Podcasts about English Renaissance

Join the #McConnellCenter as we welcome Benedict Whalen and he attempts to convince us to read A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway! Dr. Benedict Whalen completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Dallas, and his graduate degrees at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He then taught at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi before joining Hillsdale College in 2014. Much of his teaching is in the literature of the Renaissance, including especially the works of Shakespeare and his fellow playwrights. He also regularly teaches courses on English Renaissance lyric poetry, including the metaphysical poets.  We all know we need to read more and there are literally millions of books on shelves with new ones printed every day. How do we sort through all the possibilities to find the book that is just right for us now? Well, the McConnell Center is bringing authors and experts to inspire us to read impactful and entertaining books that might be on our shelves or in our e-readers, but which we haven't yet picked up. We hope you learn a lot in the following podcast and we hope you might be inspired to pick up one or more of the books we are highlighting this year at the University of Louisville's McConnell Center. Stay Connected Visit us at McConnellcenter.org Subscribe to our newsletter  Facebook: @mcconnellcenter Instagram: @ulmcenter  Twitter: @ULmCenter This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center

For our second episode of Magus, we are delving into the deep dark cave of history to the unravel the mysterious life of Mother Shipton, a Tudor era prophetess with links to folkloric sites all over England, from Knaresborough to the Rollright Stones to Somerset and beyond.Our journey starts in the English Renaissance, where we explore how the concept of a witch had been presented and appeared in legal cases and famous stories, up until the reign of Henry VIII - during which it's said Mother Shipton lived and died, seemingly attracting the ire of the crown!Yet, considering the lack of historical detail relating to the woman also known as Ursula Southeil, getting to the bottom of who she may have been soon becomes a moot point, as, despite the work of generations of historians, from the Jacobean era onwards, following the period of 'Witch Hunt fever' in England Mother Shipton quickly became a political tool and means of making money.Appearing as a stock character in 17th century pantomimes, with her visual representations based on woodcut images of Mr Punch, records show how things soon spun out of control, throwing much of what we think we know about her into question.For example, was she really born in a cave? Was her father the Devil, or a necromancer, or perhaps the wizard Merlin? And what about her prophecies, almost all of which kept on coming uncannily true?Prepare yourself for an episode full of surprises, from flying goats and fifteen minute bouts of flatulence to mass hysteria and bucket-loads of bare faced lies. But sitting behind it all is a serious point: if history is written by the victors, what have the English ruling classes had to say about Mother Shipton across the last five centuries? And with this in mind, do all the things people believe about Mother Shipton have anything to do with her actual life and legacy, or everything to do with our own historic fears and prejudice?The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/lgbtq-studies

Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature (U Chicago Press, 2024) offers a prehistory of transness that recovers early modern theological resources for trans lifeworlds.  In this striking contribution to trans history, Colby Gordon challenges the prevailing assumption that trans life is a byproduct of recent medical innovation by locating a cultural imaginary of transition in the religious writing of the English Renaissance. Marking a major intervention in early modern gender studies, Glorious Bodies insists that transition happened, both socially and surgically, hundreds of years before the nineteenth-century advent of sexology.  Pairing literary texts by Shakespeare, Webster, Donne, and Milton with a broad range of primary sources, Gordon examines the religious tropes available to early modern subjects for imagining how gender could change. From George Herbert's invaginated Jesus and Milton's gestational Adam to the ungendered “glorious body” of the resurrection, early modern theology offers a rich conceptual reservoir of trans imagery. In uncovering early modern trans theology, Glorious Bodies mounts a critique of the broad consensus that secularism is a necessary precondition for trans life, while also combating contemporary transphobia and the right-wing Christian culture war seeking to criminalize transition. Developing a rehabilitative acco unt of theology's value for positing trans lifeworlds, this book leverages premodern religion to imagine a postsecular transness in the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

The final chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Grand Father Nikodemus finally arrives back at the Sunken Abbey to find that quite a few things have changed... Expect Christopher to have a new station in life, Brunhilda to return to The Kitty's Whiskers, lots of different people and animals to be missing Sally, Rooks to finally go home, prophecies to come true across the Whale Road, Diesirae - now "The Scarred Queen" - to go and see a man about her heart, and for Silkin to drown his sorrows a dangerously long way away from his nearest and dearest.Thank you so much for following the podcast across the last 39 weeks, and, if you would like more - because the second book is planned out but not written, and would be called The Carrion King, then we'll need a bigger audience. So, share The Heartless Knaves, let's see if there's demand for the second part of the planned trilogy, and, in the meantime, thank you SO MUCH for listening!With much love, out of a very dark shadow,MartinSet in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The penultimate chapter of The Pale Princess, in which The Other attacks Lludden, Christopher makes a mad dash to reunite with Diesirae, and Silkin and Rooks speed home just in time to get involved... Expect zombie bears, a goodly number of explosions, mass-scale slaughter, for almost every major character in the narrative to finally end up in the same place at the same time, the goodies to kick some butt, and the baddies to get their just desserts!Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over this past year, we quietly went back to where we began this podcast and worked on revising our Intro Series, "Stuff You Should Know." We updated the original episodes quietly in September. When we started thinking about what we wanted to release for the end of 2024, we feel like nothing encapsulates how we've grown as podcasters and scholars over the past four years better than these revised episodes, so we wanted to revisit them and share these episodes again.  -- This is Part 2 of our intro series “Stuff You Should Know,” which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn't created in a vacuum. In this episode, we'll be covering some basic information about early modern England during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. And when we say basic, we mean basic. This is a quick overview of early modern England, more importantly the England that influenced Shakespeare.  In this episode, we'll be covering some basic information about the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods, as well as the public theatres during those respective eras. We'll review how the transition from feudalism to mercantilism changed English society and discuss facets of early modern English society such as fashion, social mobility, religious freedom, and public health. We will give an overview the history of the public theatre in England and discuss some key features of what theatre-making was like for Shakespeare and his contemporaries.  Want more about the Elizabethan and Jacobean England & Theatre? Check out these episodes that go more in depth on topics we touch on in this episode: Mini: Commerce and Trade in Shakespeare's Time King Lear: Mental Health and Disability in Shakespeare's Time Mini-Episode: The Gunpowder Plot Mini-Episode: The Four Humours Hamlet: Ophelia, Gertrude, and Female Agency Mini: Plague, Quarantine, & Shakespeare Mini: Shakespearean Vengeance: Exploring Revenge Tragedies in Early Modern England Mini-Episode: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Mini: Traveling Theatre Companies Mini: Shakespeare's Folios and Quartos Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Episode written and researched by Kourtney Smith with contributions by Elyse Sharp. Revised September 2024. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com You can support the podcast by becoming a patron at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone, sending us a virtual tip via our tipjar, or by shopping our bookshelves at bookshop.org/shop/shakespeareanyonepod. Works referenced: Brown, John Russell, and Peter Thomson, editor and author. “Chapter 6 English Renaissance and Restoration Theatre.” The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre, pp. 173 - 200. Oxford University Press, 2001 Sherry, Joyce. “Elizabethan Theatre.” YouTube, 4 Jan. 2014, Accessed 6 Sept. 2020, from www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_cTCdkCAcc

Over this past year, we quietly went back to where we began this podcast and worked on revising our Intro Series, "Stuff You Should Know." We updated the original episodes quietly in September. When we started thinking about what we wanted to release for the end of 2024, we feel like nothing encapsulates how we've grown as podcasters and scholars over the past four years better than these revised episodes, so we wanted to revisit them and share these episodes again.  -- This is Part I of our intro series, “Stuff You Should Know,” which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn't created in a vacuum. In this episode, we'll be covering some basic information about the monarchy and English Renaissance. And when we say basic, we mean basic. This is a quick overview of early modern England, more importantly the England that influenced Shakespeare.  In this episode, we'll be covering some basic information about the English monarchy and English Renaissance. We will give an overview of the history of the English monarchy during the English Renaissance, through the early modern period and a little beyond Shakespeare's lifetime. We will discuss how the Renaissance differed from the medieval period that came before it and how the English Renaissance differed from the Italian Renaissance.  Want more about the English Renaissance? Check out these episodes that go more in depth on topics we touch on in this episode: Mini: Shakespeare and Petrarch Mini: Shakespeare and the Colonial Imagination Mini: Shakespeare's World: Immigrants, Others, and Foreign Commodities Mini: "Decolonize the Mind" through Shakespeare Mini: Commerce and Trade in Shakespeare's Time Hamlet: Ophelia, Gertrude, and Female Agency Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Episode written and researched by Kourtney Smith. Revised September 2024. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com You can support the podcast by becoming a patron at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone, sending us a virtual tip via our tipjar, or by shopping our bookshelves at bookshop.org/shop/shakespeareanyonepod. Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com Works Referenced: Cooper, Dr. Tanya. “Elizabeth I and Her People”. National Portrait Gallery, The Weiss Gallery, 7 Oct. 2013. Accessed 8 Sept. 2020, from www.npg.org.uk/whatson/elizabethi/film Elizabethans - Religious Settlement. (2018, September 23). Accessed 24 Sept. 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylP6oZgSeuI Fox, Dr. James, creator and writer. A Very British Renaissance, Episode 1: The Renaissance Arrives. A BBC Arts Production, 2014. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtc1cY3ZDTs Fox, Dr. James, creator and writer. A Very British Renaissance, Episode 2: The Elizabethan Code. A BBC Arts Production, 2014. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCjOck6cd4 Fox, Dr. James, creator and writer. A Very British Renaissance, Episode 3: Whose Renaissance?. A BBC Arts Production, 2014. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03yzflc/episodes/guide William, Professor Kate, presentor. The Stuarts - A Bloody Reign, Episode 101: King James I. Timeline, A 3DD Production in association with Yesterday imagined by UKTV, 31 July 2018. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zfgxzk3UtY

The thirty-seventh chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Father Nikodemus makes it back to Prydain, Silkin and Rooks leave Brygof, and Christopher departs from Lludden to go home. Expect massage oil, sneaky plotting, for Brian to have fallen in love, and for a villain who had seemingly disappeared for a while to make a triumphant return, seeking something vital from Archbishop Daevas...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirty-sixth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Rooks continues to defend Southgate from anyone seeking to flee Laugborg, and Silkin drags his heels about leaving it himself.Expect Herild and Gillian to make their way to The Auric's stables and for high drama to ensue, for Sally and Silkin to exchange a particularly meaningful kiss, Ruby and the other fine ladies of Bongle's House of Clunge to ride out like the vigilantes they are, and for two very old friends to make two new ones the morning after a long night of hideous violence and mayhem.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirty-fifth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Diesirae is escorted to The Alabastrine in the middle of the night, while in Laugborg Vestran's masquerade is in full swing...Expect Sir Felix Sable to give Umbrago some grief, the big reveal about those red outfits and all of Herild's paper flowers, extraordinary violence, lashings of death, exploding lobsters, and for the Crown of Prydain to change hands - in more ways than one!Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just after the Black Death, the character and nature of the rule of King Edward III changed… and suddenly the nation around London began to sow the seeds of a profound alteration of its very essence. This weeks episodes ranges far and away from our city, covering events in France, and in the royal court, but focuses on how after the plague Edward began to change the very fabric of the city. From a bevvy of new royal buildings both in and around London, to the building of the first version of Big Ben- a huge tower in Westminster that rang out the hours for the next few centuries. And on top of this? The reason behind the wildest and most glorious celebration London had seen in decades.

The thirty-fourth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Sally and Silkin team up, Rooks becomes a one man wrecking crew, and the good ladies of Bongle's House of Clunge enjoy a night in the big city...Expect subterfuge, guards getting shot with crossbows, Silkin to knock himself unconscious, a little palace intrigue, pear brandy, and some very, very large explosions.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirty-third chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Daevas and Isfrid reconnect with the High Council, Rooks completes the final steps of his plans, Diesirae learns who Sister Signe really is, and Silkin and Sally have a day out in Laugborg.Expect icy deaths, a bit of welding, some playing of chess, dirty water to be spilled, a very pretty dress, things to not be quite as they appear, and to visit a secret underground shrine were more than a few story threads knit themselves together...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirty-second chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Diesirae wakes up in The Alabastrine's dormitory, her heart now sealed into a Ventricular Sphere.Expect Mother Bodril to be well meaning, for Cordelia to arrive with a 'Sister Signe', and to finally catch up with Sally. She, once settled into a very grand hotel in Laugborg, finally gets some space from Herild and reconnects with Silkin - all before we catch back up with Diesirae, who finds herself nursing two hearts instead of one...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirty-first chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Rooks acquaints himself with some friendly sewer rats.Expect a boat trip into a very dark cave, an excessive number of spiders, for Silkin to be Silkin, and for Rooks to be reunited with an old friend from school who is more than happy to help...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirtieth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which, after quite while, we catch up with Father Nikodemus...Expect plenty a bit of surgery, to meet a crafty old bishop and a Valladrian who has been having visions, an audience with the Queen of Gallia, and for the forging of an agreement which might just shape the fate of Prydain for several generations...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textLet's head into the Fortune Theatre for a performance of one of the most innovative and deceptively complex comedies of the English Renaissance.  The Roaring Girl, or Moll Cutpurse explores the fluidity of social identity by the protagonist's use of clothing and language.Support the showPlease like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen. Thank you!Email: classicenglishliterature@gmail.comFollow me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and YouTube.If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting it with a small donation. Click the "Support the Show" button. So grateful!Podcast Theme Music: "Rejoice" by G.F. Handel, perf. The Advent Chamber OrchestraSubcast Theme Music: "Sons of the Brave" by Thomas Bidgood, perf. The Band of the Irish GuardsSound effects and incidental music: Freesounds.orgMy thanks and appreciation to all the generous providers!

The twenty-ninth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Silkin and Rooks set about infiltrating the Blue Keep...Expect plenty of Gothic decay, some arcane mystery, rain, thunder, lightning, for Rooks to get bored and set about improving things, Silkin to kidnap a dog, and for things to not go quite as well as either of them expected them to. Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-eighth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which the Hands make good on their threats, Grubenholm is burned, and Nanny makes a stand at the Sunken Abbey.Expect Colin the goat to rampage, flocks of rampaging murder chickens, Ned the horse to wake up slightly confused, and for Nanny to both bury the hatchet with Griselda and make her last stand in an inferno of rage, and love, towering flame and immutable style.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-seventh chapter of The Pale Princess, in which we meet Jorund, The Speaker of Truths, as Umbrago and Brunhilda parade through Lludden.Expect to catch up with Cordelia and her shadowy working in The Alabastrine, Aggie, Foxglove, and Diesirae, as she is made ready to have her heart sealed in glass in preparation for her upcoming marriage...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-sixth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Rooks organises the fencing of goods, Silkin helps, and Ruby hangs around until he's ready to play pirates...Expect to meet a quite particular witch with an owl familiar, a man called Teddy who might not quite be all there, to encounter the Akkurok, some fun new weapons, and for Silkin to eventually say "Gyargh!"Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-fifth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Nanny is forced to address the problem of the King's Hands who have been bothering the Sunken Abbey, and The Other brings the residents of Grubenholm to church...Expect Christopher to use some of his new training, Nanny to finally let loose a little bit, Marco to make himself useful, blood to spill, tea to be made as guided by a cat, and for Colin and the chickens to prepare for war!Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-fourth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which we follow Diesirae through a night in The Pit, a day in the Grey Keep, and an adventure through Lludden's streets...Expect fighting, disfiguration, and for the solution to the off-hand problem, to catch up with Gironde and Eris during a session of portraiture, for Umbrago to poke his nose in, and to then head out into the city with Mathias on a little adventure.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-third chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Silkin gets fed up of camping, Grouseboller meets a sticky end, and we arrive at a home from home: Bongle's House of Clunge.Expect a little light breaking and entering, some torture, a series of delightful sex worker sisters, and to meet Luca, The Speaker of Lies, better known to his friends as "The Apple Cutter..."Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twenty-second chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Nanny begins training Christopher, Marco regains consciousness, and Gavriel welcomes a new visitor to the Grey Keep.Expect punches, kicks, a bit of bowmanship, Eris having none of Gironde's nonsense, and The Other feeling a little bit possessive about his new best friend...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Abigail Rokison-Woodall, Deputy Director (Education) and Associate Professor in Shakespeare and Theatre at The Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, UK, talks to Sebastian Michael about the challenges – and joys – of speaking verse in general and Shakespearean verse in particular: how do we do his language justice in a contemporary performance setting and how do we deal with the ways in which the English Renaissance approach to language differs from ours; with a focus also, of course, on the significance this has for reading and reciting the Sonnets.

The twenty-first chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Vestran and his assistant unearth the treasure they have been looking for and Daevas frees a half-mad warrior nun who is justifiably hungry for revenge.Expect giant spiders, wyvern bones, Silkin trying to be friendly with Sally, a spot of ice magic, and for Archbishop Salles to finally get what was coming to him...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the rich history of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, from its inception in 1599 as a cultural hub of the English Renaissance to its tragic destruction in 1644. Highlighting Shakespeare's impact on the theater and its modern reconstruction in 1997, the episode celebrates the Globe's legacy as a vibrant center for performance and education. Tune in to discover how this iconic venue continues to honor Shakespeare's extraordinary contributions to the arts.

The twentieth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Silkin and Rooks finally hit the road - and Silkin lets off some steam by fighting an entire tavern worth of people...Expect to also catch up with Beni, Diesirae, and Brunhilda - who is once again conscious - and to meet a very annoying highwayman called Lesley Fortinbras...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The nineteenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Patrick encounters the sea, Thorsten and Marco find themselves some lodgings, and Nanny refuses to say goodbye.Expect Silkin being both sweet and a little bit annoying, Jarn getting some horns to the testicles, Sally learning how to shoot a crossbow round corners, and Rooks not only getting tooled up, but finally being equipped with clothes that make him look as he wants to be seen...Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The eighteenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Mildri, Jarn and Old Slag deliver the results of their labour...Expect Silkin being both sweet and a little bit annoying, Jarn getting some horns to the testicles, Sally learning how to shoot a crossbow round corners, and Rooks not only getting tooled up, but finally being equipped with clothes that make him look as he wants to be seen...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The seventeenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Nanny goes to Lludden for the day, The Other is reunited with his body, and Umbrago has his much-needed bath.Expect a chance meeting on a very old road, some revelations about an old optician, a frosty conversation between Nanny and her sister, a plague pit filled with blood, and some musings on what it would be like to transform into a bird...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sixteenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which the Master of Revels is roused in the night, the gang reunite at the Sunken Abbey, and Umbrago stays up well past his bed time.Expect to meet Beni's wife, Silkin showing off his new sword, Sally losing her patience, Christopher to find an outlet of sorts, and a jolly nice shindig with Sudwork's finest, Brunhilda and Foxglove included...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fifteenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which an Archbishop tries to exercise his perversion, Sally and Silkin wend their way home, and Diesirae has a training session with a difference...Expect a lamb chops getting short shrift, The Other being seen from a distance (then wisely fled from), and the introduction of a very cool sword...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fourteenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Umbrago is a creep, Diesirae has some alone time, and the good folk of Sudwork once again encounter The Other...Expect a queen mother being terrorized, a bit of body horror blended with some smut, and Brunhilda seizing the moment just as things get a bit out of hand...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The thirteenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Sally and Silkin go to spy on Vestran's carriages, Rooks sends a letter, and Herild welcomes the gang to Formhall.Expect stories of Silkin's childhood, Mooncaller showing reluctance, Nikodemus preaching, Rooks trying to speak to hares, and Sally eating deeply questionable street foods...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The twelfth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Marco wakes up in a sewer in an unenviable situation, and The Order of the Fens gets down to business.Expect some sinister internal voices, rain, delicious stew, some poop jokes, a bit of Ventricular Sphere action, and Silkin voicing his opinion on his new living arrangements...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The eleventh chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Diesirae faces up to some uncomfortable truths and Sally undertakes her Second Vow.Expect angry urination, conspiratorial men in hoods, plenty of blood, more than a little magic, and revelation or two about Nanny...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tenth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Father Nikodemus acquires a new mount, Brian gets jealous, and Silkin and Rooks head into town.Expect Sally to be annoyed, Griselda the cat to get a bit sarcastic, a creepy executioner and his rather put-upon dolly girlfriend, and a visit to a rather mysterious optician...The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ninth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Diesirae has a riding lesson, King Umbrago throws his weight around, and Marco's day goes from already very bad to much, much worse...Expect a handsome horse handler, a High Council full of not very nice people, some pears, an unfortunate prison guard, and perhaps the grimmest form of indigestion ever described in fiction.The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The eighth chapter of The Pale Princess, in which Mildri tans some leather, Rooks acquires some rudimentary footwear, and Silkin gets a snazzy new outfit...Expect a slightly mellower chapter this week, including some stamping in urine, a bit of anxiety, Nanny being mysterious, some corsetry, high heels, and vows for bloody revenge!The Heartless Knaves is a new dark fantasy audiobook podcast featuring clever heists, gory scraps, sad bits, saucy bits, murderous nuns, talking donkeys, and an 8-year-old boy king who won't take no for an answer.Set in a twisted version of the English Renaissance, the story hinges on the macabre adventures of assassins Silkin and Rooks, who may be dead, their hearts stolen by the church, their severed heads mounted on the royal battlements, but there's no rest for the wicked...Blending black humour and squishy violence with a whip-smart plot and a cast of loveable rogues, the first book, The Pale Princess, is a bit like a haunted roller coaster: fundamentally unsafe, shuddering in the wind, and threatening to come off the rails as it gathers pace.If you have ever been betrayed, and wanted revenge.If you have ever had your heart cut out, and wanted it back.If you have ever known something was sickeningly wrong, and wanted to wreak havoc in reply, you are one of us.For we are The Heartless Knaves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 114:As an introduction to season six of the podcast in the first part of this episode I lay out the aims for the next season and the approach I will be taking to the monoliths of early English theatre tha tare Shakespeare and Jonson.In the second part of the Episode I give a quick recap of Season Five to get you and I back in the zone for all the detail that will follow on Shakespeare and Jonson.Support the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpwww.patreon.com/thoetpThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf famously imagined what might have happened if Shakespeare had a sister who was as gifted a writer as he was. She invents “Judith” Shakespeare, and concludes that this female genius would have been doomed. But that's not the end of the story. If Woolf had read Mary Sidney, Aemelia Lanyer (nee Bassano), Anne Clifford, and Elizabeth Carey, she might have thought differently about the fate of her fictional Judith Shakespeare. Ramie Targoff's new book, Shakespeare's Sisters: How Women Wrote the Renaissance, explores the lives and works of those four women.. Targoff tells us about them and reflects on why reading their work is so important. Ramie Targoff teaches English and Italian literature at Brandeis University. She's also a member of the Folger's Board of Governors. Her book Shakespeare's Sisters: How Women Wrote the Renaissance is available from Knopf. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast series. Published March 12, 2024. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the associate producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. Ben Lauer is the web producer. Leonor Fernandez edits our transcripts. We had technical help from Digital Island Studios in New York and Voice Trax West in Studio City, California. Final mixing services provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc.

Our last figure of the English Renaissance undertakes daring investigations of chemistry, medicine, agriculture, and cosmology – and gets accused of magic and Rosicrucianism.