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PODCAST

If It Ain"t Baroque...

Reign of London Tours

An Independent History Podcast, in which we look at life through the prism of History. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

history

All Episodes

1:01:49

The Graces: The Extraordinary Untold Lives of Women...

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/11/12

What do we know about the woman’s lot at the court of Charles II? Breeze Barrington’s new book The Graces (published by Bloomsbury) explores the lives of several women of the Stuart court.These ladies include Maria d’Este, a.k.a. Mary of Modena, consort to James VII & II, as well as those of her Maids of Honour: Anne Finch, a revered poet, Hortense Mancini, a favourite of Charles II, Sarah Jennings, future Duchess of Marlborough and of course, the future Queen Anne of Great Britain.Let’s welcome

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51:30

Visit Blighty: Hampton Court Palace with Gareth Russell

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/11/10

Today we’re talking to Gareth Russell, a historian and author, whose book on the history of Hampton Court Palace we’ll be discussing today.It was published with William Collins in the UK and Atria Books in the USA.Welcome back, Gareth!Get Palace:https://www.williamcollinsbooks.co.uk/products/the-palace-from-the-tudors-to-the-windsors-500-years-of-history-at-hampton-court-gareth-russell-9780008437015/ (UK)https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Palace/Gareth-Russell/9781982169077

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45:54

The Kingdom of Mercia with Annie Whitehead

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/11/07

Today’s guest is Annie Whitehead, and we’re talking all things Mercia, the lost Kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England.Welcome Back, Annie!Annie Whitehead wrote a book the topic: Mercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom, published by Amberley.Find Annie:https://anniewhiteheadauthor.co.uk/Murder in Anglo-Saxon England:https://www.amberley-books.com/murder-in-anglosaxon-england.htmlMercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom:https://www.amberley-books.com/mercia-9781398103337.htmlWomen of Power in Anglo-Saxon

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54:18

Reinventing... James VI & I with Steven Veerapen

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/11/05

On the 5th November 1605 many men were set up to lose their lives in a Catholic coup at the Palace of Westminster. One of those was the King of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The first British King.Let’s talk about King James and get to know him better.Coming back to the podcast we have Steven Veerapen, who has penned James’ bio for Birlinn books, titled The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI & I.Welcome back, Steven!The Wisest Fool - The Lavish Life of James VI and

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33:34

The History of California with Michael Hiltzik

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/11/01

Today we’re talking to the Pulitzer winning author Michael Hiltzik, and we discuss his new book - The Golden State, all about the history of the great state of California.Published by Mariner Books in USA and Amberley in UK.Welcome, Michael!Get Golden State:https://www.waterstones.com/book/golden-state/michael-hiltzik/9781398109025 (UK)https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/h/michael-hiltzik/golden-state.html

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40:56

Shakespeare in Love (1998) with Darren Freebury-Jones

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/27

The Oscar season is around the corner, and William Shakespeare is once again frequenting the red carpet, so why not look back and talk about a film that won 7 (!) Academy Awards, and is literally one of the best films of all time when it comes to the bard. I’m talking of course, about Shakespeare in Love (1998).Joining me today is Darren Freebury-Jones, another fan of this oeuvre.Darren has written many books about Shakespeare and his contemporaries. You may remember him from our Borrowed Feathers

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1:03:06

Margaret More, Mrs Roper, Tudor Scholar with Aimee...

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/23

Today we’re talking to Aimee Fleming, the author of the solo biography of Margaret More, the eldest daughter of Thomas More. Published by Pen & Sword.Margaret was one of the most educated women of the Tudor era and definitely deserves her story told. Let’s find out more about her.Get Margaret More Roper:https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Female-Tudor-Scholar-and-Writer-Hardback/p/50767/aid/1238Get Tudor Princes and

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42:46

Visit Blighty: Queen's House in Greenwich

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/20

Today we're talking to Vittoria, the curator at the Queen's House in Greenwich.Let's find out why this Stuart masterpiece is so special.Find Royal Museums Greenwich:https://www.rmg.co.uk/Find Pirates Exhibition:https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/piratesVisit Greenwich (...best place to be):https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/whats-on/pirates-exhibition-p2274551Find

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55:51

Exile: The Captive Years of Mary, Queen of Scots ...

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/14

Today we’re talking to Rosemary Goring, and her latest book, which covers the exile years of one Mary, Queen of Scots. Let’s look at these years in more detail, and find out why those years hold the key to many of Mary’s mysteries.Published with Birlinn Books.Exile:https://birlinn.co.uk/product/exile/https://www.waterstones.com/book/exile/rosemary-goring/9781780278384Get Rosemary's Book

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42:46

Reinventing… The (Two) Hundred Years' War with...

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/09

Today we have a very special guest, Michael Livingston and we’re going to talk about his new book - and why we need to change the label of the Hundred Years’ War.Published with Head of Zeus in UK and Basic Books in USA.Get Michael's

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34:37

The Years of the Wizard with Rachel Morris

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/09

Today our guest is Rachel Morris, who has just published a book on the home life of Renaissance Magicians, including one John Dee.Let’s cast some spells. Welcome, Rachel!Get Rachel's

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28:07

The History of Art in One Sentence with Verity Babbs

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/10/02

Today we’re talking to Verity Babbs, who has just published a book, where she traces 500 years of art history, but in a very unique way.Welcome, Verity!Get Verity's Book:https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/history-of-art-in-one-sentence-9781526686893/https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/the-history-of-art-in-one-sentence/verity-babbs/9781526686893Find Verity:https://www.veritybabbs.com/https://www.instagram.com/veritybabbsart/Find

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50:09

Witches: A King’s Obsession with Steven Veerapen

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/09/25

Let’s talk about Witches and James VI/ I.What drove him to seek action against them?Were witches persecuted under his mother MQS or his godmother Elizabeth I?What were the consequences of James’ obsession?Today we’re talking to Steven Veerapen, who has just published a book on this topic.Get Witches: A King's Obsession:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witches-Kings-Obsession-Steven-Veerapen/dp/1780279523/https://birlinn.co.uk/product/witches/The Wisest Fool - The Lavish Life of James VI and

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25:58

Ravenglass: Baroque-n-Roll Adventures of a Gender...

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/09/24

The 18th Century: Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Great Masculine Renunciation, life at sea, the slave trade. The new novel Ravenglass by Carolyn Kirby has all of that and more.Let’s find out how this book about Baroque-n-Roll Adventures of a Gender Fluid Seafarer came to be.Welcome, Carolyn!Get Ravenglass:https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/ravenglass-paperbackFind Carolyn:https://www.carolynkirby.com/https://www.facebook.com/carolynkirbyauthor/https://www.instagram.com/novelcarolyn/Carolyn on

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15:39

Visit Blighty: Handel & Hendrix House

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/09/18

Today we’re talking to Olwen, a curator at Handel & Hendrix House here in London.It’s a museum where both George Frederic Handel once lived, the composer behind Zadok the Priest, used in coronations since the 18th century.Almost two centuries later, The same house was inhabited by the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Let’s find out more.Find Handel & Hendrix

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46:36

5000 Years of Female Monarchy with Dr Elizabeth Norton

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/09/16

Please welcome Dr Elizabeth Norton back on the show, and let's talk about the female monarchs of the ages.Did you know the last elected female head of state is still alive? Did you know there exists a Queendom? How have the folk felt about reigning queens throughout time? What is the cost of female power to her and to her Kingdom?Let's dig in...Please find Dr Elizabeth Norton's books:Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female

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1:02:55

Three Queens: Stage Meets History

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/09/15

In the run up to the US Premiere of the play Three Queens by Rosamund Gravelle we are chatting to the playwright as well as not one, but two Marian historians - Dr Johanna Strong and Dr Peter Stiffell.Three Queens is about to open at Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.The play is set on the eve of Jane Grey's execution, and the three royal ladies (one past ex Queen, one Queen Regnant, and one future Queen) find themselves at Greenwich Palace where familial connections run gamut (!) with

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16:44

Marianne: Where History Meets the Audience with Sofia...

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/09/13

Ever wanted to time travel? Ever wanted to meet someone from the French Revolution? Well now you can.Please welcome to the show Sofia Briccio, or rather, through her we meet the witness from the Reign of Terror, Marianne.See the Show:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revolution-stage-an-interactive-theatrical-experience-tickets-1514157890009Find Marianne:https://www.instagram.com/marianne_revolutionstage/Find

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22:26

Born with Teeth with Liz Duffy Adams

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/08/27

Please welcome to our 175th episode, which is also falls on our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY!The playwright Liz Duffy Adams is on the podcast and today we’re talking about her play - Born with Teeth, currently at Wyndham's Theatre in London, starring Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel where they play Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.What was the inspiration behind this fictional (?) encounter between two literary giants? Why is it relevant to tell this story now? Tune in and find out....See the

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1:13:57

More Myths of RMS Titanic with Dan E Parkes

If It Ain"t Baroque... ·

2025/08/27

Please welcome Dan E Parkes back to the podcast, the author ofTitanic Legacy: The Captain, the Daughter and the Spy with Amberley Publishing. He also has a Youtube channel called Captain Titanic where he searches for the truth about this great ship.This is the second part of our Titanic myth-busting, please turn your searchlights for the first part by scrolling up.There's a lot of mention of the 1997 film here, with an occasional compare and contrast of facts v fiction. For more fan-girling (on

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209 results

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