Author Interview: Shelley Puhak (The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World)

February 23, 2022

I was so excited to talk all things Fredegund vs Brunhilde with Shelley Puhak, author of The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged The Medieval World. Learn more about Shelley, her books, and upcoming events at shelleypuhak.com

And if you, too want to own a “That’s So Fredegund” tote bag, you can peruse that and other Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.store

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Vulgar History presents: Vulgarpiece Theatre: Shakespeare In Love (1998)

January 26, 2022

Enjoy this preview of a new spinoff podcast, Vulgarpiece Theatre!

Every month or so, Ann Foster, Allison Epstein, and Lana Wood Johnson will rant our way through scandilicious costume dramas. First up: 1998’s Shakespeare In Love aka Pantaloons All Akimbo aka the Daisy Dukes of Pantaloons.

You can listen to new episodes of Vulgarpiece Theatre by joining the Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter at the Glorianas level ($5 per month).

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The Scandalous Saga of Sweden’s Pirate Princess Cecilia Gustavsdotter Vasa

December 15, 2021

Sweden’s Princess Cecilia was: a teenage party girl, short-lived BFF to Elizabeth I, leader of a pirate fleet, successful diplomat, a petty queen who lived for drama, and our newest tits out icon!!

References:

Allison Epstein’s Dirtbags Through The Ages newsletter

Recommended books on Bookshop.org

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History Merch – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

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Author Interview: Lucy Jago (A Net for Small Fishes)

November 17, 2021

Author Lucy Jago joins us to discuss her new book, A Net For Small Fishes. This historical fiction novel explores the real-life story of Frances Howard and her companion Anne Turner, both of whom were found guilty of involvement in the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. But real talk, if you’ve ever listened to this podcast you know who Frances Howard is. This is a book about her, our queen and icon!!

You can order A Net for Small Fishes wherever you like to buy books, including at Bookshop.org (for the book or eBook) and Libro.fm (for the audiobook). Learn more about Lucy Jago at http://lucyjago.com

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.

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La Voisin, The French Abortionist Tried As A Witch

October 28, 2021

Catherine Monvoisin, aka La Voisin was a thriving entrepreneur/sorceress in 17th century France. She provided cosmetics, potions, charms, demonic rituals, and midwifery services to people of all classes. But one of her clients was the King’s mistress and they both got caught up in a witch hunt scenario called The Affair Of The Poisons.

References:

The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide & Satanism at the court of Louis XIV by Anne Somerset

Strange Revelations: Magic, poison and sacrilege in Louis XIV’s France by Lynn Wood Mollenauer

https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/la-voisin-frances-murderous-fortune-teller

https://historyofyesterday.com/the-affair-of-the-poisons-cf31804b3e0

Recommended books on Bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Vulgar History Merch – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order at vulgarhistory.store

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.

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Mary Shelley: The Goth Teen Who Wrote Frankenstein

October 20, 2021

Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was the calm in the eye of the storm that was literally everyone in her life: her parents, her stepmother, her stepsister, her husband, her husband’s BFF, literally EVERYONE was the most chaotic and she somehow stands out for just keeping it together all these years. She was the ultimate Goth Queen Mom Friend, casually invented a whole new genre of fiction/revolutionized English language literature while on the world’s worst couples getaway and while dealing with perpetual pregnancy and grief. To say we stan is an understatement.

References:

In Search of Mary Shelley by Fiona Sampson

Recommended books on Bookshop.org

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History Merch – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

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.

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Elizabeth Woodville, The English Queen Who Was Also (Maybe) A Witch

October 13, 2021

Elizabeth Woodville was the first commoner AND the first English woman to marry an English King (in the most super secret sexy wedding ever??), but more importantly for Halloween reasons, was maybe descended from a mythical Luxembourgese mermaid-witch-goddess.

References:

Royal Witches: Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth-Century England by Gemma Hollman

Recommended books on Bookshop.org

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History Merch – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

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.

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Your Favorite Royal’s Favorite Royal: Fredegund, Part Three

September 29, 2021

All good things must come to an end, and so it is with this three-part exploration of the legend that was FREDEGUND! Her story concludes with yet more innovative military victories, unrelenting badassery, and some info about how she lived during an Ice Age (???). Then comes the moment we’re all waiting for: how will this one of a kind Queen score on the scandilicious scale?

References:

The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged The Medieval World by Shelley Puhak

Recommended books on Bookshop.org

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History Merch – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

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.

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Your Favorite Royal’s Favorite Royal: Fredegund, Part Two

September 22, 2021

In part two of this Super Special, we delve into Fredegund’s Warrior Queen Era as well as learning more about her Wile E. Coyote-like relationship to Brunhilda. Also: absinthe! And: Breton stripes!

References:

The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged The Medieval World by Shelley Puhak

Recommended books on Bookshop.org

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History Merch – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

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.

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Your Favorite Royal’s Favorite Royal: Fredegund, Part One

September 15, 2021

Fredegund, Queen of Neustria was a 6th century enslaved girl turned Queen turned regent turned maybe my fav historical person. This is part one of a two part super special episode, because there’s too much info to put into one hour. In this part, we learn about who tf were the Merovingian Frankish dynasty, why was Fredegund’s sister-in-law Brunhilda so intent on murdering her, and more!! Check back next week when we get into the real meat of this story of QUEEN VS QUEEN as Fredegund arranges more assassinations, becomes a military genius, and a lot more people die of dysentery.

References:

The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged The Medieval World by Shelley Puhak

Recommended books on Bookshop.org

Support Vulgar History on Patreon

Vulgar History Merch

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.

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