Podcasts are a wonderful way to make long commutes, workdays, or hours on the treadmill fly by. While some of the most popular podcasts focus on true crime, self-improvement, and personal finance, for those of us who are more apt to have a favorite Jane Austen book than a favorite serial killer, there’s also a wealth of literary and history-focused shows on the Regency and Georgian periods:
Okay, I am obsessed with this podcast. Hosted by two historians, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, they’ve tackled everything from Nazis to the execution of Charles I. (For some reason beheadings don’t squick me out like true crime, I don’t claim to make sense.) In their episode on “The Regency Revolution” the hosts interview Hilary Davidson, author of Dress in the Age of Jane Austen, and do a deep-dive into how the clothing and styles reflected a shift in how gender, class, and national identity was percieved. Another episode “Food Glorious Food” tucks into the history of British food, encompassing Austen’s era.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
Hosts Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey bring to light hidden corners of history you might not have known about, were never covered in history class, or were forgotten. They did a two part series on mistress of the Gothic Ann Radcliffe, most famously the author of The Mysteries of Udolpho (a work which Northanger Abbey lovingly satirizes). Part 1 details the meteoric rise of her career, while Part 2 her abrupt retirement from writing. Even if you’re like me, and the greatest mystery of Udolpho is why it was so wildly popular, it’s a fascinating window into celebrity, publishing, and the writing culture of the era that immediately preceded and overlapped with Austen’s.
Finally, you can’t beat the Beeb. This official podcast for BBC History Magazine and BBC History Revealed offers an Austen-centric view of the history of the era, as detailed by historian Emily Brand, “The Regency Era: Everything You Wanted to Know.” Brand examines the extent to which Austen does and does not reflect historical reality and also the excesses of the Prince Regent.
Happy listening! Any readers have a series or an episode they’d like to recommend? We’re all ears (yes, even true crime, if it’s not too gory).
Jane Austen Society of North America - New Jersey Region 