Welcome to another episode of Past Loves - the history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by author and artist, Lauren Redniss, to discuss the love story between Marie and Pierre Curie. From Marie's early commitment to pursing education to the infamous story around the couple's Nobel Prize win, we delve into the personal and professional lives of Marie and Pierre. Theirs was a great love story and intellectual partnership whi...

Welcome to another episode of Past Loves - the history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by author and Associate Professor in English Literature and Life Writing at the University of Exeter, Daisy Hay, to discuss the love story between Benjamin and Mary Anne Disraeli. Daisy's research into the lives and love of Benjamin and Mary Anne is rooted in extensive archival work in the Reading Room at the Bodleian Library where Mary Anne's...

Welcome to another episode of Past Loves - the history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by University of York doctoral student Isobel Staton to discuss the love story between Selina and Lawrence Kay-Shuttleworth. Love letters provide us with the perfect way into the relationships of couples in the past. But it takes endless hours of archival research to piece together these stories. In this episode, we're given incredible access ...

Welcome to another episode of Past Loves - the history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by best-selling biographer, historian and broadcaster, Sarah Gristwood as we delve into the unique relationship between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. The relationship between Vita and Virginia is as complex and heart-breaking, as it was intensely passionate. They met one evening at a dinner party, both equally fascinated by ea...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by Senior House and Collection Officer of Smallhythe Place, Susannah Mayor, to discuss the fascinating relationship between Edith Craig, Christopher St. John and Tony Atwood. Together Edy, Chris and Tony created a space to live freely, passionately and creatively. Now an oasis which celebrates the history of theatre, and part...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by author Matthew Lewis to discuss the fascinating and sprawling relationship between Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor of Aquitaine had already lived an extraordinary medieval life before she ever met Henry II when she was thrust into the role of French Queen at an early age. But when her marriage was annulled, and her ...

Welcome back to a festive special of Past Loves - the history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. In this episode, in the most magical setting of Floors Castle situated in the Scottish Borders, I explore the love story between Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe, and his beloved Duchess, Mary "May" Goelet, with Operations Manager (and wonderful storyteller) Matthew Thompson. Floors Castle has been the home of the Innes-Ker family for 300 years an...

Welcome to the one year anniversary special of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. For this very special episode, celebrating the past year, I am joined by the wonderful medieval historian Gemma Hollman to discuss a relationship with repercussions through the ages. Join us as we delve into the Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV love story. In the midst of a warring kingdom, the young new King Edward IV secretly marries Eliz...

Welcome back to the Christmas special of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. With Covid and the closure of so many theatres this year, it only seemed apt to take the Past Loves Christmas special to the stage. So for this very special episode, I am joined by Irina Klyagin - a Russian ballet scholar who looks after Harvard University’s extensive theatre collection at the Houghton Library - to discuss the love story between Ru...

Welcome back to the season finale of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by an absolutely incredible guest the 11th Duchess of Rutland to discuss the relationship between the 5th Duke and Duchess, John Henry and Elizabeth. Together they created the most magical fairy-tale castle - Belvoir Castle. When Elizabeth arrived at Belvoir as a young bride, she was not inspired by the building currently looking...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by author, editor and proofreader, specialising in Russia and the history of women, Virginia Rounding to discuss the relationship between the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia, Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. As the biggest fan of Russian history theirs is a story close to my heart, filled with heart-breaking moments of utte...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by author Angela Steidele who has written several books about LGBTQ+ lives in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, including a biography of Anne Lister. We will, therefore, be delving into the relationship between Anne Lister and Ann Walker. Anne Lister is often described as the 'first modern lesbian' and the diaries that she ...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time - and this time it's the first ever Tudor love story! That's right, this week I am joined by Melita Thomas, author and co-founder/editor of Tudor Times, to discuss the love story between Lady Katherine Grey and Edward Seymour. After the death of her sister Lady Jane Grey, Katherine became the next Grey in line to the throne. So when her secret marriage t...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week, we are discovering the love story behind one of my absolute favourite places - The Bowes Museum. The Bowes Museum is a hidden treasure in the heart of Teesdale, based in the historic town of Bernard Castle. A truly magnificent museum, it may outwardly appear to be a stately home but, in fact, the museum was specifically built by John an...

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week we are exploring a period of history that is so very often spoken about but, in a completely unique way with an unlikely romance between Elinor Powell and Frederick Albert. I am joined by author and freelance journalist, Alexis Clark as we travel into the depths of the Arizona desert to discover the love story between this African American nur...

Welcome back to Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by Julia Abel Smith who has enjoyed a long career with The Landmark Trust and more recently with Art UK. She has also written for Country Life and House & Garden magazines. Whilst researching the history of one of the Trust’s follies, she discovered Lady Augusta and was captivated. Lady Augusta had secretly married Prince Augustus, the son of Geor...

Welcome to the second season of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by acclaimed historian of India and a professor of South Asian History at Emory University, Ruby Lal, to discuss the relationship between Nur Jahan and Jahangir - the early 17th century co-sovereigns of the Mughal empire. At a time when other wives were secluded behind walls, Nur Jahan boldly redefined the role of the royal wife. She ...

September means new seasons all round because Past Loves Season Two is just around the corner! Join me, your true romantic host Holly, and a range of guests from the world of heritage and academia as we continue our exploration into the history of affection, infatuation and attachment. This season is set to be even more expansive as we will span four centuries and four continents. So, if you are devoted to history like me or want to be swept away in the romance of it all, this is the podcas...

Welcome for the last time this season to the next episode of Past Loves - the new weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by award-winning journalist and author Sharon Wright to discuss the relationship between Maria Branwell and Patrick Brontë - the love story at the heart of this legendary literary family. With their undeniable legacy, Maria and Patrick's relationship has been somewhat obscured by history. So Sha...

Welcome once again to the next episode of Past Loves - the new weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. This week I am joined by Kelly Cricchio of The Art Herstorian to delve into the relationship between American writer Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas and their undeniable legacy. Together, they laid the foundation for 20th-century art and literature - cultivating and patronising the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Hemingway. In the heart of P...