Eleanor Morton, a talented comedian and writer famed for her book "Life Lessons From Historical Women," joins Richard for an enlightening chat. They delve into the representation of women in history and the often hilarious yet somber reality of their overlooked contributions. Eleanor shares her process for selecting 18 notable women and discusses the evolution of women's rights in sports. Their witty banter highlights how history becomes more engaging when you're not afraid to critique the past, making for an entertaining and thought-provoking conversation.
Eleanor Morton's book highlights the often overlooked contributions of 18 historical women, emphasizing their significance beyond traditional narratives.
The podcast discusses the challenges of researching women's history and how contemporary issues reflect the struggles faced by these historical figures.
Deep dives
Live Podcast Events
The podcast promotes upcoming live events in Birmingham and London, encouraging listeners to attend and support the shows. The Birmingham event features notable guests Ruth Hesco and Josh Pugh, while the London show promises a surprise guest alongside regular appearances from comedians like Nish Kumar. The host emphasizes the fun and unique atmosphere of live performances, suggesting that attendees can expect an engaging night filled with laughter and insightful discussions. Additionally, there's a call to action for listeners to invite friends, fostering a sense of community around the event.
Book Discussion: Life Lessons from Historical Women
The episode features a conversation about a book entitled 'Life Lessons from Historical Women' by Eleanor Morton, which offers insights into the lives of 18 underappreciated women in history. The discussion highlights the author's intent to create a fun yet informative history book that portrays these women's contributions and experiences, which are often overlooked or misrepresented in traditional narratives. The host and author discuss how the criteria for including women in the book focused on their intriguing stories and significance, even if they were not widely known. This selection points to a broader issue of historical representation, particularly regarding women and marginalized groups in history.
Challenges in Researching Women's History
The conversation sheds light on the difficulties faced when researching women's history, which is often marked by a lack of documentation and societal biases. Many women's stories remained untold due to the focus on prominent male figures, making it challenging to recover their narratives. The author shares her experience of primarily relying on online archives rather than traditional library research to gather information about these women's lives. This insight emphasizes the need for a more inclusive approach to history that recognizes the contributions of all individuals, regardless of their gender or social standing.
Contemporary Relevance of Historical Figures
The discussion draws parallels between the historical experiences of the featured women and contemporary issues, illustrating that the themes of struggle and resilience remain relevant today. The author reflects on how historical events can inform current social justice movements, noting that the emotional experiences of past figures resonate with present challenges. She aims to show listeners that the past is not just a distant memory but a living narrative that influences current societal norms and values. This connection encourages readers to engage with history not only for knowledge but also for empowerment and understanding of ongoing struggles.
Book Club #113 - Life Lessons From Historical Women - Richard talks to comedian and writer Eleanor Morton about her book about some notable women from history (some famous, others not so much) Life Lessons From Historical Women. Should Richard with his 2:1 in history have know about more of them than he does? Perhaps. They chat about why women (and non-royalty generally) are so badly represented in history, how history is more fun if you’re allowed to be judgemental about the clearly horrible stuff, how even stories from as recently at the 60s show how pervasive certain ideas of women can be, how Eleanor chose her 18 people/groups to write about and how the book is more serious than one might have expected (but still has plenty of funny stuff in it too).