The Interviews - Rt Honourable Jesse Norman MP (Con) on "The Winding Stair": Dissecting Francis Bacon's Ambition and the Art of Historical Fiction

Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast

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Join the ranks of history enthusiasts and literary connoisseurs as I, Samuel Woodall, sit down with the erudite Dr Jesse Norman, former Minister of State for Decarbonisation and Technology and author of "The Winding Stair." Step back in time to Elizabethan and Jacobean England, where the intense rivalry between Edward Coke and Francis Bacon unfolds in the pages of Dr. Norman's meticulously researched novel. As we traverse the corridors of power that shaped Bacon's political manoeuvres, we're reminded of the delicate dance between historical fact and narrative flourish. Dr. Norman unfurls the layers of Bacon's ambitions, set ablaze by his family's influence and his thirst for governmental recognition, all while staying true to the historical intricacies of the time.
Our conversation delves beyond the surface of the novel, probing the role of historical fiction in shaping our understanding of the past. We examine Bacon's personal and professional battles, dissecting how the interplay of favouritism and rivalry delayed his ascent and influenced his legacy in law and philosophy. Dr. Norman's commitment to accuracy offers a fresh lens through which we view figures like Thomas Cromwell, challenging conventional wisdom and spurring new academic discourse. We invite listeners to consider these novel interpretations and how they enrich our collective grasp of history's most enigmatic characters, as well as to reflect on the power of fiction to animate the dusty archives of time.

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1. Exploring Francis Bacon's Ambition (00:00:00)

2. Navigating Historical Accuracy in Fiction (00:04:58)

3. Historical Interpretations and New Readings (00:22:44)