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The popular image of Regency England is one of glittering ballrooms, dashing gentlemen in tailcoats, and witty ladies in empire-line dresses. It’s a world of romance and elegance, immortalised by Jane Austen and countless period dramas. But for the vast majority of the population, this glittering façade was a world away from their reality. Theirs was a life of crushing hardship, systemic injustice, and a daily struggle for survival in the shadow of war and economic collapse. In a compelling new episode of the Explaining History podcast, we dive into this hidden world with Katharine Quarmby, author of the powerful…
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We often imagine history with a false sense of linearity—a steady march from a repressive past to an enlightened present. There’s a mistaken belief that before certain landmark dates, like the 1967 decriminalization of homosexuality for men, queer lives simply didn’t exist. Of course, the reality is far more complex. People have always had secret inner lives, passions, and relationships, often hidden in plain sight, existing in the quiet spaces between the lines of official history. On a recent episode of the “Explaining History” podcast, novelist Vicki Haywood joined the show to discuss her debut novel, a story that delves…