Vulgar History: Tudors

Latest Episodes:

Author Interview: Celia Bell (The Disenchantment) May 17, 2023

Show notes

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 noblewomen who wish to free themselves from their repressive society, whatever the cost. There's also murder in it, as well as Vulgar History fav La Voisin and, The Affair of the Poisons!

Learn more about Celia and her book here

Follow Celia on Twitter @celiadbell

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.

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Author Interview: Elizabeth Chadwick (The King's Jewel) May 12, 2023

Show notes

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 joins me to share the story of Nesta and talk about her latest book, THE KING'S JEWEL.

Learn more about Elizabeth and her books

Buy a copy of THE KING'S JEWEL from bookshop.org

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Queen Charlotte Was Not As Cool As On Bridgerton, I'm Sorry May 10, 2023

Show notes

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 also, we didn't know what the show was like when we had this discussion, so bear that in mind.

References:

The Real Queen Charlotte: Inside the Real Bridgerton Court by Catherine Curzon

Here's a link to Lana Wood Johnson's two YA novels: Books by Lana Wood Johnson

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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Was Queen Charlotte Really Black? May 05, 2023

Show notes

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 racial term "mulatto" is used twice, in a historical context. **

Stacey Morrell is a Ph.D. candidate at Brown University. Stacey works on the western Mediterranean throughout much of the Middle Ages (c.900-1520), with a particular emphasis on the relationship(s) between gender, sexuality, and power.

Learn more about Stacey Murrell and her work

YouTube video of Stacey's presentation on Madragana (her part is from 1:00:15 to 1:26:46)

Follow Stacey on Twitter @theamyrlinseat

Dr. Brooke Newman is an Associate Professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a historian of early modern Britain and the British Atlantic, with a current special interest in the history of slavery, the abolition movement, and the British royal family.

Learn more about Dr. Newman and her work

Follow Dr. Newman on Twitter @DrBrookeNewman

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Catherine de'Medici, Part Three May 03, 2023

Show notes

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 De' Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal That Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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Author Interview: Valerie Fridland (Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English) Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

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

Tits Oit For Trans Rights http://vulgarhistory.com/donate

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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Catherine de'Medici, Part Two Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

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 Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal That Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Interview: Vanessa Wilkie (A Woman of Influence: The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England) Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

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 Spencer family you may know from Princess Diana's whole deal.

Learn more about the book and buy a copy here

Info about Vanessa's role and research at the Huntington Library

Listen to the Vulgar History episode about Alice's daughter, Anne Stanley Countess of Castlehaven, here

Tits Out For Trans Rights fundraiser vulgarhistory.com/donate

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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Catherine de'Medici: Part One Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

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: Popes!

References:

Blood, Fire & Gold: The Story of Elizabeth I & Catherine de'Medici by Estelle Paranque

The Rival Queens: Catherine De' Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal That Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone

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

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Interview: Max Wallace (After the Miracle: The Political Crusades of Helen Keller) Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

***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 never had my understanding of a woman from history expanded as much as what Max discusses about Helen Keller.

Learn more about the book and find links to buy a copy here

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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