My friend from uni, the incredible debut author Marion Taffe joins me this episode to take me through historical fiction books that highlight what history has hidden. We chat her book, how history remembers people and who it chooses to bury and erase.

Marion Taffe is a former journalist turned historical fiction novelist and all-round good egg (Lydia’s words) whose debut novel BY HER HAND comes out on 5th March 2025. She is drawn to themes of belonging, striving, choice, women’s range, and the relationship between people and the places that are important to them. You can find her at https://www.mariontaffe.com/

Show notes:

Marion’s shortlist theme is HISTORICAL FICTION THAT SHIFTS THE SPOTLIGHT and gives voice to those history hasoverlooked.

CONTENT WARNING: 13:00-15:00 we mention the sexual assault of Artemisia and her physical trial in court.

We also talk a lot about the Church’s impact on how women are treated throughout history and although we do so (I believe) quite sensitively, if that’s not what you’re up for listening to today, we’ll catch you next time instead. (Maybe our cosy romance episode might be more your vibe for today?)

I always want to look up extra bits when listening to podcasts, so here’s some of the things we mention that might be hard to hear-and-then-google, including all the books but only some of the tangents:

• BLOOD WATER PAINT by Joy McCollough
• Artemisia Gentileschi (her name is hard to spell if you’ve only heard it)
• Gentileschi’s painting of Judith:https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/judith-beheading-holofernes
• Carravaggio’s wimpy version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Beheading_Holofernes_%28Caravaggio%29#/media/File:Judith_Beheading_Holofernes-Caravaggio_(c.1598-9).jpg
• RAPTURE by Emily Maguire
• Saint that Lydia mentions inspired Rapunzel turns out to be Saint Barbara
• The Old English poem about Judith appears in the Nowell Codex with Beowulf
• CUDDY by Benjamin Myers
• We mention Yannick Thoraval’s exercise. He’s our former teacher at RMIT and wonderful writer. You should look him up
• THE VISITORS by Jane Harrison
• BURIAL RITES by Hannah Kent
• HORSE by Geraldine Brooks
• LILY by Rose Tremaine – not on the shortlist, but a book Lydia mentions
• Here’s a bonus John the Baptist head for you, as a treat for getting through the show notes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Head_of_John_