Helen and Marion talk about the man that shaped the English literary canon, Geoffrey Chaucer. They discuss his life and his legacy, and how the son of a vintner came to write such an influential text.

This will be the last episode for a while as Helen takes a well-earned break.

Producer: Peter Curry

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Helen takes a deep dive into some gory medical history with Dr Richard Sugg, professor of renaissance literature in Durham. They talk about all manner of wacky medical cures, such as blood consumption and powdered skull, and how these were used by royal surgeons and paupers alike to cure themselves of diseases or to manipulate their enemies.

Producer: Peter Curry

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Helen talks to Dr Nicola Tallis about Margaret Beauford, who was instrumental in establishing the reign of her son, Henry Tudor, and thus the Tudor dynasty.

Margaret had to balance her ambitions of power with her womanly status, which wasn't an asset when it came to the Tudor court, and yet she managed to wield significant autonomy. Nicola also dispels rumours about Margaret's piety that have persisted to this day.

Producer: Peter Curry

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Rutherford chats to Helen about racism. Should we call race a construct? Why does Africa have the greatest genetic diversity of any continent? Where do common misconceptions about racist tropes come from?

Producer: Peter Curry

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Witches were around a long time before they were tried for heresy and crop failures. Why did governments start to hunt and prosecute witches and why did people begin to fear them? Helen talks to Professor Suzannah Lipscomb to find out.

Producer: Peter Curry

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Emily Brand talks about the scandalous family of Lord Byron. They talk about Foulweather Jack, who couldn't find the right port in any storm, the Devil Byron, who squandered the family fortune and then outlived them all anyway, and finally Lord Byron himself, discussing his incestuous relationships and love for scandal.

Producer: Peter Curry

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Helen speaks to Helen McCarthy about the history of motherhood through the 19th and 20th centuries. They discuss feminism and the struggle for women's rights more generally, but Helen McCarthy is absolutely fascinating on the struggles that mothers in particular faced, and how they fit into the broader women's movement.

Producer: Peter Curry

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Hallie Rubenhold talks about the five women who Jack the Ripper murdered. Their stories, like those of many women in history, have been corrupted and mistold over time, and Hallie talks to Helen to set the record straight.

Producer: Peter Curry

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Rebecca Rideal talks to Helen about the Great Fire of London. How did it impact London? What was the aftermath? Was King Charles II really involved in fighting the fire?

Producer: Peter Curry

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.