An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

97. Top Ten Mistresses

September 16, 2021

Description

Tom Holland is joined by Ali Ansari to discuss the most influential mistresses in history. The definition of success is to impact history, despite often humble beginnings. Recorded live at the...
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Books Referenced

Socrates in Love

Author: Armand D'Angour

Context:

Referenced as 'a wonderful book by the Oxford classicist' that argues Aspasia may have been the woman Diatima mentioned by Socrates as the source of his philosophy of love, and that she stands at the head of the Western philosophical tradition.

Flashman

Author: George MacDonald Fraser

Context:

Mentioned in the context of discussing Lola Montes - the speaker says 'One other famous person she has an affair with, of course, is Flashman' and 'that's how I became acquainted with Lola Montes, I have to say, is Flashman' - referring to the historical fiction series.

The True History of the Conquest of New Spain

Author: Bernal Díaz del Castillo

Context:

Referenced as 'Diaz's Conquest in New Spain' when discussing La Malinche, noting that she is recounted in this historical account and that Diaz describes her as 'a hugely admirable figure.'

Symposium

Author: Plato

Context:

Referenced in the discussion of Aspasia and Socrates - described as 'Pericles great kind of dialogue in which Socrates gives his great theory of love' where Socrates credits a woman named Diatima for his philosophy of love.