All the Marys brought to mind Louis VI & Eleanor of Aquitaine’s daughter, Alice, Eleanor & Henry II’s daughter Alice, & Louis VI’s daughter Alice with his second wife.
I’d love to see you do the soap operatic life of Eleanor.
Eleanor is such an overwhelming person to research. I think I’ll need to do maybe a ten part series on her at some point, because it’s all so much to wrap my head around!
I never liked learning about this part of history because OH SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NAME, seriously. Clearly I just needed you as a teacher, this was brilliant!
Ok, the timing of this post is impeccable for me. I just read an advanced review copy of The Graces by Breeze Barrington, out soon with Bloomsbury UK (and yes, this is a little advanced promo that I’m taking on here entirely of my own initiative). *The Graces* is about Mary of Modena and this whole circle, and as you can imagine Anne and Sarah Jennings figure largely. Sarah and Mary used to be friends! Who would have thought! As you say, this period was such a sh*t show, and it makes our own time pale by comparison, which is saying something. After reading the ARC, I went back and watched The Favourite. That would make a trifecta and a great week / weekend for anyone who cares to indulge: Ann’s post here + The Graces (once it comes out) + The Favourite.
But I actually feel quite badly for Anne. All the health problems. All the loss. It’s a terrible thing to be a queen.
"Sarah was like, “Yeah, that was me, I took down the portrait because I thought it would make you sad, so you shouldn’t look at it,” and Anne was like, “PUT IT BACK RIGHT NOW!!!!” and Sarah was like, “MAKE ME!!!!” And Anne was like, “I AM THE QUEEN!” And Sarah was like, “WHY DON’T YOU GO CRY ABOUT THIS TO ABIGAIL???” And Anne was like “AAAGHGHGGHGH”"
This is probably the best satirical comedy sketch about British history Monty Python never wrote.
What a delightful essay.
I loved “The Favourite”! This was such a great read, thank you, Ann.💕
All the Marys brought to mind Louis VI & Eleanor of Aquitaine’s daughter, Alice, Eleanor & Henry II’s daughter Alice, & Louis VI’s daughter Alice with his second wife.
I’d love to see you do the soap operatic life of Eleanor.
Eleanor is such an overwhelming person to research. I think I’ll need to do maybe a ten part series on her at some point, because it’s all so much to wrap my head around!
I can’t wait!
I never liked learning about this part of history because OH SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NAME, seriously. Clearly I just needed you as a teacher, this was brilliant!
Ok, the timing of this post is impeccable for me. I just read an advanced review copy of The Graces by Breeze Barrington, out soon with Bloomsbury UK (and yes, this is a little advanced promo that I’m taking on here entirely of my own initiative). *The Graces* is about Mary of Modena and this whole circle, and as you can imagine Anne and Sarah Jennings figure largely. Sarah and Mary used to be friends! Who would have thought! As you say, this period was such a sh*t show, and it makes our own time pale by comparison, which is saying something. After reading the ARC, I went back and watched The Favourite. That would make a trifecta and a great week / weekend for anyone who cares to indulge: Ann’s post here + The Graces (once it comes out) + The Favourite.
But I actually feel quite badly for Anne. All the health problems. All the loss. It’s a terrible thing to be a queen.
Ooh I’ve got to read that book! Mary of Modena is one of those figures from history who’s often sidelined but must have had such an interesting story
"Sarah was like, “Yeah, that was me, I took down the portrait because I thought it would make you sad, so you shouldn’t look at it,” and Anne was like, “PUT IT BACK RIGHT NOW!!!!” and Sarah was like, “MAKE ME!!!!” And Anne was like, “I AM THE QUEEN!” And Sarah was like, “WHY DON’T YOU GO CRY ABOUT THIS TO ABIGAIL???” And Anne was like “AAAGHGHGGHGH”"
This is probably the best satirical comedy sketch about British history Monty Python never wrote.