The Reith Lectures The Iron Maiden
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Jun 20, 2017 Hilary Mantel, the acclaimed author known for her captivating novels about the Tudor court, dives deep into how we perceive history. She challenges us to think critically about the romanticized and often brutal representations of the past. Mantel warns against oversimplified comparisons like those between the English Reformation and Brexit and emphasizes the importance of revisiting untold stories, particularly of women. Throughout her lectures, she reflects on the complex interplay between history, memory, and fiction, urging us to respect the past's strangeness.
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Drowned Village Myth
- Hilary Mantel imagined the Derwent villagers had a dramatic, rushed evacuation before the flood.
- However, the church was demolished years later, showing how myths form, not falsehoods, but symbolic truths.
Tudor Realities
- Challenge common misconceptions about the Tudor era's hygiene and violence.
- Remember they had complex table manners and cleanliness practices, and lifespans were comparable after childhood.
Pre-Industrial Life
- Pre-industrial life was less polluted and quieter than we often imagine.
- Cities were smaller, air was cleaner, and daily life had a different pace and sensory experience.