A History of Private Life

Historian Amanda Vickery presents a series which reveals the hidden history of home over 400 years. She draws on first-hand accounts from letters and diaries, many of which have never been heard before. Including songs which have been specially recorded for the series. Visitors - and new codes of politeness. As visiting begins in the 18th century, so the home is opened up for inspection. Not everyone adhered to polite etiquette - these are the stories of family 'black sheep', and how embarrassing they were. And the moving diary of life with an alcoholic husband, who brought his servants back with him from the alehouse and trashed the parlour. Readers: Deborah Findlay, John Sessions, Madeleine Brolly and Simon Tcherniak. Singers: Gwyneth Herbert and Thomas Guthrie, with David Owen Norris at the keyboard. A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.