Recent Posts

Episode 200 – Popular Representations of Anne Boleyn with Dr Yasmine Hachimi

Guest Bio Yasmine Hachimi (Ph.D., University of California at Davis) is a Public Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow at the Newberry Library in Chicago. Her book project, Tudorotica, traces the ways that Tudor queens are sexualized across centuries and genres, from sixteenth-century letters and plays, to tv shows and fanfiction today. Yasmine is interested in how popular media and images of the premodern period challenge or affirm public understandings of the past, particularly with regards to … [Read More...]

Episode 199 – Mudlarking on the Thames Foreshore with Alessio Checconi

Guest Bio Alessio Checconi is an Italian micropalaeontologist currently living in London.His background is academia, where he used to work as lecturer at University of Perugia, doing research on microfossils and how they can help our understanding of the dynamic, causes and consequences of extinction events and climatic changes. He also taught several courses, including stratigraphy and palaeontology to Archeology Degree students.Alessio is currently working as business developer for the … [Read More...]

Episode 198 – The Rise and Fall of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford

Guest Bio Dr James Taffe is a Tudor historian whose research focuses on the English royal household and the wider court, concentrating foremost on the households of Henry VIII and his six queens. Born in Birmingham, England, he studied at Queen Mary, University of London and University of Birmingham, before moving to the north-east around four years ago to study for his PhD at Durham University, which he completed in 2022. He now lives in Newcastle, UK. Courting Scandal: The Rise and Fall of … [Read More...]

Episode 197 – Henry VII & the 1486 Royal Progress with Sarah Morris

Guest Bio Sarah Morris is an author, blogger and podcast, better known online as 'The Tudor Travel Guide'. She is committed to ensuring that Tudor history lovers everywhere can relish their immersion into the past, with all the facts and hard-to-find details needed to time travel at their fingertips and is now one of the most trusted providers of travel information for exploring Tudor locations all over the UK.Alongside a very active Instagram account, Sarah provides both information and … [Read More...]

Episode 196 – Anne de Graville and Women’s Literary Networks in Early Modern France with Dr Elizabeth L’Estrange

Guest Bio Elizabeth L’Estrange was born in London and studied for a BA (English Language and Literature), an MA (Medieval Studies) and a PhD (Art History) at the University of Leeds. Her first book, Holy Motherhood: Gender, Dynasty and Visual Culture in the Later Middle Ages, was published in 2008 and is an interdisciplinary study of images of maternity in books of hours and their interpretation by aristocratic viewers. She has published widely on women patrons and book owners in France in … [Read More...]

Episode 195 – Henry VIII & Charles V with Richard Heath

Guest Bio Richard was bought up in Oxford where his love of history was encouraged by his parents and teachers. He graduated from the University of Cambridge and enjoyed teaching history (as well as taking on senior management roles) at secondary schools for 35 years.Since retirement, as well as researching and producing a family history (publ. 2020 - Amazon), he’s written two books on the early 16th century - 'Charles V: Duty and Dynasty - The Emperor and his Changing World 1500-1558' (publ. … [Read More...]

Episode 194 – Edward VI: Henry VIII’s Overshadowed Son with Stephanie Kline

Guest Bio Stephanie Kline holds a Master of Studies degree in Modern British & European History from Mansfield College, University of Oxford. Since 2011, she has run the popular website, The Tudor Enthusiast, where she blogs about all things related to the Tudor dynasty. Her first historical biography, Edward VI: Henry VIII's Overshadowed Son will be published by Pen & Sword Books this year. She lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and two young … [Read More...]

Tudor History Books from Yale University Press

(I am really happy to work with our sponsor, Yale University Press, today to share news of some brilliant Tudor history books!) From royal fashion to childhood to ordinary lives, enjoy fascinating Tudor history books, from Yale University Press. ‘Tudor England’ by Lucy Wooding is a compelling, authoritative account of the brilliant, conflicted, visionary world of Tudor England. In cities, towns, and villages, families and communities lived their lives through times of great upheaval. In … [Read More...]

Episode 191 – Elizabethan Rebellions with Helene Harrison

Guest Bio Helene Harrison studied at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, achieving both a BA and an MA in History before going on to complete an MSc in Library Management. Her passion for Tudor history started when studying for A Levels and completing a module on Tudor rebellions. Her Masters dissertation focused on portrayals of Anne Boleyn through the centuries, from contemporary letters to modern TV and film adaptations. Now she writes two blogs, one Tudor history and one … [Read More...]

Episode 190 – Catherine and Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers with Kate McCaffrey & Dr Owen Emmerson

Natalie Grueninger speaks with Hever Castle's assistant curators, Kate McCaffrey and Dr Owen Emmerson about Hever's new exhibition, Catherine and Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers. Follow Kate on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/kateemccaffrey Follow Owen on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/DrOwenEmmerson Purchase the accompanying guide book: https://buy.myonlinebooking.co.uk/hevercastle/shop/product.aspx?catid=7&id=27247 Tune in to hear Natalie, Kate and Owen discuss: - The inspiration … [Read More...]

Episode 189 – The Boleyns: From the Tudors to the Windsors with Amanda Harvey Purse

Amanda Harvey Purse

Guest Bio Amanda Harvey Purse is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has studied the Tudors era at the Universities of Roehampton and Glasgow. She has worked for many London based museums and has written for History Hit, The Charles Dickens Society, The Anne Boleyn Files, Historic Houses, The Whitechapel Society Journal and many more. The Boleyns: From the Tudors to the Windsors is her first book surrounding the era of the Tudors and takes a unique view of the Boleyn family narrative … [Read More...]

Episode 188 – The Iconography of Mary I with Peter Stiffel

Guest Bio Peter completed his BA in Medieval and Early Modern History at the University of Chichester in 2019 before joining the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) for his MA in 2020. Peter was a co-organiser of MEMSFEST 2020 and chaired a range of panels focusing on the sixteenth century. Peter's research explores the iconography of Mary I via her portraiture and material culture. He examines the many portraits of the Tudor queen as well as exploring imagery surrounding … [Read More...]