Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls

tv show

poster for Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls

3 total episodes

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1 seasons

First Aired May 22, 2012

Overview

Historian Dr Lucy Worsley immerses herself in the world of Restoration England, exploring the captivating lives of the women of the period.

Act Three: At Work and At Play poster unavailable

Act Three: At Work and At Play

Season 1 - Episode 3 - 0h 0m

Air Date

June 05, 2012

Overview

Lucy Worsley explores the lives of some of the most remarkable women of the age, including writers, actresses, travellers and scientists. Against a backdrop of religious and political turmoil, the rise of print culture, the rapid growth of London, the burgeoning scientific revolution and the country's flourishing trading empire, she meets a host of female mavericks who took advantage of the extraordinary changes afoot to challenge the traditional male bastions of society. Women like Nell Gwyn, the most famous of a new generation of actresses; Aphra Behn, the first professional female writer; and Christian Davies, who disguised herself as a man to fight as a soldier - all of them gained notoriety and celebrity, challenging the inequalities of the age. As Lucy discovers, these women's attitudes, ambitions and achievements were surprisingly modern.