Noble Blood

William Somer (or Will Summers), Henry VIII's fool, became known to history as a famous wit, the man who spoke truth to power and advocated for the common people. But in reality, the man's life was more nuanced, and far sadder. Dana speaks with historian Peter K. Andersson about his new book, FOOL: In Search of Henry VIII's Closest Man about the man who was arguably Henry VIII's longest-term relationship.

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Marie Lafarge's trial was a sensation. But when chemists begin to disagree on their conclusions, who's to say what the real story is? NOTE: This is the second part of our discussion of the trail of Marie Lafarge. If you haven't listened to last week's episode, begin there.

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In 1840, the trial of Marie Lafarge scandalized France. Marie was a woman from noble birth, raised in all of the right social circles in Paris, who ended up married to an iron-master, heavily in debt. When he died less than a year later, his family suspected his new bride of sprinkling arsenic into his food.

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— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

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[CONTENT WARNING: this episode contains depictions of violence and spousal abuse.]

On November 7, 1974, John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan committed a horrible crime: attacking his wife, Veronica, Lady Lucan, and murdering their nanny, Sandra Rivett, in the family's quiet Belgravia home. But it's what happened after that turned the story into a true-crime legend: the morning after the murder, Lord Lucan disappeared.

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— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

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King Alfonson XII of Spain died without a male heir—but there was hope: his wife was six months pregnant. And as great fortune would have it, the Queen gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who would be Alfonso XIII. At the turn of the century, Spain was at a crossroads. It could either regress, into a conservative Catholic monarchy, or become a more liberal constitutional government. But the King facing those challenges was entirely unequipped to rise to the occasion, and his cloistered and limited worldview would allow Spain to fall into chaos and then worse.


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— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story'and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

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Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi lived many lives—as political researcher, congressional wife, Playboy model, and actress. But it would be her role as wife of an Italian prince that would eventually lead her into the battle of her life: an inheritance fight for a $500 million villa. [The archive mentioned in the episode epilogue here]

Support Noble Blood:

— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

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— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

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Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most famous women in European history for good reason. After annulling her marriage from the King of France, she would marry the man who would become Henry II, King of England. But that marriage would sour, and in the end, Eleanor would turn against him.

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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.

TRIGGER WARNING: this episode contains references to sexual content.

The Marquis de Sade, the namesake of "sadism," is famous for his writings cataloguing the full extent of brutal and abusive sexual acts. Today, he's perhaps more famous as a concept than an actual living, breathing person, a man who wrote his most famous manuscript in prison, aided by a shockingly devoted wife.

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Support Noble Blood:

— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

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— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

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Robert Dudley is famous for being the favorite of the "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth I, but the death of his first wife, Amy Robsart would be his most enduring scandal. Amy, the jilted wife of a man who ignored her in favor of social climbing at court, was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. Whether it was an accident, a suicide, or foul play is a matter of debate to this day.

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Support Noble Blood: 
— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
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— Order Dana's book 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

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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

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— Order Dana's book,  'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.