The Stuarts and Their Children - A Day of Talks

Join us at Southwark Cathedral as several historians chart the fascinating story of the children of loving parents and family heartbreak

Join us for a fascinating day of talks exploring the lives and legacies of the Stuart family and their children, this event promises to be a captivating journey into British history.

Immerse yourself in the stories of the Stuarts, a prominent royal dynasty that shaped the course of England and Scotland for over a century. Our expert speakers will delve into the lives, achievements, and controversies surrounding this influential family, shedding light on their political, cultural, and social impact.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to gain insights into the lives of the Stuarts and their children. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a student, or simply curious about this fascinating period, our day of talks is sure to engage and entertain.

Speakers

Melita Thomas presents Arbella Stuart

Melita Thomas is the co-founder and editor of Tudor Times, a repository of information about Tudors and Stewarts in the period 1485-1625 www.tudortimes.co.uk

Melita has loved history since being mesmerised by the BBC productions of ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’ and ‘Elizabeth R’, when she was a little girl. After that, she read everything she could get her hands on about this most fascinating of dynasties. Captivated by the story of the Lady Mary galloping to Framingham to set up her standard and fight for her rights, Melita began her first book about the queen when she was 9. The manuscript is probably still in the attic!

Whilst still pursuing a career in business, Melita took a course on writing biography, which led her and her business partner to the idea for Tudor Times, and gave her the inspiration for writing ‘The King’s Pearl: Henry VIII and his daughter Mary’. The research for this book led her to want to know more about the Tudors’ cousins, the Greys, who were prominent members of the court. The result was her second book, 'House of Grey'.

Steven Veerapen presents Anna of Denmark and Her Children

Pursuing an interest in sixteenth-century literature, Steven Veerapen was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, with a thesis focussing on Renaissance literary depictions of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received an MLitt in Renaissance Studies, with his Masters’ thesis examining depictions of Elizabeth I in early modern drama and chronicle histories. This was followed by a PhD from the University of Strathclyde, the focus of which was on Elizabethan slanderous and seditious material. He now lectures in English Studies at the University of Strathclyde. His research interests include early modern Anglo-Scottish relations and representations of authority and resistance in early modern drama.

Linda Porter presents The Forgotten Children of Charles I

Linda Porter was the winner of the 2004 Biographers Club/Daily Mail Prize, and her first two books, Mary Tudor: The First Queen and Katherine the Queen: the Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr were both published to great acclaim. She is a regular contributor to BBC History Magazine and History Today

Breeze Barrington presents Mary of Modena

Breeze Barrington a cultural historian specialising in the artistic cultures of the seventeenth century, with particular focus on women’s history and female artists. Her PhD, which looked at the literary and artistic cultures of the early Stuart court, was awarded in 2021, from Queen Mary, University of London.

As an arts writer and critic, she has written for Apollo Magazine, The Art Newspaper, CNN Style, The Conversation, the Financial Times, and the Times Literary Supplement, and has appeared as a guest on podcasts including History Hack, Talking Tudors, the Colnaghi Foundation, and the TLS Podcast. She has also worked as a script consultant and literary/historical adviser for Working Title and Monumental Pictures.

Her academic writing includes articles on seventeenth century music and visual arts for The Seventeenth Century Journal. She has taught critical modules on seventeenth century literature and visual cultures, as well as creative writing modules on Biography/Non-Fiction, at Queen Mary, University of London, Cambridge University, and the University of East Anglia.

This event is in-person only and won't be recorded or streamed. A ticket allows entry for the whole day and the talks will take place in the Cathedral library.

Doors open at 10.15am for a 10.30am start.