Polari: The Secret Language of Gay Men
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
09/26/23
•32m
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It's a credit to the resilience of the gay community that when society tried to outlaw and silence them, they just created a language of their own to keep conversation (and gossip) alive.
The language, polari, was born out of prejudice, and while it's now classified as endangered, many of its words are still used by us today.
What were its many origins? When was it at its peak? And why did some of the gay community eventually start to turn its back on it?
Kate's joined by Paul Baker, author of Fabulosa!: The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language, to find out more.
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy, and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
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Previous Episode
Sex & Scandal in Hampton Court
September 22, 2023
•43m
From Catherine Howard’s affairs whilst she was with Henry VIII, to Charles II’s mistress staging a lesbian wedding as part of a threesome... Hampton Court has seen it all.
Today’s guest is Gareth Russell, historian and author of The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of History at Hampton Court, to explore a selection of the sex and scandal that’s taken place there at the hands of its royal residents.
Who were some of the most popular and powerful mistresses to live there? What was Catherine Howard’s downfall with Henry VIII? Why was it more beneficial for James I to have mail mistresses?
Let’s go Betwixt the Sheets to find out.
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
Get 50% off your first 3 months with code BETWIXT. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.
You can take part in our listener survey here.
Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Julius Caesar's Sex Life
September 29, 2023
•37m
"I came. I saw. I conquered".
Perhaps the most famous Julius Caesar quote of all time. But after hearing all about his bedroom antics, it takes on a slightly...different meaning.
From Cleopatra, to his three wives, to male lovers, to mistresses - Julius Caesar definitely slept his way round Rome.
Today Kate is Betwixt the Ancient Roman Sheets with Emma Southon, to find out all about his rampant sex life.
This podcast was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Kate Lister, Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Mary Beard and more.
Get 50% off your first 3 months with code BETWIXT. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.
You can take part in our listener survey here.
Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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