EI Portraits

Our writers profile individuals, some well-known, some overlooked, and explore how they shaped the world as we know it. Read by Sebastian Brown.

A print of Heinrich Biber

Episode 6

EI Portraits — Heinrich Biber: composer of rapture and ravings

James Hardie on the violinist-composer who mixed the sacred and profane in his fantastical...

May 9, 2024

An excerpt from Nehemiah Wallington's diary

Episode 5

EI Portraits — Nehemiah Wallington: Puritan chronicler who had far less fun than Pepys

Vanessa Harding on the God-fearing diarist Nehemiah Wallington whose personality was far r...

April 25, 2024

Anna Komnene, a Byzantine princess and scholar.

Episode 4

EI Portraits — Anna Komnene: the princess who chronicled Byzantium’s changing fortunes

Peter Frankopan on the Byzantine princess Anna Komnene who, banished to a convent for her ...

April 12, 2024

Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica.

Episode 3

EI Portraits — The many ways of seeing Saint Monica

Gillian Clark on Saint Monica, mother to Augustine of Hippo and lionized by the Latin Chur...

March 28, 2024

Comte Lanjuinais speaks at a febrile meeting of the National Convention, 1793.

Episode 2

EI Portraits — Jean Denis, Comte Lanjuinais: fearless opponent of The Terror

Jenny McCartney on Comte Lanjuinais, who risked his life by defying the Jacobins. Read by ...

March 14, 2024

19th Century lithograph of Aspasia of Miletus.

Episode 1

EI Portraits — Aspasia of Miletus: queen of the Athenian salon

Armand D'Angour on Aspasia of Miletus, wife of Pericles and friend to philosophers. Read b...

February 29, 2024