Author Interview: Elizabeth Chadwick (The King’s Jewel)

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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Was Queen Charlotte Really Black?

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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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: Valerie Fridland (Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English)

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 

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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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Catherine de’Medici, Part Two

The second part of Catherine de’Medici’s story, or, how do you solve a problem like De Guises?

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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

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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

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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: Vanessa Wilkie (A Woman of Influence: The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England)

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

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Tits Out For Trans Rights fundraiser vulgarhistory.com/donate

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Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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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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Catherine de’Medici: Part One

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!

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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

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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

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Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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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: Max Wallace (After the Miracle: The Political Crusades of Helen Keller)

***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

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Support Vulgar History on Patreon

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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: Paterson Joseph (The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho)

Author (and actor) Paterson Joseph joins us to share the story of Charles Ignatius Sancho, a Black man from Georgian England whose story deserves to be much more widely known. Which is why Paterson wrote a book about him!

Paterson’s novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, is available everywhere you get books, including bookshop.org 

Including as an audiobook, read by the author!

You can follow Paterson on Twitter @ignatius_sancho and on Instagram @patersondjoseph

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Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOUT10 for 10% off your order

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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.

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