Travels Through Time

In each episode we ask a leading historian, novelist or public figure the tantalising question, ”If you could travel back through time, which year would you visit?” Once they have made their choice, then they guide us through that year in three telling scenes. We have visited Pompeii in 79AD, Jerusalem in 1187, the Tower of London in 1483, Colonial America in 1776, 10 Downing Street in 1940 and the Moon in 1969. Featured in the Guardian, Times and Evening Standard. Presented weekly by Sunday Times bestselling writer Peter Moore.

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S7 · E26
August 4 · 53 min
Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley: The Disappearance of Agatha Christie (1926)
This week the critic, writer and guide Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley takes us back to 1926 to consider a mysterious event. This was the perplexing disappearance of the best-selling author Agatha Christie. Christie's disappearance happened at a moment of great tension both in her own life and in British history. That May the General Strike had upended society in a way that was both unprecedented and terrifying for the establishment. Christie, meanwhile, was simultaneously experiencing commercial success and private turmoil as her mother died and her marriage faltered. All these forces can be glimpsed in the strange disappearance of Christie shortly before Christmas that year. It is an event that has long puzzled historians and here Hopkinson-Woolley weighs the evidence. Enjoyed this? Find out more about Hopkinson-Woolley's tour of 'Literary Oxford: The Worlds of Tolkien & Lewis', departing next June. Show Notes Scene One: May 1926. The General Strike Scene Two: June 1926. Publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Scene Three: December 1926. Agatha Christie's disappearance. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E25
July 28 · 56 min
Andrea Wulf: George Forster on HMS Resolution (1772)
This week the award winning biographer Andrea Wulf takes us aboard Captain Cook's HMS Resolution to meet one of the most compelling of the ship's company: George Forster. When he embarked with Cook Forster was still a teenager. But fiercely clever, kind and sensitive, he would go on to distinguish himself as one of the most intriguing figures of the high Enlightenment. In this episode Wulf explains how 1772 was the year in which his life transformed. George Forster is the subject of Andrea Wulf's newly released biography. The Traveller: The Revolutionary Life of George Forster and His Search For Humanity. Show Notes Scene One: January 1772, 2 Somerset Stable Yard, Strand, London. George Forster in London, publication of his translation of Bougainville’s Voyage round the World. Scene Two: 11 July 1772, Plymouth harbour, George Forster’s first night on Resolution. Scene Three: 10 December 1772, Latitude: 51° 37’ S, Longitude: 25°28’E. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Andrea Wulf Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E24
July 21 · 59 min
Marie-Anne Mancio: Caravaggio and the Death of Ranuccio Tomassoni (1606)
In this episode we explore one of the most infamous episodes in the history of art. Writer and guide Marie-Anne Mancio takes us back to the year when the Italian painter Caravaggio killed the pimp Ranuccio Tomassoni in a sword fight or organised duel on a tennis court in Rome. Caravaggio was a sublime artist. He was celebrated in his lifetime for his masterful use of light, the powerful narrative force of his paintings and his tender depictions of the human form. But as a person he was erratic. After his spectacular rise to fame around the year 1600 he was frequently in trouble with the authorities in Rome, as well as with his landlady. Marie-Anne Mancio has written extensively about Caravaggio and she leads tours to locations associated with him and his art. In this episode she ponders what really happened in that fateful, mysterious year 1606. It was a year that started auspiciously but ended with him as a fugitive. Find out more about Marie-Anne's upcoming tour, 'Caravaggio in Italy', here. Show Notes Scene One: Rome, 28 May 1606. Caravaggio kills pimp Ranuccio Tomassoni in a sword fight/organised duel on a tennis court. Scene Two: Easter 1606. Caravaggio completes his painting, Madonna and St Anne. Scene Three: Caravaggio is a fugitive in the Alban hills. While there, he likely paints the 2nd version of The Supper at Emmaus. Memento: People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Marie-Anne Mancio Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E23
July 14 · 56 min
Ellen Jones: The Battle of Actium (31 BCE)
In the dramatic story of the fall of the Roman Republic, the Battle of Actium is a moment of the utmost significance. A naval action, fought off the western coast of Greece, today's guest, Ellen Jones, explains how Octavian defeated his rival Mark Antony in sensational style. The tangled story of these two political rivals was complicated by the additional presence of Cleopatra, Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. In 31 BCS she was the consort of Mark Antony and her dramatic retreat mid-battle remains one of the enigmatic moments in the history of the times. Ellen Jones is an Egyptologist, a classics teacher and a tour guide for ACE Cultural Tours. You can read more about her upcoming tour, 'Ancient Treasures of Cairo', here. Show Notes Scene One: 32 BCE when Octavian reads Marc Antony’s will in front of the Senate. Scene Two: 2nd September 31 BCE – the Battle of Actium. Scene Three: 12th August 30 BCE – the aftermath of Cleopatra’s (and Antony’s) suicides. Memento: Mark Antony's battle plans. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Ellen Jones Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E22
July 7 · 57 min
Ed Douglas: The Scottish Highlands and the Jacobite Rising (1746)
In this episode we venture into the Scottish mountains with the author Ed Douglas. After seeing the Battle of Falkirk Muir, we follow Bonnie Prince Charlie on his flight towards Skye after Culloden. We end our travels with a view of Lord Lovat – the most infamous of the Jacobite rebels – before his execution in London. Our guest, Ed Douglas, is an author and a climber who has spent much of his career writing about mountains. His last book, Himalaya: A Human History – was called ‘magnificent’ by the Telegraph – and was shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize. In this episode Ed tells us about his new book. Upland: The Strange History and Vital Future of Britain’s Mountains is out this week and it covers the deep and cultural history of Britain's mountains from Ice Ages to the Romantics and on into the future. Find out more about Upland here. Show Notes Scene One: 17 January 1746. Duncan Ban MacIntyre and the Battle of Falkirk Muir. Scene Two: Summer 1746. Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape after Culloden. Scene Three: Later in 1746. William Hogarth draws Lord Lovat before his execution. Memento: An OS Map. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Ed Douglas Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E21
June 30 · 55 min
Sinclair McKay: Founding the Home Guard (1940)
May 1940 is one of the critical months in British history. As the Nazis tore across Europe and Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, our guest Sinclair McKay explains that this was also the month in which the Home Guard was founded. Originally known as the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) and affectionately recalled in the BBC sitcom as 'Dad's Army', the Home Guard was a colourful military force that was compounded by individuals from the local community. In this episode McKay takes us back to the first year of this colourful organisation's existence. He describes how Churchill was involved in the development of the Home Guard's identity and how an inspiring woman, Edith Summerskill, sought to shape it. Find out more about Sinclair McKay's Dad's Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard. Show Notes Scene One: May 1940 – Anthony Eden’s radio announcement calling for Local Defence Volunteers, as across the Channel, France falls. Scene Two: July 1940 Churchill renames it the Home Guard as – on the south downs – JB Priestley espies the true poetry of the moment. Scene Three: November 1940 Dr Edith Summerskill (MP for Fulham) begins her long campaign to have women join the Home Guard. Memento: A dummy grenade. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Sinclair McKay Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E20
June 23 · 58 min
Don Hollway: King Olaf Tryggvason of the Vikings (1000)
On today's episode Don Hollway takes us back to see 'the Viking's Viking', King Olaf I, in the year when his dramatic story reached its mysterious climax. Olaf is a heavyweight figure in Norse history. Rising out of obscurity, he travelled widely before experiencing a profound Christian rebirth on the Isles of Scilly. From thereon one of his central motives in life was the conversion of the Norse people to the Christian faith. There were many battles, of course, along the way. In this episode Hollway looks at the fateful one that took place late in the year 1000. It was at the Battle of Svolder that Olaf vanished, presumed dead. Find out more about Don Hollway's Hammer of the Gods: King Olaf's Viking Conquest. Read his article about Olaf at Unseen Histories. Show Notes Scene One: Early 1000. Olaf marries his third wife. Scene Two: 1000. The building of Olaf's great dragon ship, the Long Serpent. Scene Three: 1000. The Battle of Svolder. Memento: The Long Serpent. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Don Hollway Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E19
June 16 · 49 min
Gary Mead : The Young Bernard Montgomery and the First World War (1914)
Ranking only behind Churchill in the pantheon of Britain's WW2 heroes is Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery or 'Monty'. In this episode the biographer Gary Mead takes us back to 1914 to catch a glimpse of Monty as a young soldier at the start of his first war. Montgomery, Mead explains, was a complicated character. While admired by his men and celebrated for his great victory at El Alamein in 1942, he was nonetheless loathed by many of those who worked with him. In later years he went to great efforts to distort his personal story, often restorting to brazen falsehoods. Why he did this, Mead elaborates, remains a mystery. One constant throughout his life was Monty's love of a battle. After a childhood spent in British public schools and distant parts of the Empire, in 1914 his chance for some fighting arrived. Like many in that fateful summer of 1914, he dashed across the Channel to confront the Germans. Find out more about Gary Mead's Montgomery: Unbeatable, Unbearable. Show Notes Scene One: August 1914. Great Scotland Yard Recruiting Office, London. Scene Two: 23 August 1914. The Battle of Mons. Scene Three: Christmas Day 1914. The Truce at Neuve Chapelle. Memento: A brass button from a German uniform. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Gary Mead Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E18
June 9 · 55 min
Edoardo Albert : The Venerable Bede (716)
In this episode we head back to the Anglo Saxon Age with Edoardo Albert to meet the 'Father of English History' – the Venerable Bede. Bede is a beguiling character. He lived just a few generations after the arrival of Christianity in Britain in remote Northumbria, a place that Pope Gregory regarded as being on the very edge of the known world. But from these outer limits, Bede redefined the world in which he lived. 'It has ever been my delight', he wrote, 'to learn and teach and write'. Throughout his life he produced a steady stream of books on subjects from history to natural philosophy. Edoardo Albert takes us back to see Bede at the peak of his powers, in the monastery at Jarrow in the year 716. This, as Albert explains, was a pivotal year for Bede as the quiet world in which he lived was disturbed by the departure of a beloved elder. Find out more about Edoardo Albert's Bede: The Man Who Invented England. Show Notes Scene One: 4 June 716. A walk around St Paul's Monastery at Jarrow. Scene Two: 4 June 716. Abbot Ceolfrith, Bede's friend and mentor, sets off for Rome. Scene Three: 4 June 716. Bede at work in his cell. Memento: A copy of the Rule of the monastery at St Paul along with a recording of the monks singing. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Edoardo Albert Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E17
June 2 · 59 min
Nandini Das: A New View of Stuart England (1636)
In this episode prize-winning author Nandini Das takes us back to 1630s England to see a country still grappling with the legacies of the Reformation. Elsewhere we see the beginnings of Enlightenment and watch as questions about citizenship and belonging are raised in new and intriguing ways. The Stuart Age, like the Tudor one that preceded it, is among England's most cherished. In her new book, This Little World, Nandini Das examines the history of this time not from the central but from the illuminating perspective of the ‘merchants, migrants, sailors, travellers and spies’ who, drawn together, helped forge a nation. Find out more about Nandini Das's This Little World: A New History of Tudor and Stuart England. Show Notes Scene One: Elizabeth Cary kidnaps her youngest children from London and smuggles them off to continental Europe to be brought up as Catholics. Scene Two: In Virginia, Thomas Key leaves for England, leaving behind the mixed race daughter borne by an African enslaved woman. Scene Three: In Oxford, John Tradescant the Elder is given the contract for the new Botanical Garden. Memento: The Iliad of the Casket. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Nandini Das Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E16
May 26 · 59 min
Edmund Richardson: Alexander the Great's Remarkable Year (331 BCE)
Alexander the Great is one of the most famous figures in history. Today our guest, Edmund Richardson, takes us back to see him in the year 331 BCE – the remarkable year when Alexander's story transformed from the impressive into the truly spectacular. At the beginning of 331, many of those in Alexander's army might have supposed that it was time to return to Macedon after a successful campaign on the coast of the Mediterranean. Instead, Alexander founded a city in his own name on the northern coast of Egypt, struck out to consult the oracle at Amun, then turned back to meet his great enemy, King Darius of Persia, in one of the greatest battles in history. Gaugamela. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Edmund Richardson's book, Alexander: God, King, Man. Show Notes Scene One: The foundation of Alexandria in Egypt. Scene Two: Alexander journeys to the oracle of Amun. Scene Three: Alexander's defeat of Darius at Gaugamela. Memento: The Iliad of the Casket. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Edmund Richardson Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E15
May 19 · 1 hr
Taylor Downing: On The Brink Of Nuclear Armageddon (1983)
In the autumn of 1983 the world came very close to nuclear disaster without even knowing about it. US President Ronald Reagan would later recall the 'really scary' events of that year, which, as our guest Taylor Downing explains, were among the most dangerous of the Cold War Era. The nuclear scare of 1983 was generated by a series of factors that coalesced in terrifying style. There was the bellicose rhetoric of a new president, the paranoia of the aging political elite in the Kremlin and the disorienting pace of technological change. Downing guides us through the various elements of this frightening story in this episode, which climaxes with a moment of high drama in November 1983. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Taylor Downing's book, 1983: The World At The Brink. Show Notes Scene One: 23 March 1983. The White House Oval office; Reagan publicly announces on TV his Strategic Defense Initiative, known as his Star Wars policy. Scene Two: 26 Sept 1983; Serpukhov-15 Early Warning Satellite station 80 miles south of Moscow; Lt Col Stanislav Petrov takes a shift in what becomes a dramatic night. Scene Three: 9 November 1983; NATO Command HQ, Mons Belgium and Kuntsevo Clinic outside Moscow; Able Archer 83 reaches its climax. Memento: The Soviet situation board. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Taylor Downing Producer: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka Partner: ACE Cultural Tours.
S7 · E14
May 12 · 53 min
[Live] Paul O'Keeffe: After The Battle of Trafalgar (1806)
Live from Dr Johnson's House off Fleet Street in London, in this episode the biographer and historian Paul O'Keeffe takes us on an immersive dive into the year 1806. This was a time when both the British and the French attempted to come to terms with the fall out of the Battle of Trafalgar. News of Trafalgar was received in Britain with great ambivalence. The sheer scale of the victory was thrilling, but it was marred by the death of Admiral Nelson. King George III reflected the national mood when he declared that it was a victory that had been bought at too dear a price. While Britons buried Nelson and set about commemorating the battle, in France there would be ramifications of a rather different kind of Admiral Villeneuve – whose strange death is described by O'Keeffe as 'either a murder of an extremely tenacious suicide'. Our thanks to Min Kym for the music, the fine folk at Dr Johnson's House for all the support and for everyone who came along to an enjoyable night. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Paul O'Keeffe's book, Trafalgar: Battle and Aftermath. Show Notes Scene One: 9 January 1806. Walking up to St Paul's with the seven sailors of HMS Victory during Nelson's funeral. Scene Two: 22 April 1806. Inside the 'locked room' to solve the mystery of Admiral Villeneuve's death. Scene Three: April 1806. Sadler's Well Theatre to witness a re-enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar. Memento: A piece of the flag carried by the sailors into St Paul's. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Paul O'Keeffe Producer: Maria Nolan Music: Firelight performed by Min Kym.
S7 · E13
May 5 · 57 min
Jim Windolf: The Beatles' 'Dylan Month' (1966)
In this episode we talk to the journalist and author Jim Windolf about a 'testy, interesting and weird' month in the mid-1960s when Bob Dylan and The Beatles came into close and sometimes volatile contact. May 1966 would be recalled by Neil Aspinall, The Beatles' road manager, as 'Dylan Month'. This month came at a loaded moment for each of the acts. Both of them were, by this point in the Sixties, cultural sensations. But they were also burned out from the years of touring and seeking to transcend the identities that had first brought them fame. The following month Dylan would release his classic album, Blonde On Blonde, while The Beatles would reply later in the summer with Revolver. Here Windolf takes us to look at the relationship between these musicians at close quarters. Much was happening, he explains, although not all of it was stated openly. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Jim Windolf's book, Where The Music Had To Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other and the World. Show Notes Scene One: Early May 1966. Bob Dylan arrives in London and checks into the May Fair Hotel in the Mayfair district of London. Scene Two: 13 May 1966. Dylan checks into the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, then goes on a tour of Beatles' sites. Scene Three: 26 May 1966. Dylan plays the Albert Hall and the next morning steps into a limousine with John Lennon. Memento: Dylan's suede Levi’s jacket. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Jim Windolf Producers: Maria Nolan Theme music: Winds of Change by SoundIdeasCom
S7 · E12
April 28 · 59 min
Meghan Kobza: The Magnificent Masquerade (1768)
Few parties in history can match the Georgian 'Masquerade'. And among Georgian masquerades the one given by the King of Denmark in London in 1768 was particularly enchanting. It brought those of the greatest means and highest rank together in London theatre that was filled with artful costumes and glittering jewels. This week's guest, Meghan Kobza, tells us all about the Georgian masquerade – who started it, where did it come from, how much did it cost to get in – and she takes us inside the theatre in 1768. One character who catches her eye is the unfortunate Agneta Yorke whose night turns out to be a comedy of errors. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Meghan Kobza's book, The Masquerade A History of Extravagance and Intrigue. Show Notes Scene One: October 1768. At the masquerade habit warehouse scene on Tavistock Street operated by the Spilsburys. Scene Two: October 1768. Getting ready to go out with Agneta Yorke. Scene Three: October 1768. At the King of Denmark's Masquerade. Memento: Agneta Yorke's dress People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Meghan Kobza Producers: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka
S7 · E11
April 21 · 54 min
Rory Naismith: Offa King of the Mercians (796)
This week the Cambridge professor Rory Naismith takes us back to the eighth century to glimpse what we can of Offa King of the Mercians. Offa was a mighty figure in this early moment in the history of Britain and he is remembered chiefly for the extraordinary earthwork – Offa's Dyke. But what more can be said about Offa's life? In this episode Naismith explains that he was a ruler of considerable gifts whose reputation stretched far beyond his considerable kingdom. He corresponded with Charlemagne and was connected with the Islamic World and, when he died, he left a great void behind. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Rory Naismith's book, Offa: King of the Mercians. Read more about Offa at Unseen Histories. Show Notes Scene One: Offa of Mercia receives a letter from Charlemagne that is one of the first diplomatic exchanges between two Medieval monarchs. Scene Two: 29 July. Offa’s dies. Scene Three: December 796. Offa’s son and heir Ecgfrith dies unexpectedly. Memento: Offa’s side of the correspondence with Charlemagne People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Rory Naismith Producers: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka
S7 · E10
April 14 · 58 min
Catherine Ostler: The Renoir Girls (1881)
This week's episode takes us to Paris in La Belle Époque. There, among all the splendour and sophistication, we watch the great Impressionist, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, painting one of his great portraits. But there is more to this history than first meets the eye. As our guest Catherine Ostler explains, the year 1881 was a critical one in Jewish history. By that point in time Jewish communities were thriving in Paris, where they sought to consolidate their position in society. But a dramatic event in Russia was poised to change everything. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Catherine Ostler's book, The Renoir Girls: A Hidden History of Art, War and Betrayal. Show Notes Scene One: 19 January 1881. The wedding of Leopold de Rothschild and Marie Perugia in London. Scene Two: January–March 1881. Renoir paints Alice and Elisabeth at the Cahen d'Anvers family house in Paris. Scene Three: 13 March 1881. Tsar Alexander II is assassinated in St Petersburg. Memento: Renoir's Pink and Blue painting. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Catherine Ostler Producers: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka
S7 · E9
April 7 · 55 min
[From the Archive] Philip Stephens: Britain Alone (1962)
As Britain's 'special relationship' with the USA falters, we look back at a very relevant epislode from our archive. In this the author and journalist Philip Stephens takes us back to a crucial month in post-war British politics. December 1962, he explains, set Britain’s relationship with the rest of the world for the next half century. Featuring in this episode is the elderly British prime minister, Harold Macmillan; the charismatic US president John F Kennedy; and the trenchant French statesman Charles de Gaulle. In this one month these three men would set out their contrasting visions of what kind of country Britain would be. The scenes, characters and storylines in this episode of Travels Through Time all feature in Philip Stephen’s book, Britain Alone: the path from Suez to Brexit (Faber) Show Notes Scene One: 5 December 1962. Dean Acheson’s speech to the cadets of the Military Academy at West Point, New York. Scene Two: 15 December. Macmillan's visit to Rambouillet to meet with Charles de Gaulle. Scene Three: 19 December 1962. Macmillan travels to the Bahamas to meet President John F Kennedy. Memento: The text for Dean Acheson’s ‘West Point Speech.’ People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Philip Stephens Producers: Maria Nolan
S7 · E8
March 31 · 56 min
Nicholas Walton: The End of the Dutch Empire (1950)
The Netherlands is a small nation with a big history. But in the 1940s it suffered a series of disastrous events. First came the invasion of the Nazis in 1940. Then the very next year the Japanese attacked their old empire in the east. The horrors of World War Two were then followed by the Indonesian National Revolution and, by 1950, the Dutch were a 'pocket superpower' no longer. In this episode the journalist and hiker Nicholas Walton takes us back to examine this challenging moment in Dutch history. It was a time of reckoning with the past but also a moment of bright new beginnings. Nicholas Walton is the author of Orange Sky, Rising Water: The Remarkable Past and Uncertain Future of the Netherlands. Show notes Scene One: 1 January 1950, The dining table of a typical Dutch family. Scene Two: 12 January 1950, The Lloydkade in Rotterdam when troop ships like the SS Waterman, SS Grote Beer and SS Zuiderkruis all were bringing soldiers home to a freezing Netherlands. Scene Three: 26 July 1950. A barracks in Indonesia. This was the official date that the KNIL, the Dutch colonial army, was officially dissolved. Memento: A green/white temporary house as lived in by the Moluccans People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Nicholas Walton Production: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka
S7 · E7
March 24 · 54 min
Veronica Buckley: The Hapsburgs and the French Revolution (1790)
The late eighteenth century history was a time in Europe when a brilliant old world collapsed and raucous new one rose to replace it. In this episode the biographer Veronica Buckley explains how the Hapsburgs, one of the great European families, responded to this revolutionary change. It was a stern challenge but inspired by one of the great matriarchs in European history, Empress Maria Theresia, her son Emperor Joseph II, his successor Leopold and their sister, Marie Antoinette, reacted as best they could in that perilous year, 1790. Veronica Buckley is the author of Seven Sisters: Captives and Rebels in Revolutionary Europe's First Family Read an in-depth article about this story on Unseen Histories. Show notes Scene One: 20 February 1790, Emperor Joseph II dies in Vienna Scene Two: October 1790, The French revolutionary Comte de Mirabeau meets with Emperor Leopold II in Frankfurt to discuss a possible intervention in France. Scene Three: November 1790, The Habsburg imperial family arrives in Pressburg for Leopold’s coronation as King of Hungary. Memento: A piece of elegant jewellery belonging to Marie Christine. People/Social Presenter: Peter Moore Guest: Veronica Buckley Production: Maria Nolan Theme music: Firelight by Minka / Mozart - Piano Sonata in B-flat major, III. Allegretto Grazioso performed by Brendan Kinsella

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