A new eight-part series starts on the 26th October.

Normal Women is a radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen – but of social and cultural change, powered by the determination, persistence and effectiveness of women– from 1066 to modern times. This is not a podcast about three or four well-known heroines; it is a story about millions of women: those who left records and those who were ‘hidden from history.’

We'll hear about rioting women, power-mad women, manipulative women, angelic women and cursed women as Philippa Gregory weaves together narrative history with lively discussions, bringing together historians who are experts in their field, and guests with lived experience and their own modern perspectives to discuss themes from the her book 'Normal Women - 900 Years of Making History'.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philippa tells the story of women rebels and rioters - from the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt to those arrested at the vigil for Sarah Everard. We hear from 'Captain' Ann Carter, leader of a seventeenth century food riot, hanged by the authorities and just one of the thousands of women Philippa has rescued from the footnotes of history and placed at the heart of her book 'Normal Women - 900 years of Making History'. 

Joining Philippa to discuss women-led strikes, protests and rebellions are:

• Historian Sheila Rowbotham and
• Dame Louise Casey, author of a report on London's Metropolitan Police Force.

Normal Women is Philippa Gregory's radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen, but a history of the millions of women missing from the record: wives and workers, viragoes and angels, female husbands, priests and pirates.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just how should women behave? Throughout History, they have so often been expected to act as genteel ladies and confined to the home - often described as the 'angel in the house'. But far from remaining passive, many used their influence to put themselves at the heart of radical social change. In this episode we hear about the anti slavery campaigners - and Philippa introduces us to the hundreds of women who absolutely, under no circumstances wanted the vote.

Joining Philippa to discuss the push and pull of homely responsibilities throughout history are:

• Geri Halliwell-Horner former Spice Girl and children’s author and 
• Kate Mosse, best-selling novelist and the founder of the Women In History campaign

Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History is Philippa Gregory's radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen, but a history of the millions of women missing from the record: wives and workers, viragoes and angels, female husbands, priests and pirates.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.