He kidnapped his wife and got locked up in the Tower of London. He slept around King Charles II’s court, and drunk to excess for years before dying from syphilis and alcoholism. He became a war hero but grew disillusioned by religion and monogomy. He also wrote some of the filthiest poetry of all time. Who are we talking about? John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester.
Today Kate is joined by two special guests Betwixt the Sheets. Neil Gaiman, who will be reading some of his favourite Rochester poems, and historian Rebecca Rideal, who will be taking us through the wild life of this 17th century libertine.
To find out more about Rebecca Rideal’s work and podcast, click here.
*CONTENT WARNING: There are adult themes and explicit words in this episode. In fact, we think it’s our naughtiest episode yet.*
Senior Producer: Charlotte Long.Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by: Charlotte Long & Anisha Deva
Medieval Torture & Execution
Menopause: History, ‘Hysteria’ & Hormone Revolutions
Sex & Scandal in Charles II's Court
History of Geishas
Drunk Victorians: Moral Panic & Meat Wine
Elvis Presley's Sex Life
Ancient Greek Sexual Health: Wandering Wombs & Headless Beetles
Sex in the Aztec Empire
Fetishwear: A Kinky History
The History of Drag Queens
Sex & Scandal in King James' Court
Viking Royalty: Nicknames, Love Poems & Victorian Myths
History of Sh*t: Aztec Poo Goblins to Viking Turds
Scandalous Sex Lives of Royalty
The Dark History of Ballet
Abraham Lincoln's Sex Life
The Celebrity Sex Worker of Ancient Greece
Viking Sexuality
18th Century Graffiti: Sex, Murder & Rebellion
The Real Joan of Arc
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
Gone Medieval
Not Just the Tudors
Empire
Real Dictators