Past Loves - A History Of The Greatest Love Stories

Welcome back to the next episode of Past Loves - the weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time.
This week, we are discovering the love story behind one of my absolute favourite places - The Bowes Museum. The Bowes Museum is a hidden treasure in the heart of Teesdale, based in the historic town of Bernard Castle. A truly magnificent museum, it may outwardly appear to be a stately home but, in fact, the museum was specifically built by John and Joséphine Bowes in the 19th Century to house remarkable and significant collections of fine and decorative arts. I am joined by Judith Phillips, the honorary archivist at the Bowes Museum, to discuss how their love story bought this remarkable place to fruition.
From the Teesdale countryside to the upper echelons of fashionable society in Paris, John met Joséphine Benoîte Coffin-Chevallier at the Théâtre de Variétés where Joséphine was an actress. The couple fell in love and married in contrast to convention at the time. Together, they decided to create a public museum. In a very short time they amassed a vast collection of over 15,000 objects representing all types of European fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th Century, including the now famous silver swan automaton. They had a shared vision which was rooted in their deep affection for one another.
Where To Find Us

Book tickets: https://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Buy-Tickets
Shop John And Joséphine Bowes by Caroline Chapman: https://shop.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/product/creation-bowes-museum/
Follow Bowes Museum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmuseum/
Follow Bowes Museum on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Follow Past Loves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastlovespodcast/
If Past Loves has become your current love, you can email me at [email protected]

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 Angela Steidele who has written several books about LGBTQ+ lives in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, including a biography of Anne Lister. We will, therefore, be delving into the relationship between Anne Lister and Ann Walker.
Anne Lister is often described as the 'first modern lesbian' and the diaries that she left provide a wealth of detail about her many passionate relationships with women. After all, in 1821, she wrote in her diaries: ‘I love, & only love, the fairer sex’. When she returned from the continent to Shibden Hall in 1832, she aimed to make the estate a success and find a wife. Her relationship history of labyrinthine complexity thus culminated in a marriage to Ann Walker. Their story is, of course, now at the centre of the smash-hit BBC TV drama series Gentleman Jack. But what is the story behind the dramatisation? It's safe to say it is just as compelling...
Where To Find Us
Shop Angela's book Gentleman Jack: A biography of Anne Lister, Regency Landowner, Seducer and Secret Diarist: https://www.waterstones.com/book/gentleman-jack/katy-derbyshire/angela-steidele/9781788160995Discover more about Angela: https://serpentstail.com/contributor/angela-steidele/
Listen to HRH Princess Mary & The 6th Earl of Harewood episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/997147/3687205
Follow Past Loves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastlovespodcast/
If Past Loves has become your current love, you can email me at [email protected]

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, editor and proofreader, specialising in Russia and the history of women, Virginia Rounding to discuss the relationship between the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia, Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra.
As the biggest fan of Russian history theirs is a story close to my heart, filled with heart-breaking moments of utter anguish alongside many years of the deepest sense of love for one another. Nicholas became tsar when his father died unexpectedly, taking on the role of the autocratic leader of a vast nation in a trying time. His solace? The fact that he had the woman whom he adored Alexandra, or Alix as she was known, to rule by his side. Together, not only did they shape the future of Russia but, they also raised a family of five children in extraordinary circumstances. After years of war, revolution and Rasputin, their story famously came to a bitter end in 1918.
Nevertheless, throughout it all, Alix and Nicky's love story is one of true devotion.
Where To Find Us
Shop Virginia's book Alix and Nicky: The Passion of the Last Tsar and Tsarina: https://www.waterstones.com/book/alix-and-nicky/virginia-rounding/9781250022196
More about Virginia: https://virginiarounding.org/

Follow Virginia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VRounding
Listen to Andrei & Natalia Chikhachev episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/997147/3960962
Follow Past Loves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastlovespodcast/
If Past Loves has become your current love, you can email me at [email protected]

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 titans within the ballet world, defining an era. Their art was, therefore, at the heart of their relationship and was so from the very beginning. When Rudolf defected to the West from the Soviet Union, it was his aim to meet and train with Erik. He knew that was where he was meant to be. They learnt from each other, honing their talent to become two of the most famous male ballet dancers in history.
Their love story is one of passion which I very much hope you enjoy. May your festive season be full of light and love. Merry Christmas!
Where To Find Us

More about Irina: https://library.harvard.edu/staff/irina-klyagin

Discover Julie Kavanagh's Rudolf Nureyev: https://www.waterstones.com/book/rudolf-nureyev/julie-kavanagh/9780241986905
Discover Diane Solway's Nureyev: His Life: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nureyev-His-Life-Diane-Solway/dp/0688128734/
Follow Past Loves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastlovespodcast/
If Past Loves has become your current love, you can email me at [email protected]

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 right match for the King of England. The legend behind their love for each other, however, emerges as the couple encounter a tumultuous reign. In death, the legitimacy of their relationship is famously undermined by Richard III when Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft.
Their relationship, and the drama of the decades in which their love story blossomed, remain of vast interest today as evidenced by the popularity of The White Queen by Philippa Gregory and the following BBC adaptation of the same name.
With this love story, I would like to say a big thank you for all of your support over the past year - you have made this podcast happen and I will be forever grateful. I hope you enjoy!
Where To Find Us
Shop Gemma's book Royal Witches: From Joan of Navarre to Elizabeth Woodville : https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/royal-witches/9780750989404/Discover more on Gemma's blog: https://justhistoryposts.com/
Follow Gemma on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustHistoryPosts
Listen to Past Loves archive: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/past-loves-a-history-of-the-greatest-love-stories/id1509195421
Follow Past Loves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastlovespodcast/
If Past Loves has become your current love, you can email me at [email protected]