S10E2 History’s Famous Figures At 18: Alice Loxton on the teenage lives of history’s greatest people

“I love finding out people’s back stories. It’s the grittier, it’s the weirder, it’s the bits where people’s lives go wrong that shines a light on their glories later on.” ~Alice Loxton

History’s most famous figures are remembered only for their great deeds and achievements, but rarely for their lives before. What were the likes of Empress Matilda, Richard Burton or Chaucer like when they were teenagers - when they were just 18?

Alice Loxton, one of Britain’s most exciting young historians, explores this in her new book Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives. You may have spotted Alice on social media where she has more than 2 million followers. She’s also the author of Uproar: Satire, Scandal and Printmakers in Georgian London.

Alice explores how, despite narrow curriculums and stuffy history shows on TV, social media is changing how we perceive history, making it more compelling for a wider and younger audience. She explains why she felt it would be so powerful to tell the stories of the 18 year old versions of history’s greatest names. And she shares fascinating insights into their lives, highlighting the strange paths many walked before finding fame.

In this episode you will learn:

• How some figures from history are still waiting for their stories to be told.
• The importance of giving your characters histories and backstories of their own.
• Why it might be worth your while starting a social media channel.

Find out more about Alice here.

Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood.

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You can view the full transcript here.

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