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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome back to a festive special of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time. In this episode, in the most magical setting of Floors Castle situated in the Scottish Borders,  I explore the love story between Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe, and his beloved Duchess, Mary "May" Goelet, with Operations Manager (and wonderful storyteller) Matthew Thompson.  Floors Castle has been the home of the Innes-Ker family for 300 years and, after having been remodelled by the 6th Duke of Roxburghe, now stands as a dramatic and ..read more

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

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

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