The History of English Podcast
Latest Episodes
Episode 176: All the World’s a Playhouse
Theaters were an important part of cultural life in Elizabethan England, and they contributed many words to the English language. Those words joined thousands of other words that were pouring into Eng
Episode 175: The English of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeares most popular plays and one of the most popular plays ever written. In this episode, we examine the language of the play to see how it reflects the Engl
Episode 174: Speak and Spell
English spelling largely reflects the state of the language in the late 1500s. In this episode, we look at one of the first English spelling books, and we explore several plays by William Shakespeare
Episode 173: Fooling Around
In this episode, we look at the development of English comedy in the early modern era. We examine some of William Shakespeares early comedies, and we also distinguish Shakespearean comedy from other
Episode 172: Succession
In this episode, we explore the concept of a successful succession. During the early 1590s, France was divided by a bitter conflict over the succession of Henry of Navarre to the French throne. Meanwh
Episode 171: Shakespeare’s English (featuring Ben Crystal)
In this episode, we turn our attention to the wordcraft of William Shakespeare. Today, many people have mixed opinions about his plays and poems. They know that he is widely regarded as the greatest E
Episode 170: Printers, Plague and Poets
In this episode, we examine the connection between poetry and plague in the early 1590s. An outbreak of the recurring sickness contributed to Shakespeares early career as a poet, and that poetry like
Episode 169: Shakespeare Documented
William Shakespeare is widely considered to be the most important writer in the history of the English language, but relatively little is known about his personal life. The desire to know more about t
Episode 168: Witches, Demons and Fairies
In this episode, we explore the Elizabethan fascination with witchcraft and mysterious creatures like fairies and demons. Those subjects feature prominently in the literature of the period, and they r
Episode 167: The Rhythm of English
All languages have their own rhythm and cadence, and English is no exception. That rhythm has actually shaped the language over time. It contributed to the structure of English poetry, and during the