In this special live episode, recorded at the Buckingham Literary Festival last weekend, the award-winning writer Flora Fraser takes us to one of the most remote places in the British Isles to witness the dramatic story of how her namesake Flora Macdonald helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after his failed attempt to take the throne from George II.

Their adventure is one of the most romantic and romanticised episodes in our history, sighed over and depicted by succeeding generations seduced by Flora’s bravery and charm.

Flora Fraser is the author of several acclaimed works of history including Beloved Emma: The Life of Emma, Lady Hamilton; Venus of Empire, The Life of Pauline Bonaparte, and The Washingtons.

Her book Pretty Young Rebel, The Life of Flora MacDonald is out now in hardback.

For more, as ever, visit our website: tttpodcast.com.

Show notes

Scene One: June 1746. The Prince comes to Flora at midnight in South Uist and asks for help. 

Scene Two: September 1746. Flora is a captive on a Royal Navy warship in Leith harbour and a celebrity.

Scene Three: December 1746. The ship bringing Flora South from Leith reaches London.

Memento: The handsomely bound Bible in two volumes that Flora carried down to London, where she was kept a state prisoner into the following year.

People/Social

Presenter: Violet Moller

Guest: Flora Fraser

Production: Maria Nolan

Podcast partner: Ace Cultural Tours

Theme music: ‘Love Token’ from the album ‘This Is Us’ By Slava and Leonard Grigoryan

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