Consistently Eccentric History

We are returning to our tale of Robert Clive, picking back up with his return to England as a celebrity and the way he managed to blow through a fortune in only two years. Luckily the East India Company were more than happy to welcome him back with open arms, provided he agree to settle down into the life of an administrator in Madras... ...so naturally part two features pirates, political coups and lots of battles, fought in the traditional Robert Clive manner: All attack, all the time. But will Robert be able to revive his fortune? Will he finally lose a fight? And how big a bribe should you extort from your puppet rulers? We answer all these questions and more! Guest Host: Ollie Green ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

We are heading back to the Georgian era this week to begin the tale of a man who is arguably the single person most responsible for the British taking control of the Indian subcontinent for nearly 200 years. But how did the son of a minor country gentleman end up wielding such enormous power and influence? In this first part of the story of Robert Clive we will reflect on the trauma of his childhood and how this influenced his worldview. And how he found himself in the perfect place to quickly rise in the military ranks. Guest Host: Ollie Green ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

We are making our way across the Atlantic this week to discuss one of the shortest lived, but undeniably most fun settlements on the New England Coast. When Lawyer, Thomas Morton, was left in temporary charge of a small group of indentured servants, he decided to try setting up his own communal utopia. Offering to free his charges (which he had no authority to do) he suggested they live as equals, engage on friendly terms with the locals and try to have as good a time as possible. But while the members of this newly-named colony of Merrymount were having a good time, their puritan neighbours to the south did not approve... ...and they just so happened to have access to an armed militia. Guest Host: Emma Heathcote ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week we are heading back to the 15th century to discuss the life of a middle class housewife who just so happened to also regularly speak to Jesus Christ. Following the traumatic birth of her first child, Margery Kempe began experiencing religious visions which would last for the rest of her life, and would eventually (after a misstep into the world of brewing) lead her to become a professional religious fanatic. It is a tale of miracles, prophesy, pilgrimages and more than one accusation of heresy. All to the backdrop of constant weeping... ... so much weeping. Guest Host: Ollie Green ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week we are heading back to the middle ages to discuss the life of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. A man who became a Prince at age 9, but somehow still managed to make life unnecessarily hard for himself. Determined to expand his territory onto the continent Humphrey came up with what he thought to be a foolproof plan... ...even if his older brother has explained to him in detail exactly why it wasn't. So join us as we discuss his ambitions, his marriages and his eventual downfall. Guest Host: Emma Heathcote ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.