Recent Posts

Episode 6 – Battle of Bosworth Special edition with Chris Skidmore

On the 533rd anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth, Natalie Grueninger chats with author and historian Chris Skidmore about this hugely important historical event that heralded the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and marked the birth of the Tudors. Click here to visit Chris Skidmore's official website. Listen using the above player, on iTunes or on Stitcher. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, I would be so grateful if you’d consider leaving a review on iTunes. Don’t forget to join our group … [Read More...]

Episode 5 – Talking Tudors with Dr Wendy J. Dunn

Natalie Grueninger chats all things Katherine of Aragon with novelist Dr Wendy J. Dunn. Click here to visit Dr Dunn's official website. Listen using the above player, on iTunes or on Stitcher. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, I would be so grateful if you’d consider leaving a review on iTunes. Don't forget to join our group on Facebook for all behind-the-scenes news and updates.  Books Mentioned Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin Dear Heart, How Like You … [Read More...]

The Musical Life of Henry VIII

I'm excited and a little sad to share with you the final instalment of a fabulous blog post series by Brooke C. Little, about the musical education of Henry VIII and his wives. Below are links to the previous six informative articles, all of which I highly recommend you read. Happily, it's not the last we'll see of Brooke, as she's joining me on Talking Tudors in December to chat about Tudor Christmas music. Katherine of Aragon - Musica, La Granada y Canciones de Perdida de Niños Anne … [Read More...]

Episode 4 – Talking Tudors with Gareth Russell

  Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Gareth Russell about Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Visit Gareth's blog, Confessions of a Ci-Devant. Listen using the above player, on iTunes or on Stitcher. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, I would be so grateful if you’d consider leaving a review on iTunes.  Books Mentioned Young and Damned and Fair by Gareth Russell Jane Boleyn by Julia Fox The Raven’s Widow: A Novel of Jane Boleyn by Adrienne Dillard In … [Read More...]

Talking Tudors with Dr Joanne Paul

Listen using the above player, on iTunes or on Stitcher. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, I would be so grateful if you’d consider leaving a review on iTunes.  Natalie Grueninger chats to Dr Joanne Paul about one of the Tudor era's most prominent and controversial figures, Thomas More. Visit Dr Paul's official website. … [Read More...]

Episode 2: Talking Tudors with Conor Byrne

Listen using the above player, on iTunes or on Stitcher. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, I would be so grateful if you'd consider leaving a review on iTunes.  On this day (28 July) 1540, Henry VIII married Catherine Howard at Oatlands Palace. To mark the occasion, I spoke with historian Conor Byrne about Henry's often misunderstood fifth wife. Visit Conor's blog here: http://conorbyrnex.blogspot.com The lovely musical interlude is courtesy of guitarist Jon Sayles. … [Read More...]

Talking Tudors with Sarah Morris – Episode 1

Natalie Grueninger and Sarah Morris chat about Tudor palaces and historic sites. Listen using the above player or read the transcript below. Talking Tudors is also available on iTunes. If you've enjoyed the episode, please leave a review on iTunes.  Hello and welcome to Talking Tudors, a fortnightly podcast about the ever-fascinating Tudor dynasty. My name is Natalie Grueninger and I’ll be your host and guide on this journey through sixteenth-century England. Are you ready to step … [Read More...]

Talking Tudors – Introductory Episode

In this episode, Natalie Grueninger shares some background information about herself and gives listeners a taste of what's to come in future episodes. Listen using the above player or read the transcript below.  Also available on iTunes. Hello and welcome to the inaugural episode of Talking Tudors, a fortnightly podcast about the ever-fascinating Tudor dynasty. My name is Natalie Grueninger and I’ll be your host and guide on this journey through sixteenth-century England. In this … [Read More...]

Talking Tudors Podcast with Natalie Grueninger

I am so excited to share that I'll be launching a podcast next month called Talking Tudors! As the name suggests, I'll be chatting all things Tudor with some very knowledgeable and passionate people. I can't wait to share the guest list with you. Talking Tudors, hosted by Natalie Grueninger, takes listeners on a lively journey through 16th-century England. In each episode, Natalie chats all things Tudor with celebrated authors, historians and other experts in the era. Lighthearted, fun and … [Read More...]

The Musical Lives of Henry VIII’s Wives – Katherine Parr

KATHERINE PARR-CULTIVATING AN AURA OF MUSICAL MAJESTY By Brooke C. Little  Katherine Parr- Att. Master John, National Portrait Gallery London, 16th Cent Katherine Parre, daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Maude Parr, was born in 1512. Although the exact location of her birth cannot be determined, biographers believe she was born in close proximity to London.  Although Katherine’s education, like other young girls of her station, was particularly centered around domestic skills, music became a … [Read More...]

Tudor Ghost Story Competition

By Wendy J. Dunn Once upon a time – shaking my head in disbelief, it was over eighteen-years ago – I wrote a regular Tudor column for Suite101, once a very popular site for writers and readers worldwide. Tudor England Suite101 not only gave me the opportunity to write about my Tudor passion, but also to launch a Tudor Ghost Story Competition as an annual Christmas treat for my readers. This contest still holds a very special place in my heart (I love finding ways of helping other writers get … [Read More...]

The Musical Lives of Henry VIII’s Wives – Katherine Howard

Katherine Howard- “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” By Brooke C. Little   The sixteenth-century portrait Mary Magdalene Playing A Lute shows a finely dressed Renaissance woman playing the lute and reading the musical notation portrayed with her in the painting. The song, in French, is Jouissance Vous Donneray and was composed by Claudin de Sermisy (1490-1562). The basse danse, Jouissance Vous Donneray, was a popular dance at many of the Burgundian courts of northern Europe, and in England as … [Read More...]