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PODCAST

Willy Willy Harry Stee...

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.

history

All Episodes

33:04

Saint Scholastica’s Day Riots

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/04/24

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

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16:35

The Shameless Plug!

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/04/17

Happy Easter!Right, that's enough of that, it's time to think about Christmas. It's a tricky time of year, knowing what to buy for friends and family. BUT, Good News, Charlie Higson has solved all your problems by writing Willy Willy Harry Stee - An Epically Short History Of Our Kings & QueensYes, it's the book of the podcast and even better, you can pre-order your copy by clicking the link below!In this special Easter episode, Charlie explains how a lockdown brain exercise became a hit podcast

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1:01:05

The Legacy Of Edward III

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/04/10

We're still in the 14th century and in this episode, Charlie Higson is looking at the confusion that ensued after Edward III basically had too many sons. His success in the bedroom created a tangled web of family intrigue, thwarted ambition and bitter rivalry that led to Richard II's cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, kicking him off the throne and taking over.Assisting Charlie through this quagmire of power and revenge is Helen Castor, author of The Eagle & The Hart : The Tragedy Of Richard II and

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1:02:01

John Wycliffe

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/04/03

As Charlie Higson guides us through some of the fascinating folk who litter English history, he lands upon John Wycliffe, an academic, a philosopher, a priest, a preacher and a religious reformer who lived during the reigns of Edward III and Richard II.A passionate reformer, he was behind the first translation of the bible to into English – creating the so called Wycliffe bible - one that didn't require a knowledge of Latin to read and understand. In fact, you could even argue that Wycliffe’s ideas

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1:16:55

Geoffrey Chaucer

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/03/28

As he continues his romp through English history, in this episode Charlie Higson looks at the life and work of Geoffrey Chaucer.A key figure in English social history and the history of English writing, Chaucer's greatest work is The Canterbury Tales, considered to be one of the pillars of English literature.Charlie and his guest help us understand.......in some cases literally....Chaucer's work and life, and that guest is Marion Turner - J.R.R. Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language

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1:08:49

Early English Music

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/03/21

In this episode, Charlie Higson looks at the development of English music - what we know about its early history and the way the sound and styles developed from the kind of monastic chanting in unison you get in Monty Python through the introduction of polyphony and harmony, to the wonders of Thomas Tallis, the first great English composerAssisting Charlie on his musical odyssey is Robert Hollingworth, conductor, composer, broadcaster and leader of musical group I Fagiolini who uses music to

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50:53

Isabella Of France

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/03/14

In this episode, Charlie Higson delves into the life of a 12 year old girl bride, who went on to rule England. Isabella of France led an invasion that ultimately resulted in the deposition of her King and husband,Edward II, in January 1327.Isabella is a fascinating character and assisting Charlie to understand her motivation and drive, we welcome the bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

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45:48

Piers Gaveston & Hugh Despencer

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/03/07

In this episode, Charlie Higson uncovers a bromance. In fact he uncovers TWO bromances, both involving King Edward II. If the names Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despencer don't mean anything to you now, listen on, for it is a tale of male bonding that ultimately ends in the death of two of the Kings best friends, people to whom he'd given way too much power. And what a death for one of them! Helping Charlie pick through the hanging, drawing and quartering is Helen Carr author of The Red Prince; The life

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57:12

A Short History of Scotland

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/02/28

In this episode,Charlie Higsonheads north of the border.Joined by eminent Scottish historianAlistair Moffat, Charlie discovers the truth behindMacbethand tracks a path from him, (don't believe anything Shakespeare told you!), through to the decisive victory forRobert The BruceatThe Battle Of Bannockburn.As well as the excellent stories he tells on this podcast, Alistair Moffat's bookBannockburn: The Battle for a Nationis required reading for anyone interested in this gripping tale. Hosted on Acast

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1:17:20

Simon De Montfort

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/02/21

In this episode, Charlie Higson gets properly acquainted with the great knight and statesman, Simon De Montfort, who started out originally as one of Henry III's chief supporters but became increasingly enraged by how badly he thought Henry was running the country.Inevitably this led to wars and power struggles as de Montfort ended up leading the opposition to Henry as head of the baronial forces, trying to depose him, or at least curb his powers.It's a fascinating story and to help Charlie through

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53:26

The Birth of the Birth of the British Empire

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/02/14

So when did The British Empire begin? Well, the idea of it was probably much earlier than you think and in this episode Charlie Higson is going to be asking questions about a time in English history when English monarchs seriously started looking at colonising other nations.And to assist Charlie in his quest, he's invited James Hawes back on the show. James is the author of The Shortest History of England and as well as looking at Empire, he also explains how England has been - and in many ways

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42:10

Eustace The Monk

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/02/07

In this third series of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson is looking at the interesting characters who pop up alongside the monarchs and there are few more interesting than Eustace The Black Monk. Don't be fooled by the 'Monk' part of his moniker. Eustace was a Pirate, a Mercenary and other very un-Monk-like things. To help Charlie tell his fascinating tale, he's joined by Dr Sean McGlynn, author of Blood Cries Afar: The Forgotten Invasion of England and Kill Them All: Cathars and Carnage in

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56:11

King Louis

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/01/31

In this episode, Charlie Higson uncovers the rather amazing story of King Louis Of England."Who's that", you say? Well, just over 800 years ago Louis, son and heir of the king of France, rode through the streets of London and was acclaimed king of England by cheering crowds.And yet you've probably not heard of him. Well, lucky for us, Cath Hanley is something of an expert on Louis having written the excellent book Louis: The French Prince who invaded England and she returns from her guest appearance

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1:07:05

Empress Matilda

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/01/24

Imagine the scene. You're the king but through tragic circumstances you have no legitimate male heirs. To maintain the lineage, you agree with those in power that your daughter would become Queen on your death. They all agree. Jobs a good 'un.That is until you die and your daughter's pesky cousin, a bloke, nips in and steals the crown.Farfetched? Not at all and in this episode, Charlie Higson uncovers the life of the woman who had the throne pinched from under her, Empress Matilda. To assist

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1:18:34

William Marshall

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/01/17

In this episode, Charlie Higson turns his attention to an incredible figure, dubbed The Greatest Knight In Christendom and it's easy to see why. Not only did he lives into his 70's, amazing considering he was born in 1146! Not only that, but he served 5 kings at a time when life expectancy in a royal court was, well, limited!Joining Charlie is Sophie Therese Ambler, author of a biography of Simon De Montfort, the man who led a rebellion against King Henry and who crossed paths with William Marshall

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1:08:23

LIVE EVENT - How To Depose A Medieval Ruler

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/01/10

In this special Medieval guest-fest, Charlie Higson welcomes not one but THREE fabulous historians to the show, recorded live in front of an audience at the British Library, as part of Medieval Fest! which took place in December 2024. The discussion was 'How To Depose A Medieval Ruler', and Charlie was joined by a star-studded team of experts –Nathen Amin(Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor),Helen Castor(The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV) andLubaaba

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36:14

Medieval Women: In Their Own Words

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2025/01/03

In this special episode, Charlie Higson gets the inside story of an extraordinary exhibition that runs at The British Library until March 2nd 2025, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words The exhibition includes some rare and wonderful documents, manuscripts and even music, so to explain its creation, Charlie chats with Ellie Jackson, one of the curators of this remarkable collection. To book your tickets to see the exhibition, click here.....

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50:58

Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Women

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2024/12/27

What was life really like for women in the medieval period? How did they think about sex, death and God? Could they live independent lives? And how can we hear their stories?Lucky for us, Hetta Howes has asked all these questions and come up with some pretty compelling answers, all neatly told in her new book Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife. In this special episode, Charlie Higson chats with Hetta about the lives of four incredible women from this period, Marie de France, a poet; Julian of Norwich, a

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48:49

Thomas Becket

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2024/12/20

Thomas Becket. Lord High Chancellor, Archbishop Of Canterbury and close friend of Henry II. What could possibly go wrong??Well, enough to get him chopped up by four of Henry's knights, that's what! The question Charlie Higson wants to know the answer to though is 'how'? What precipitated his spectacular fall from grace? Why was he killed? And who stuck the 'A' in the middle of his name? Luckily, Nicholas Vincent from the University Of East Anglia is on hand to provide answers. Hosted on Acast. See

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55:03

The Crusades

Willy Willy Harry Stee... ·

2024/12/13

In this second episode of Willy Willy Harry Stee - Series 3, Charlie Higson takes a deep dive into the religious wars of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Helping Charlie to navigate this complex period is Professor Jonathan Phillips, Professor Of Crusading History at the Royal Holloway University Of London and author of many books on this subject including The Crusades: 1095 - 1204. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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167 results

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