Noble Blood
Author Dana Schwartz explores the stories of some of history’s most fascinating royals: the tyrants and the tragic, the murderers and the murdered, and everyone in between. Because when you’re wearing a crown, mistakes often mean blood.
Latest episodes
Aug 1, 2023 • 53min
Dumas and Napoleon
Alexander Dumas is famous for his swashbuckling novel The Count of Monte Cristo, but more thrilling than fiction is the real-life story of his father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. Born the son of an enslaved woman, Dumas would become one of the most celebrated soldiers in the French army, and would end up on a collision course with another young general: Napoleon Bonaparte. For more information, please read Tom Reiss's excellent book, The Black Count. Sign up for Dana's history writing course! Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 25, 2023 • 46min
The Resistance Queen Wilhelmina
Queen Wilhelmina, reigning over one of the most tumultuous periods in European history, discusses her speeches during WWII, her childhood memories, and her actions during World War I. The podcast also explores her death, funeral, and a candy company's tribute to her.
Jul 18, 2023 • 28min
Queen Tamar's Revenge
When her council forced her to marry, Tamar immediately knew their selection was the wrong choice. When he would eventually try to lead an invading army into overthrowing her government, I bet she wished she could have said, "I told you so." Sign up for Dana's history writing course! Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 11, 2023 • 32min
Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I (with Tracy Borman)
Dana is joined by the Tudor historian—and Joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces—Tracy Borman to discuss her latest book, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, and how two of British history's most famous women created their own legacies.Sign up for Dana's history writing course!Support Noble Blood:— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon— Merch!— Order Dana's book 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 4, 2023 • 31min
Edward VI Among the Women
The story of King Henry VIII is famous, as are the stories of his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. King Henry's only son, the sickly Edward VI, had a short reign, often overlooked and too often ignored. Sign up for Dana's history writing course! Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 27, 2023 • 25min
The Men Who Would Kill the Medici, Part 2
The men knew they needed to get rid of Lorenzo de Medici, they just didn't know how. In the end, they decided the right place would be High Mass, on a Sunday, in the Cathedral of Florence. When the archbishop raised the host, the assassins pulled the blades from their cloaks. Sign up for Dana's history writing course!Support Noble Blood— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon— Merch!— Order Dana's book 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 20, 2023 • 38min
The Men Who Would Kill the Medici, Part 1
Lorenzo de Medici was the center of power in Florence. Three men—Girolomo Riario, Francesco de Pazzi, and Francesco Salviati, Archbishop of Pisa—were determined to take him down. They just needed the authority of a Pope behind them. Sign up for Dana's history writing course! Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's book, Anatomy: A Love Story and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 13, 2023 • 27min
The Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Fighting To Be Seen
Our two part series on the Chevalier de Saint-Georges continues, with our hero rubbing elbows with Whig politicians and fighting for freedom during the French Revolution—perhaps setting a record for meeting the greatest number of previously-covered 'Noble Blood' subjects along the way. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's Book 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 6, 2023 • 29min
The Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Excellent or Nothing
In the late 1700s, one man became a celebrated fixture of Parisian salon culture: he was a prodigy fencer, and then a brilliant composer and violinists. He befriended Marie Antoinette and lead one of the city's most famous orchestras. And he was the son of an enslaved woman, fighting against the stigma of his skin color in a world where it made him hyper-visible but didn't let him be truly seen. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 30, 2023 • 34min
The Woman Who Wrote Fairy Tales
When it comes to fairy tales, most people know Charrles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. Fewer know of Madame d'Aulnoy, whose own life of murder and political inrigues inspired the stories where love is hard won and happiness is harder when the parties are human. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Merch! — Order Dana's Book 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
