Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

Lee Jackson, historian of Victorian urban life and author of Dirty Old London, explains Victorian sanitation and public toilets. He discusses the rise of the sanitary question, clashes between miasma and germ theory, and how flush toilets and sewers reshaped cities. He also covers burial crises, public baths, class gaps in bathing, and the political crisis that built modern sewers.

Anthony Delaney, historian and author specializing in queer and 18th‑century Dublin history, guides us through the life of Peg Plunkett. Learn about Dublin’s Georgian divides. Hear about Peg’s rise from precarious lodgings to running a brothel, her patrons and branding as Mrs Leeson. Discover violent attacks, courtroom drama over Richard Crosby, memoir culture and her rocky retirement.

Dr. Julia Martins, a historian specializing in early modern and Renaissance history, dives into the surprising realities of hygiene during the Renaissance. She uncovers misconceptions about bathing, detailing the decline of communal baths and the complexities of early medicinal practices. Julia also discusses urban waste management, revealing efforts to keep cities clean, and explores cultural attitudes toward menstruation. With insights on beauty standards and hazardous cosmetic recipes, listeners get a fascinating look at a period often romanticized yet rife with filth.

It's been estimated that between eight and twelve percent of soldiers in contracted a venereal disease during the American Civil War. What on earth were they up to?Kathryn Olivarius is a Professor at Stanford. She joins Kate to discuss syphilis, why it spread so far during the war and how it's impact continued after the war ended.Kathryn is the author of 'Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom'.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  All music from Epidemic Sounds.Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there's one sure way to irritate an historian of the Medieval period, it's to ask why the people of the Middle Ages didn't wash.In this episode, we did just that with Dr Eleanor Janega. Kate and Eleanor get into whether there really was poo everywhere, how the Victorians ruined the Medieval reputation, and what they were actually up to at the public baths.Eleanor co-hosts our sister podcast Gone Medieval and is the author of 'The Once And Future Sex'.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  All music from Epidemic Sounds.Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy Worsley, a historian and broadcaster known for her engaging documentaries, joins to unravel the chilling Thames Torso murders that baffled Victorian London. They explore the gruesome dismemberment methods of the killer, contrasting them with the notorious Jack the Ripper's frenzied chaos. Lucy highlights a breakthrough in their investigation, linking past violent assaults to a suspect named James Crick, and revealing the often-overlooked lives of the victims. Their findings might just bring justice to forgotten souls lost to the river's depths.

In this engaging discussion, Egyptologist Campbell Price examines the ancient Egyptians' quest for beauty and hygiene. He reveals their elaborate grooming rituals using oils and unguents, and contrasts sanitized images with historical colonial narratives. Price explores the intriguing role of cleanliness in religious practices and even the complexity of male circumcision as an identity marker. With fascinating insights into daily hygiene, sacred rituals, and the societal perceptions of dirt, this conversation is a delightful dive into ancient history.

Eleanor Janega, a medievalist and author, dives into the complex world of single women in the medieval era. She reveals how societal pressures forced many into marriage, often leading to public shame for those who remained single. Janega discusses the limited opportunities for work and the stigma attached to self-sufficient women. Highlighting fascinating records, she shares the risks of being labeled as 'suspect,' while exploring unconventional living arrangements. Ultimately, she posits that despite the challenges, some single women found refuge in nunneries and communal support.

Join historian Alexander Meddings, an expert on ancient Rome, as he dives into the surprisingly complex world of Roman cleanliness. They explore the dual role of public baths as social centers and hygiene facilities. Discover the shocking use of urine for laundry and the infamous communal sponge-on-a-stick debate! Meddings also delves into Rome's sewage systems, the challenges of water supply, and even the bizarre oral hygiene habits. With a mix of bath culture and urban sanitation, it's a fascinating peek into the smelly side of history.

Cultural historian Anna Beer, author of The Life of the Author: William Shakespeare, dives into the tantalizing world of Shakespeare's sexuality and its reflections in his works. They explore his bawdy language, revealing sexual innuendos even in tragedies. Gender fluidity in plays sparks discussion on queerness, while intense male friendships hint at emotional depth beyond heterosexuality. Anna deciphers the ambiguous nature of the sonnets, highlighting connections to London’s sex industry, making Shakespeare a captivatingly enigmatic figure.