Black Narcissus
Black Narcissus is a 1947 British psychological drama film written, directed, and produced jointly by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on the 1939 novel Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden.…
They wore WHAT? Medieval men dressed differently than you think
Join Dr Mortimer for the first instalment of the journey, travelling through A to D. Did you know medieval cows were a fraction of the size of today's? That men's…
Here’s what your medieval ancestors could REALLY afford to eat
In this HistoryExtra Academy, historian Ian Mortimer continues his A-Z of life in 14th-century England, exploring how dramatic changes in climate helped plunge communities into famine, why a skilled worker…
Wide Sargasso Sea
Wide Sargasso Sea is a 1966 postmodern novel by Dominican-British author Jean Rhys. Set in Jamaica in the 1830s–1840s, the novel is a postcolonial and feminist prequel to Charlotte Brontë's…
Ian Mortimer on the extraordinary scale of the Black Death and how its aftermath transformed England’s social order
Discover the terrifying diseases that people feared most, the extraordinary scale of the Black Death and how its aftermath helped transform England’s social order. Meet a famous medieval 'traveller', and…
Dining at the Wild Parties of Regency England
Max Miller recreates route cakes, a dry 19th-century treat popular at hectic social gatherings known as routes. Drawing on historical recipes from the Regency era, this episode explores the etiquette…
Making 2,000 Years Of Mustard
Tasting History with Max Miller
The Noble Origins of Afternoon Tea
Max Miller recreates a historical recipe for Victoria sandwiches from Isabella Beeton’s 1861 book, Book of Household Management. The episode explores the origins of afternoon tea, tracing its custom to…
Getting Dressed as Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second queen, was a fashion icon of her time. Bringing the manners, etiquette, and wardrobe trends from the French court to England, she stood out amongst…
The Extravagance of 1700s Court Dresses | The Spitalfields Mantua Dress
In the 18th century, Mantua dresses were the height of court fashion. In this video, our experts discuss a rare and spectacular dress that dates from around 1756. It's 210cm…