On the Tudor Trail

Episode 224 – Heirs of Ambition: The Making of the Boleyns with Dr Claire Martin

Guest Bio Dr Claire Martin is a historian specialising in the history of London and the late Medieval period. She has worked on a number of London companies, including the Woolmen and the Girdlers and her PhD looked at London's medieval transport industry. She is currently working, on behalf of The Yorkist History Trust, to publish the executors' accounts and remarkably detailed probate inventories of the former House of Commons Speaker, Sir Thomas … [Read More...]

Episode 223 – Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and the Marriage that Shook Europe with John Guy & Julia Fox

Guest Bios John Guy: Formerly provost and history professor at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Renaissance historian John Guy is now a fellow in history at Clare College, University of Cambridge. He has written several books, including Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart, (upon which the 2018 Mary Queen of Scots starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, was based). He appears regularly on the BBC’s flagship cultural programs. Julia Fox: Julia Fox is a teacher and … [Read More...]

Episode 222 – Food in Tudor England with Brigitte Webster

Guest Bio Brigitte Webster is a qualified teacher of home economics and history, making her the perfect ‘accomplished’ Tudor housewife in modern day Britain. As a competent and experienced cook with a deep passion for Tudor history she fully immersed herself in archaeological, experimental cookery which also motivated her to grow period vegetables, herbs and fruits to achieve the most authentic end results. In 2019 she and her husband bought a small Tudor manor that had escaped ruthless … [Read More...]

Episode 221 – The Battle of Flodden with Julian Humphrys

Guest Bio After graduating in history from Emmanuel College Cambridge, Julian Humphrys joined the staff of London's National Army Museum where he curated numerous exhibitions and was spokesperson to the media on all matters of British Army history. He moved on to organise English Heritage's programme of guided tours to historic sites and continues to lead battlefield walks for its members. Julian is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is a trustee of the Battlefields Trust, the UK … [Read More...]

Episode 220 – The Life & Reign of Claude of France with Professor Kathleen Wilson-Chevalier

Guest Bio Kathleen Wilson-Chevalier is Art History Professor Emerita at The American University of Paris. Trained as a Fontainebleau specialist, she has published a catalogue on French Renaissance prints, edited books (Royaume de fémynie, with Eliane Viennot; Patronnes et mécènes en France à la Renaissance; Femmes et fonctions à la cour de France, with Caroline zum Kolk), and written articles on French women of rank and their artistic patronage. Her most recent publications examine … [Read More...]

A Weekend at the Tudor Court

Since launching the '365 Days' courses, I've received many messages from people asking if I'd consider hosting online events that require less of a time and financial commitment, and so your wish is my command! I'm delighted to introduce you to 'A Weekend at the Tudor Court', a 2-day online event exploring life at the Tudor court. Enjoy talks by 7 leading Tudor history experts all from the comfort of your home! Below is a list of lectures and presenters. Lecture 1 – The Perfect … [Read More...]

Episode 219 – Hampton Court Palace with Gareth Russell

Guest Bio Gareth Russell is a historian and broadcaster. He studied at Oxford and Queen's University, Belfast, where he specialised in the medieval and Tudor royal households. He is the author of several books, including the Catherine Howard biography, Young and Damned and Fair, and the bestselling Do Let's Have Another Drink, about the late Queen Mother. His next book is The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of History at Hampton Court. Natalie Grueninger speaks with … [Read More...]

Episode 218 – William Somer: The King’s Fool with Dr Peter K. Andersson

Guest Bio Peter K. Andersson is a Senior Lecturer in History at Örebro University in Sweden. He is the author of Streetlife in Late-Victorian London and Silent History: Body Language and Nonverbal Identity, 1860-1914. His latest book ‘ Fool: In Search of Henry VIII’s Closest Man’ will be released on 19 September 2023. Article: On A Fool’s Errand: Writing A Biography of Will … [Read More...]

Episode 217 – Young Queens with Leah Redmond Chang

Guest Bio Leah Redmond Chang is a former associate professor of French literature and culture at the George Washington University. Her writing draws on her extensive experience as a researcher in the archives and in rare book libraries. Her previous books include Into Print: The Invention of Female Authorship in Early Modern France, which focused on women and book culture in the sixteenth century, and (with Katherine Kong) Portraits of the Queen Mother, about the many public faces of … [Read More...]

Episode 216 – Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker with Dr Aoife Brady

Guest Bio Aoife Brady is Curator of Italian and Spanish art at the National Gallery of Ireland. A specialist in Bolognese painting, Brady holds a doctorate in the History of Art from Trinity College Dublin, and has held curatorial roles with The National Gallery, London, and the Paintings Department of The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Brady sits on the Old Masters vetting committee for TEFAF Maastricht. Her primary research interests relate to the study of painting techniques, … [Read More...]

Episode 215 – Children of the House of Cleves with Heather Darsie

Guest Bio Heather R. Darsie works as an attorney and a part-time law professor in the US. Along with her Juris Doctorate she has a BA in German, which was of great value in her research. She completed multiple graduate-level courses in Early Modern History, with her primary focus being the Holy Roman Empire under Charles V. Heather is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and an adjunct law professor at Northern Illinois University. She runs the website … [Read More...]

Episode 214 – The Courtship of Elizabeth I & The Duke of Anjou

Guest Bio David Lee is an Irish historian who specializes in women's history. He graduated from Maynooth University with a MA in Irish History. David's thesis 'Ann Walker (1803-1854) and her times: elite women, inheritance and lunacy' discussed the life of a nineteenth century heiress and her fight for autonomy and independence. He also has a keen interest in the history of marriage, philanthropy and emotions. He has written for Tudor Life Magazine and is the author of The Queen's Frog … [Read More...]