Act Three: At Work and At Play
Lucy Worsley looks at some remarkable women of the Restoration period, including actress Nell Gwyn, writer Aphra Behn and soldier Christian Davies.
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.
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See all episodes from Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls
Clip
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Celia Fiennes’ remarkable 17th Century tour of England
Duration: 01:00
Music Played
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Gotan Project
Queremos Paz
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Lucy Worsley |
Executive Producer | Emma Hindley |
Series Producer | Nick Gillam-Smith |
Director | Eleanor Scoones |
Director | Eleanor Scoones |
Broadcasts
- Tue 5 Jun 2012 21:00
- Wed 6 Jun 2012 03:30
- Thu 7 Jun 2012 23:40
- Mon 11 Jun 2012 22:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD
- Sun 17 Feb 2013 20:00
- Wed 18 Sep 2013 20:00
- Thu 19 Sep 2013 01:40
- Wed 27 Nov 2013 22:00
- Tue 20 Jan 2015 20:00
- Mon 15 May 2017 23:35
Featured in...
Harlots, Housewives and Heroines
Historian Dr Lucy Worsley immerses herself in the world of Restoration England.
More from historian Lucy Worsley
Delve into the past as forgotten and fascinating stories are retold from new perspectives