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May 31
18m 29s

Nell Gwyn: England's mistress

History Extra
About this episode
Nell Gwyn became famous for her love affair with Charles II, and for her love of drinking, gambling and carousing. Yet, as this Long Read written by Sophie Shorland explores, this upwardly mobile celebrity was also a canny political operator who wielded substantial power in court. Today's feature originally appeared in the April 2026 issue of HistoryExtra M ... Show More
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May 24
The Asante gold: a tale of blood and plunder
It’s a tale of slavery, racism and naked imperial power. This Long Read written by Barnaby Phillips traces the fate of the exquisite golden treasures looted by British forces from the kingdom of Asante 150 years ago. Today's feature originally appeared in the April 2026 issue of ... Show More
20m 47s
May 17
How medieval mothers took back control
In the Middle Ages, the bearing and raising of children defined women’s lives. But, as this Long Read written by Elinor Cleghorn explains, there were women who had other ideas and boldly challenged attitudes towards motherhood. Today's feature originally appeared in the April 202 ... Show More
22m 25s
May 10
Rome's people power
From Romulus’s open-city policy to Claudius’s reforms, citizenship was used by Rome as both a reward and a weapon. As this Long Read written by Shushma Malik explains, it enabled the burgeoning empire to build power and define identity. Today's feature originally appeared in the ... Show More
22m 3s
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