A young widow stands against the expectations of her family. A woman striving for love and agency in a society which demands she claimed neither, she stands firm in the face of torture and even death.

Unravel the gripping layers of John Webster’s 17th-century masterpiece The Duchess of Malfi, with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr. Will Tosh.

The harrowing plot of the Duchess asserting her place in the world is all the more remarkable for being written by a man in the 1600s. Suzannah and Will explore why this tale of love, power, and betrayal remains a fixture on the stage, resonating across the centuries, and discuss the dramatic history of its performances, the transformative power of early modern theatre lighting, and the poignant representation of female agency.

MORE:

Going to the Theatre

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7lbdfK2fbgxtXReriTyydM

Normal Women with Philippa Gregory

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0b5aXZh1HLVhJxyTyQuf2y

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

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What drives a nation to civil war? Why would a king turn on his own Parliament? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Jonathan Healey to explore the chaotic and combustible months - and the men behind the rebellion - that hurled 17th-century England into one of the bloodiest periods in its history.

MORE:

Trial of Charles I

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2O5aoB5BP4QXjikwNdXJCs

Succession 1625: James I to Charles I

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6x7zJL9UK3lqHTC1ExgWnI

Presented by Professor Susannah Lipscomb. audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb discusses the remarkable life of Akbar the Great, one of history's most impressive emperors. Together with historian Ira Mukhoty, Suzannah explores Akbar's journey from royal hostage to a ruler known for his vast, multi-ethnic empire.

From how Akbar used spies to keep a grip on his realm, to his revolutionary policies on religious inclusivity and harmony, to his daring conquests, including the epic siege of Chittor, Akbar the Great's reign was extraordinary and unprecedented.

MORE:

Majestic Mughals: From Akbar to Shah Jahan

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kJDF3rlVnXvILtMGdVx71

Adventures of a Mughal Princess

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0U38APS4SoDUu7TlG30J4K

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Did the women in Shakespeare’s life—his wife, sister, and daughters—shape his story more than we realise? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Matthew Steggle to hear how new digital tools and rediscovered manuscripts uncover surprising evidence about Shakespeare’s family. Together, they explore whether the stories of these women were hidden on purpose or simply forgotten over time.

MORE:

Hamnet with Maggie O'Farrell >

Shakespeare's Daughter, Judith >

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here >

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Roger E. Moore to explore the lesser-known historical context of the works of Jane Austen, born 250 years ago this year. They question how Austen's novels like 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Mansfield Park' reflect on the dissolution of the monasteries and 18th and 19th-century societal changes. Austen used settings like the ruins of monasteries to comment on the political and social upheavals of her era, adding a sophisticated layer to her tales of romance, family, and fortune.

MORE:

Dissolution of the Monasteries

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OsI7vLHogEtqWiQsGfHgC

The Reformation: What Catholics & Protestants Believed

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vZTFiKuIlSfzsQDLQd4Zr

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, including Suzannah's series on the Dissolution of the Monasteries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

**This episode includes descriptions of accidental deaths**

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb investigates the grim but fascinating world of accidental deaths in Tudor England. In the 16th century, everyday activities like fetching water, football and even May Pole dancing could prove fatal. Then there were the unexpected perils of agriculture and industry including lethal haystacks and falling hammers. Suzannah is joined by Professor Steven Gunn and Dr. Tomasz Gromelski to discuss their grisly, groundbreaking research.

More:

How People Died in 16th Century London

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nTXTSMsOSdRduiWKy2hMo

3 Ways to Die in Early Modern Europe

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6RPZhgQ2kVXcTcielpeu5v

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Discover the captivating life of Isabella d'Este with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and acclaimed novelist and historian Sarah Dunant. They discuss Isabella's incredible journey from a well-educated noblewoman to the First Lady of the Renaissance, how she mastered political strategy, diplomatic finesse, and art patronage while navigating the treacherous Italian wars.

Suzannah and Sarah uncover intimate details of Isabella's unconventional marriage and her groundbreaking influence in the art world as she pursued Michelangelo for the perfect portrait with a unique blend of charm and ruthlessness, which made her one of history's most compelling women.

More:

Katherine of Aragon: England's First Renaissance Queen

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cDqkgk8aoDAUn6KxwlX7U

Michelangelo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ocKCFinOdaCZYfBtHoMXn

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

In June 1912, two workmen made a discovery in the London mud that would stun the antiquarian world: a hoard of gold, pearls, rubies, emeralds, and jewels from around the world. Handed over to antiques dealer George Fabian Lawrence, or ‘Stony Jack’, the Cheapside Hoard became known as the greatest cache of Elizabethan and Jacobean jewellery ever found.

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Victoria Shepherd, author of Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside: Treasure and Ghosts in the London Clay, to tell this extraordinary true story of empire, ambition, and buried treasure—a glittering mystery that still captivates historians and treasure hunters today.

More:

A Tudor Mystery: The Girl who Could be Queen

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ah4FWEOjfcDKCK9QVFmVE

Tudor Queens: The Power of Jewellery

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3WCKhj0ORpANADDzIdot6k

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on