Gulbadan Begum was meant to live a quiet life in a Mughal harem. Instead she set off on a daring pilgrimage to Islam's holy cities and, on her return, wrote an extraordinary account of her dynasty. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Ruby Lal explores the life of a princess who transformed perceptions of what women could achieve in the 16th century.
(Ad) Ru ... Show More
Mar 2024
Adventures of a Mughal Princess
<p>In the British Library, there is a manuscript copy of the memoir of Princess Gulbadan, the only surviving female-authored memoir from the Mughal Empire. In it, Gulbadan tells her extraordinary story: from growing up in a multi-cultural society, via life in a walled harem, to ... Show More
38m 6s
Jan 2022
Nicholas Jubber, "The Fairy Tellers: A Journey into the Secret History of Fairy Tales" (John Murray, 2022)
In The Fairy Tellers: A Journey into the Secret History of Fairy Tales (John Murray, 2022), Nick Jubber unearths the lives of the dreamers who made our most beloved fairy tales: inventors, thieves, rebels and forgotten geniuses who gave us classic tales such as 'Cinderella', 'Han ... Show More
52m 53s
Mar 2022
International, part 5: Hürrem Sultan: From Slavery To Queen (pt 1/2)
Hürrem Sultan, aka Haseki Sultan, aka Roxelana, was born around 1502 and was captured and sold into slavery as a young girl. She caught the attention of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and wound up shattering all kinds of glass ceilings for women, the enslaved, and concubines a ... Show More
1h 8m
May 2024
Dans la classe de, Jeanne d'Arc
<p>Jeanne d’Arc, la légendaire guerrière, la libératrice d’Orléans et l’un des plus fascinants symboles de l’Histoire de France. Née dans une modeste famille paysanne en pleine guerre de Cent-Ans, la très pieuse Jeanne entend des voix qui lui ordonnent de bouter les Anglais hors ... Show More
13m 26s
Sep 2024
Kavita Kane on Writing Hidden Voices of Mythological Women: Sita's Sister Urmila & Karna's Wife Urvi
In this episode of Cyrus Says, bestselling author Kavita Kané joins Cyrus to discuss her revolutionary approach to Indian mythology, where she highlights the lesser-known women who played pivotal roles. With eight bestselling novels, including Karna’s Wife (2013), Sita’s Sister ( ... Show More
56m 35s
Sep 16
The Real Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was a queen who defied expectations, a duchess who outmanoeuvred kings, and a mother whose dynasty shaped the future of Europe. She is often remembered through myth, gossip, and legend—but the truth is far more fascinating. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Pro ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2024
S07E02 - Literature⏐Sarah Bernhardt, the Jewels of The Princess Faraway
In 1895, Sarah Bernhardt, then known as ‘the empress of the theatre’, had just acquired a theatre in Paris, on the Place du Châtelet: the Théâtre de la Renaissance. And to launch it, she needed a play. Or rather: a success. Sarah Bernhardt commissioned a young up-and-coming playw ... Show More
11m 30s