Natalie Grueninger is in conversation with Dr Owen Emmerson about five surviving letters written by William Kingston during Anne Boleyn’s imprisonment in May 1536. They examine Kingston’s eyewitness details—Anne’s moods, her conversations with attendants, mentions of Henry Norris, Mark Smeaton and George Boleyn—and the damaged Cotton manuscripts used alongside later transcriptions.

The episode traces Anne’s shifting emotions, her religious faith, the role of her attendants as informants, the hurried preparations for execution, and why Thomas Cromwell may have avoided visiting the prisoners.

VISIT DR EMMERSON'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE https://drowenemmerson.com/

EXPLORE COTTON MS OTHO C X https://searcharchives.bl.uk/catalog/040-001102888

JOIN 365 DAYS IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

https://www.nataliegrueninger.com/2026/05/17/365-days-in-elizabethan-england/

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Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Dr Wyn Derbyshire about the remarkable life of Bess of Hardwick — her uncertain origins, four marriages, sharp business sense, and rise to becoming the second-richest woman in England. The episode explores her building projects (Hardwick and Chatsworth), estate management, and relationships with Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Learn more about Dr Derbyshire

https://spiramus.com/wyn-derbyshire

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In this episode host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Sara Charles about the production of medieval manuscripts, her hands-on experiments with parchment, inks and pigments, and her book 'The Medieval Scriptorium'.

They explore the evidence for where manuscripts were made, the people and long supply chains behind their materials, the evolution of scripts and decoration, and the everyday details that bring medieval scribes to life.

Learn more about Dr Charles

https://www.teachingmanuscripts.com/about

Takeaway

'The Craftman's Handbook' by Cennino d'Andrea Cennin

Find out about 'Medieval Castles in Germany' by Kurt Fuchs

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1691602354/medieval-castles-in-germany?ref=listings_manager_grid〈_mismatch=1

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Host Natalie Grueninger talks with historian and novelist Professor Tracy Borman about her new novel, 'The House of Boleyn', the rise and fall of the Boleyn family, and Hever Castle as the book’s intimate setting. They explore lesser-known figures like Margaret Butler and Jane Boleyn, plus the servants and daily life that shaped the family.

The conversation also covers Borman’s research process, historical details that informed the novel and publication and tour dates (UK release 23 April; US release 4 September).

Learn more about Dr Tracy Borman

https://www.tracyborman.co.uk/

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Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Sean Cunningham about Henry VII’s unlikely path from exile to king, the political alliances and myths he used to secure power, and the major challenges of his reign, including rebellions and pretenders.

They explore Henry’s strategies for legitimacy, his marriage to Elizabeth of York, the role of Margaret Beaufort, and how Tudor symbolism and governance shaped the dynasty’s future.

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Author Jo Harkin joins Talking Tudors to discuss her novel 'The Pretender', which imagines the life of Lambert Simnel — a farm boy thrust into Yorkist plots, crowned in Dublin, and swept through courts from Oxford to Burgundy and Ireland.

Jo explains her five-year research process, the vivid locations and powerful women who inspired her, and her approach to balancing historical fact with imaginative storytelling.

She also shares reading and viewing recommendations, a glimpse of her next project set in Spain, and practical insights into writing historical fiction.

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In this episode of Talking Tudors, host Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Dr Natalie Donnell about the life and career of Margaret of Austria. Born in Burgundy and raised at several European courts, Margaret was the long-serving regent of the Netherlands.

The conversation covers Margaret’s education under powerful women, her role raising and supporting Charles V, her diplomatic success in the 1529 'Ladies' Peace', her patronage of the arts, and her legacy as a capable and influential female ruler until her death in 1530.

VISIT DR DONNELL'S WEBSITE

https://www.nataliedonnell.com/

SUBSCRIBE TO FEMINIST HISTORIES https://feministhistories.substack.com/

TAKEAWAY

'The Theatre of the World' by Abraham Ortelius

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Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Mexican author Sofia Robleda about her new novel, The Other Moctezuma Girls. They explore the life and legacy of Isabel Moctezuma, the identity of her daughters, and the complex world of 16th‑century Mexica society before and after Spanish contact.

The conversation covers conquest, cultural exchange, women’s roles, Robleda’s research and personal connection to the history.

Visit Sofia's official website

https://sofiarobleda.com/

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