This week marks both the birthday and death day of one of (the?) greatest writer of all time, William Shakespeare! For the Storical Shakespeare Special, we’re doing a primer on his life with some interesting, little known facts about the Bard. All the world’s a stage and he was merely a player…but a player who left a lasting impact on Western culture.

New episodes on Mondays. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @storicalpodcast

Join Potions and Paperbacks for virtual book club and articles on history, literature and perfume: https://www.facebook.com/groups/247203939797050/

Further Reading

Folger Shakespeare Library - https://www.folger.edu/

List of books featuring Shakespeare as a character (I’m interested in The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare and License to Quill) - https://lvccld.bibliocommons.com/list/share/369306237/982975478?page=1

My 5 favorite Shakespeare plays in order:

Hamlet

Romeo and Juliet

The Tempest

A Midsummer’s Night Dream

The Merchant of Venice

After you visited the museum, if you were brave enough and could afford the extra six pence admission, Madame Tussaud would allow you entry to her infamous Chamber of Horrors. An early version of The Chamber was created in the late 1700s and was the most popular exhibit until its demise in 2016. Today we’re looking at the gory appeal of Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors.

New episodes on Mondays. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @storicalpodcast

Join Potions and Paperbacks for virtual book club and articles on history, literature and perfume: https://www.facebook.com/groups/247203939797050/

You’ve seen the creepy wax figures of celebrities, but did you know that Madame Tussaud was an actual person who hung out with Marie Antoinette? Today we’re looking at the artist who survived The Terror to rule an entertainment empire that is still going strong 200 years later.

New episodes every Monday. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher.

Non-fiction

Madame Tussaud: A Life in Wax by Kate Berridge - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1484920.Madame_Tussaud

Memoirs of Madame Tussaud - https://archive.org/details/11499676.2170.emory.edu/page/n13/mode/2up

The Tussaud Test of Popularity by Stuff You Missed in History Class - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/stuff-you-missed-in-history-cl-21124503/episode/the-tussaud-test-of-popularity-30208164/

The Story of Madame Tussaud by History Extra Podcast - https://www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/story-life-madame-marie-tussaud-edward-carey-little-novel-podcast/

Fiction

Little by Edward Carey - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38649806-little

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8689913-madame-tussaud

Further Reading

Dr. Phillipe Curtious - https://www.geriwalton.com/madame-tussauds-mentor-philippe-mathe-curtius/

How the Real Madame Tussaud Built a Business Out of Beheadings - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tussauds

Madame Tussaud: The Astounding Tale of Survival Behind the Woman Who Made History - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/04/madame-tussaud-edward-carey-little

Marie Antoinette Series on Storical Podcast - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/storical/tag/marie+antoinette

Historical Pandemics Blog Post - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/sweet-tea-apothecary/2020/3/31/historical-outbreaks-and-pandemics-and-how-humans-overcame-them

Quarantine and Chill Blog Post - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/sweet-tea-apothecary/2020/4/2/quarantine-and-chill-some-books-museums-tv-shows-and-project-ideas-to-get-you-through-isolation

Final episode in our series for Irish History Month is a rebroadcast of last year’s episode on Charlotte Brontë! (Her grandparents were Irish, it counts.) Charlotte wasn’t just some spinster writer. Her life was full of adventure and tragedy. Listen to learn more about the creator of Jane Eyre!

New episodes every Monday. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher.

Non-fiction

Charlotte Brontë a Fiery Heart by Claire Harman - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25739007-charlotte-bront

Stuff You Missed in History Class Podcast Episodes

Growing Up Brontë - https://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/growing-up-bronte.htm

From Brontë to Bell and Back Again - https://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/from-bronte-to-bell-and-back-again.htm

BBC World Service: World Book Club, Charlotte Brontë - Jane Eyre - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03sqwl4

New York Times Charlotte Brontë Obituary - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/obituaries/overlooked-charlotte-bronte.html

Movies

Jane Eyre starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/

Jane Eyre starring Charlotte Gainsbourg - https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jane-eyre-1996

Bonus! Not mentioned in episode:

BBC To Walk Invisible - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04cf4wv

Fiction

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27003.The_Eyre_Affair

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25868918-jane-steele

Romancing Miss Brontë by Juliet Gael - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6906240-romancing-miss-bront

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë by Syrie James - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2342881.The_Secret_Diaries_of_Charlotte_Bront

Extras

Jane Eyre Perfume - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/imported-products/jane-eyre-a-charlotte-bront-inspired-perfume

Mr. Rochester Cologne - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/imported-products/mr-rochester-a-cologne-inspired-by-jane-eyre

Quarantine Content Survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9QZY8JD

Dr. James Miranda Barry was a Victorian doctor with a big secret: he was born Margaret Anne Bulkley. We’re rounding out Irish History Month with the highly accomplished doctor (wish we had him now for the pandemic!) with a fluid gender. Tune in for more on his life and the scandal that ensued upon his death.

New episodes on Mondays. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @storicalpodcast

Further Reading

The Doctor by Patricia Dunker - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/793640.The_Doctor

Whistling Psyche by Sebastian Barry - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/137482.Whistling_Psyche_Fred_and_Jane

Dr. James Barry on Sawbones Podcast - https://maximumfun.org/episodes/sawbones/sawbones-dr-james-barry/