As Charlie Higson continues his canter through history, he lands on Margaret Of Anjou, the powerful French woman who fought so hard for her husband, Henry VI when his rule was challenged in the Wars of the roses, and was called by Shakespeare "The She Wolf of France", in Henry VI part III. As ever though, historical research tells a different story of a woman who was a better leader than many of her male contemporaries, as explained in this episode by Amy Licence, author of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou: A Marriage of Unequals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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54:16
William Caxton
Whan that aprill with his shoures sooteThe droghte of march hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;These lines, although difficult to understand, are from a key work in English literature. They have endured today, in part, thanks to a man called William Caxton, who chose a book called 'The Canterbury Tales' as the first book to be printed in England. In this episode, Charlie Higson looks at the life and work of William Caxton - the founder of printing in England with his introduction of the printing press, the incredible invention that changed history in so many ways.By homogenising regional dialects he changed the English language forever. His story affects us all.To help Charlie cross the T's and dot the I's on Caxton's life, he is joined by Dr Kat Marchant, Postdoctoral researcher in early modern literature and culture and content creator for the Reading the Past YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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54:28
Mayflower Monarchists
In this brand new episode of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson takes in the historical view from across the pond. What do Americans think of English history and how much do they know about it?Are they really obsessed with the Royal Family? And Henry VIII? is the UK's thirst for history echoed over the Atlantic?To help Charlie get some insight into the American historical mindset, he's joined by Lacey Bonar Hull, Doctor of Medieval & Tudor History, based in Ohio but educating people right across the USA, and engaging with people around the world through social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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46:31
John of Lancaster
Henry V wasn't on the throne that long, BUT his big military gains in the Hundred Years War against France helped England position itself as one of the strongest military powers in Europe.So why would we be interested in his little brother, John?Well, quite simply, Henry V couldn't have achieved all he did without him! Supremely loyal, a great administrator and soldier, Henry relied heavily on his bro, John of Lancaster, Duke Of Bedford.To help Charlie Higson understand more about this man of many talents, he is joined by Joanna Arman, author of Henry V's Brother - John of Lancaster, Regent of France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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50:03
Saint Scholastica’s Day Riots
When you think of Oxford University, what springs to mind. A serious yet peaceful seat of learning, full of people in robes with nothing more on their minds than the study of Latin or Theology.Certainly not a place of murder, of people being thrown into wells or drowned in privies!??!?Well, that’s just what Charlie Higson thought of it too, until that is, he studied the life of John Wycliffe in a previous episode, because that’s when he discovered the Saint Scholastica’s Day Riots.On the 10th February 1355 there was indeed a mass riot in Oxford which led to three days of rioting in which 63 students and about 30 townspeople were killed!Charlie welcomes Professor Rory Cox back to talk about this amazing incident which put Oxford on the murder map over 600 years before Inspector Morse came along. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Charlie Higson's History of the Monarchy. In each new weekly episode, Charlie and his friendly experts....(ie REAL historians)...learn all about one of our Kings or Queens and ask searching questions like:Were they any good?What did they actually do?Why did so many die from an exploding stomach?It's the story of families at war....literally! New episodes every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland