European Review of History Podcast Dr Oliver Coulson - Humour in Medieval England
In this lively opening episode of The European Review of History Podcast’s new series on History and Entertainment, Ruby is joined by Dr Oliver Coulson, Head of Operations and Conservation at the Norwich Historic Churches Trust. Together they explore how laughter, satire, and visual wit were woven into the fabric of medieval religious life.
From the Venerable Bede — the eighth-century monk who slipped the first recorded joke in English history into his Ecclesiastical History — to the Lollards and the fox-filled manuscripts of the fifteenth century, Oliver reveals that medieval culture was far from dour or joyless. The conversation uncovers a rich and surprisingly funny world where manuscripts doubled as cartoons, morality plays poked fun at priests, and even heresy inspired a wry visual vocabulary.
Along the way, Ruby and Oliver consider why modern audiences often imagine the Middle Ages as dark and humourless, and how rediscovering the period’s playfulness can bridge the gap between past and present.
Whether you’re a medievalist, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys a good pun (Pope Gregory’s “Angli/Angeli” joke gets an honourable mention), this episode will make you see the Middle Ages in a whole new light.
Connect with Oliver:
Instagram: @omc_ig
Find out more about Norwich Historic Churches Trust:
https://www.nhct-norwich.org/about/
Read the journal here:
https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/current
Follow the journal here:
Bluesky: @EuroReviewHist
Threads:@EuroReviewHistory
Instagram: @euroreviewhistory
Blog: www.euroreviewhistory.com
The views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.