New Podcast Interview: “Marie Antoinette” on History Gems

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In the latest episode of the History Gems podcast, I discussed Queen Marie Antoinette and the Affair of the Diamond Necklace with Dr. Nicola Tallis. Themes in the podcast episode including Marie Antoinette’s reputation, fashions and the impact of the Diamond Necklace scandal on perceptions of the monarchy prior to the French Revolution.

Click here to listen to the “Marie Antoinette” episode of History Gems

For more about Marie Antoinette, read my book, Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe: Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette (Queenship and Power series)

New Podcast Interview: “England’s Got a New Queen” on Since the World’s Been Turning

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I discussed Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood, accession and coronation for the Since the World’s Been Turning Podcast, which devotes each episode to analyzing a historical event mentioned in the lyrics to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Other themes in the “England’s Got a New Queen” episode include changing press coverage of royal events over time and the transition from British Empire to Commonwealth.

Click here to listen to the “England’s Got a New Queen” episode of Since the World’s Been Turning podcast

New CBC News Interview: Mocking the royals: How far can the satire go?

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I discussed the history of royal satire and how satirical depictions of the royal family are perceived by the public in the latest edition of The Royal Fascinator Newsletter at CBC News. I also discussed the current controversy surrounding Prince Charles’s household.

Click here to read “Mocking the royals: How far can the satire go?” and “A Difficult Time for Prince Charles” in The Royal Fascinator Newsletter

New BBC History Magazine Article: The upstairs/ downstairs world of Downton Abbey: how true to life is it?

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My new article in the BBC History Magazine examines the history of domestic service in the early 20th century, comparing the experiences of historical domestic servants to the fictionalized portrayal of domestic service in the television series Downton Abbey.

Click here to read “The upstairs/downstairs world of Downton Abbey: how true to life is it?” in the BBC History Magazine

New Canadian Encyclopedia Article: Joseph Whiteside Boyle

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My latest article in the Historica Canada Canadian Encyclopedia is about Joseph Whiteside Boyle.

Nicknamed Klondike Joe, Boyle founded a gold mining company and became a millionaire in the aftermath of the Klondike gold rush. During the First World War, he equipped a machine gun unit and was a spy with the British secret service in Russia and Romania. He also reorganized the Russian military supply network, rescued Romanian prisoners of war and became the confidant and possibly lover of Queen Marie of Romania.

Click here to read my article about Joseph Whiteside Boyle in the Canadian Encyclopedia

New Reader’s Digest Article: The 10 Most Controversial Royal Memoirs Ever Published

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Prince Harry won’t be the first royal family member to rock the boat with a tell-all autobiography. Here are 10 royal memoirs that changed the way we think about these famous families—and history itself.

Click here to read The 10 Most Controversial Royal Memoirs Ever Published in Reader’s Digest

New Online Courses at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

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I will be teaching two online courses at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies in the Fall of 2021: The Nordic Nations: From Vikings to Modernity on Tuesday afternoons and The Romanovs and the Russian Revolution on Thursday afternoons.

3595-002 The Nordic Nations: From Vikings to Modernity (Click here for more information and to register)

About this course: The Nordic nations – Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Norway – are consistently among the top 15 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. Their societies and culture are admired around the world. But prior to this success is a long, turbulent history. Learn about the history of the Nordic nations, including Vikings, warrior monarchs, the Second World War and immigration to North America. We’ll explore how the countries of northern Europe emerged from poverty and political upheaval to become some of the most successful countries of the 21st century.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Explore the cultural influence of the Nordic countries around the world.
  • Learn about the unique histories of the Nordic nations.
  • Discuss how successful societies can emerge from a difficult past.

Course Details: October 5, 2021 – November 23, 2021 Online with Real Time Meetings on Tuesdays, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Click here for more information and to register)

3467-003 The Romanovs and the Russian Revolution (Click here for more information and to register)

About this Course: The consequences of the Russian Revolution continue to influence Russia’s politics and society, and indeed the whole world’s. In 2017, Russia quietly marked the 100th anniversary of the turning points: the abdication of Czar Nicholas II and Lenin’s seizure of power for the Bolshevik party.  Follow the quick succession of crises: the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, the end of Russia’s participation in the First World War, the emergence of the Provisional Government, and the fateful rise of Lenin and the Soviet Union.

What You’ll Learn:

  •        Explore the vanished world of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for 300 years.
  •        Learn about the swift events in Russia in 1917.
  •        Discuss the key figures and moments in the Russian Revolutions.
  •        Explore how the Russian Revolutions were perceived around the world.
  •        Analyze the impact of the Russian Revolutions on the modern world

Course Details: October 7, 2021 – November 25, 2021 Online with Real Time Meetings Thursdays, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Click here for more information and to register)