worry, it's still a great episode and SO IMPORTANT and I'm glad to release it despite some audio oddness.*** It's a super special! I'm joined by Max Wallace to talk about his new book, AFTER THE MIRACLE: THE POLITICAL CRUSADES OF HELEN KELLER. I truly can't recommend this book enough, I've nev...

Author (and actor) Paterson Joseph joins us to share the story of Charles Ignatius Sancho, a Black man from Georgian England whose story deserves to be much more widely known. Which is why Paterson wrote a book about him! Paterson's novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, is available everywhere you get books, including bookshop.org  Including as an audiobook, read by the author! You...

The second part of Marie de Guise's story is no less chaotic than the first part, as she winds up single-handedly running Scotland while fending off the Asshole Scottish Lords, dealing with her useless brothers, and honestly spending most of her time wishing she was back in France for the wine and cheese. Here are links to EKsplaine, who I quote here about her hilarious Scottish history reels and...

Time to learn about Marie de Guise, the mother of Mary Queen of Scots! De Guise expert Lana Wood Johnson joins us to talk about just how influential Marie's family was, how and why she wound up in Scotland, how she dealt with the Asshole Scottish Lords ft. John Goddamn Knox, and how nature AND nurture would lead to in the development of Mary Queen of Scots's personality later on. I forgot to say i...

Friend of the podcast Gina Berry joins us to talk about one of her favourite women from history: Nefertiti! In this incredibly long conversation, we get into exactly how long ago Nefertiti lived (VERY LONG AGO), how unusual her husband Akhenaten's reign was (VERY), and how messed up everything still is vis-a-vis her famous sculpture and where it's located. You can follow Gina on Twitter @gbdolfan...

This week in the thrilling conclusion of Margaret Tudor's story we get: two terrible husbands! Several infant and child kidnappings! Sneaking across the border more than once! A shocking alliance on par with Margaret of Anjour/Warwick and Rani Didda/Phalguna! Cannon-based divorce drama cause that's just how they do it in Scotland! And: her scandilicious score. As Henry VIII would say: Herman, my p...