Arts & Ideas Double Lives
13 snips
Jan 23, 2026 Guest
Clare Carlisle
Guest
Lawrence Scott
Guest
Peter Parker
Guest
Ashleigh Percival-Borleigh
Guest
Ruth Wilson
Clare Carlisle, philosopher of selfhood; Lawrence Scott, commentator on digital persona; Peter Parker, historian of queer life; Ashleigh Percival-Borleigh, military historian of wartime cover identities; Ruth Wilson, actress who uncovered her grandfather's secret lives. They trace wartime cover stories, hidden mid‑century families, online personas and theatrical performance. Short, sharp conversations on concealment, performance and divided lives.
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Family Secrets Unravel After Death
- Ruth Wilson's grandfather led multiple secret families and wrote spy novels to sustain his fantasy life.
- His deception was revealed gradually after his death, creating an extended discovered family of children and siblings.
Double Lives As Survival Strategy
- Peter Parker shows many gay men in mid-century Britain led double lives through marriage or private clubs to avoid legal and social penalties.
- These secret lives were often coping strategies under criminalization and stigmatizing psychiatry.
Protect Privacy By Withholding Some Truths
- Maintain some deceit to protect privacy in a culture of total disclosure.
- Use selective silence to keep private spaces safe from constant digital exposure.
