Lovers and La Maupin

When Josphine failed to produce heirs, Napoleon secured a divorce and arranged for another marriage: to the 18-year-old daughter of the Emperor of Austria. Young Marie-Louise arrived in Paris and, to her surprise, found herself enchanted by her new husband. But Napoleon's Empire ... Show More

When Ian Fleming needed a name for the secret agent at the center of his new novel, he stole one from the cover of a birdwatching book. The real James Bond wasn’t a martini-drinking spy, but a shy American ornithologist who spent decades exploring the Caribbean. Then one surreal ... Show More

Two families captivated the 20th century: the Kennedy clan in America, and the Windsors, the royal family of the UK. Both faced the tribulations of fame and power, and the challenges of the 21st century media. Dana spoke about the parallel dynasties with Caroline Hallemann, autho ... Show More

<p>This episode revisits the story of poet, philosopher and theologian Abelard, and his student Heloise. This is a tragic love story, complete with lovers forced apart, a secret marriage, a castration and repeated exhumations. Happy Valentine's Day!</p><p> </p> Learn more about y ... Show More

<p>*This episode contains very strong language and adult content*</p><br><p>A semi autobiographical account from a conflicted man? An ode to a wife’s sexual desire? A criminally obscene novel?</p><br><p>Lady Chatterley’s Lover is one of the most famous texts from the past century ... Show More

From prehistoric carvings and medieval spell books to grand romantic gestures and tokens of affection, throughout history there has been no shortage of ways to say those three little words. Speaking to Charlotte Hodgman, Edward Brooke-Hitching shares some incredible, and curious, ... Show More

<p>Our focus today is on a woman who was actually covered in the podcast several years ago. But she's a figure so mythic and with so many variations to her story that we wanted to give her another look and a little more time.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a hre ... Show More

<p>From the notorious thief Mary Frith in the seventeenth century to industrialist and LGBT trailblazer Anne Lister in the nineteenth, these heroines redefined what a woman could be and what she could do in pre-twentieth-century Britain.</p><br><p>Holly Kyte, author and literary ... Show More

<p>What makes a heartthrob? Is he brooding, flamboyant or a bad boy? And what qualities translate to sex symbol status in society?</p><br><p>Which men have made the hearts of young (heterosexual) women flutter over the centuries? And why?</p><br><p>Today, Carol Dyhouse joins Kate ... Show More

<p>In this episode of <em>Gone Medieval</em>, presenter Dr. Cat Jarman swaps seats and becomes the guest of Dr. Kate Lister’s brilliant podcast from History Hit, <em>Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society</em>.&nbsp;In it, she delves into the topics that they d ... Show More

<p>She was not a shy spinster who wrote some little books mostly to amuse her own family. She also was not a real-life Elizabeth Bennett. Jane Austen's life was very different from any of her heroines. Here's a link to our show notes. </p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices ... Show More

<p>Writer H.P. Lovecraft created worlds and stories that continue to be influential more than 80 years after his death. His life story is at turns odd, sad, problematic and utterly fascinating.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetw ... Show More