Helen Carr
@HelenhCarr
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Historian FRHistS. Times bestselling author The Red Prince &What is History, Now? Columnist for @historyextra PhD @qmul Rep. @knightayton @rmlagency
Cambridge
Joined June 2013
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I am sorry to those who signed up for my Plantagenets course starting in February, or other events this month. These events are either cancelled or postponed. I have suffered immeasurable bereavement and my heart is broken. Please be patient and kind.
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My daughter just told me she licks her friends at nursery. Exactly what you want to hear during a global pandemic.
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Feast your eyes on this hoard that was dug up yesterday in a field around my parents house. We have Roman, Iron Age & Medieval (and a random fork.) can anyone identify anything?
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What is the collective noun for a group of historians again?
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An idle, immature and frankly stupid thread attempting to discredit the importance and integrity of history. I think this attempts to suggest we just chase our own tails and see how that goes.
Always wanted to know more about this. Sound £879,525 taxpayer investment.
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Around 1 in 20 women died in childbirth before medical advancement, not inc. infant mortality. We should never fetishise ‘natural birth’ as it can have a devastating outcome, however preferable it might be for some.
everything about birthing culture is wrong.
babies should be had at home in beds and baths, not fluorescent hospital rooms.
the process should be organic, unmediated by chemical or surgical help and unassociated with the dread and pain it often is today.
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Sometimes, when writing history, you do find yourself sitting back thinking, this is just so desperately sad.
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My mum usually sends me some weird stuff, but I thought this was quite good.
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The Red Prince is out TODAY! Here’s me grinning like a loon the first time I got to hold it. Thank you to the team
@OneworldNews
and
@RMLagency
for holding my wee inexperienced hand throughout the process. Takes a village to raise a child... same for a *ehem* bestselling book. 💜
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Putting my daughter to bed she asked “do witches eat children?” (wtf did she get this from, she’s 3?!) Explained the myth perpetuating the evil witch woman emerged c.17thC because women chose to live differently and as a result were vindicated by men. “I’m tired now. You can go.”
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@Sathnam
I’m not able to attend my Nanna’s funeral next week, due to person limit. I also couldn’t hug my family when she died four weeks ago. I’m playing by the rules as are so many others and there is nothing “reasonable” about Cummings actions. We’re all concerned for our loved ones
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My child woke up at 7.30am AND my book is suddenly a no.1 Amazon bestseller... what is going on?!!!
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60 years ago vs. today. What is History, Now? A collection of essays from a stellar cast of historians, proudly compiled and edited by me and
@sixteenthCgirl
OUT TODAY!
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The earl of Hereford has flown in to my top ten worst medieval deaths having been ‘smote in the bottom, fiercely with a spear…so that his bowels came out’.
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Sad to see Peter Lawrence has passed away- father of missing Claudia Lawrence. I was at York Uni when she vanished and I cannot believe it’s been 12 yrs without justice. So much blamed on her “lifestyle” by the media at the time, like so many other women victim to violence.
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I am delighted and honoured to hear this morning that I have been elected as a Fellow of
@RoyalHistSoc
🙌
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One of the hardest jobs as a historian is to be aware of your own desires and bias when dealing with evidence. The first person you have to critique is yourself.
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I have always wondered what it would feel like to be in the top ten bestseller list. NOW I KNOW!!! 💥
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*ANNOUNCEMENT* There is a brand new feature on Hidden Histories...The Castle Series. I will travel to a variety of castles around the country and with a resident expert, unpack their hidden history. If you love castles, these episodes are for you. Episode 1 is out TONIGHT.
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The shiny and pocket size paperback of The Red Prince just landed on my doorstep and is out on 10th Feb in all good bookshops and online. A portable Prince.
#TheRedPrince
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When you submit something with the line, ‘I look forward to your thighs’. Followed by ‘THOUGHTS I MEAN THOUGHTS’!
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Oh, to be a woman who provides free online information and learning. Chunky... or pregnant.
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My dad has taken my daughter to see the tomb of the Black Prince, at Canterbury Cathedral. This melts my heart!
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Some BIG news I have been sitting on and can finally share! THIS ENGLAND to be published by
@HutchHeinemann
@penguinrandom
a ‘vivid’ account of the fourteenth century, a century in revolution. News
@thebookseller
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When both your lockdown projects come together. What is History, Now? OUT on 23 September, sixty years after the original by my great-grandfather. His great-great-grandchild having a kick n wriggle to celebrate. Pre-order your copy here!
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Every woman I know has jumped out their skin at an unwelcome beep or cat call. Felt afraid in an environment where she should feel safe. Been gaslighted: “take a joke, love”, or been inappropriately touched in some way or another. Enough is enough.
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The Red Prince is out TOMORROW! Available in all good book shops. If you have any questions about the Duke of Lancaster, the book, the process, ask me anything in the comments below. 👇🏼
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This is John Wybarne and his tiny wives who between them birthed 11 children. But forget about that, he’s the important one with his big sword.
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I am honoured and thrilled to announce What is History, Now? A brand new volume of essays edited by myself and
@sixteenthCgirl
asking how we look at history, now? Featuring
@dgjones
@simon_schama
@EJBrand
@islamaissa
@sarahchurchwell
@peterfrankopan
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Not just any gate, but John of Gaunt’s Gate. Thanks for having me, Lancaster Literary Festival- it was a pleasure to talk about JOG in his namesake town.
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I have been surreptitiously working on this for a long time and am so thrilled that today it goes LIVE! Hidden Histories is a brand new podcast highlighting historical places, events, people that would otherwise go unnoticed. Please rate and subscribe, but most importantly, enjoy
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Spotted out in the wild for the first time by my no.1 fan and critic.
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I am deeply honoured and proud that The Red Prince has been shortlisted for the Elizabeth Longford Prize, and as part of such stellar list! 💥
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Wrote something for
@NewStatesman
that’s rather close to my heart. It was incredibly challenging, but brought me closer to my dear great-grandfather ‘the Prof’. Available online and in print. I’d be honoured if you would give it a read.
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The wonderful moment when you see your book displayed in the window of the very place you wrote it. So many hours spent sat on the floor amidst the stacks, so many books borrowed (and finally returned), so many almost naps in the squashy brown chairs. Thank you
@TheLondonLib
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I’m sad and furious to discover a website I have written an article for has published it but not in my name... they have continued to use my research but distorted my words. This hasn’t happened to me before but would welcome advice on how to handle it
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11th century Church Correction Book: “Hast thou washed thyself in the bath with thy wife and other women and seen them nude, and they thee? If thou hast, thou shouldst fast for three days on bread and water.” NO BATH ORGIES ALLOWED. Have a lovely weekend.
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What is History, Now? Is out in paperback TODAY! Featuring a stellar cast of historians and writers
@peterfrankopan
@MiriERubin
@EJBrand
@carolinepennock
@islamaissa
@alexvtunzelmann
@profdanhicks
amongst others. A book to prove history is for everyone and always interpretive.
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Thank you suffragettes, thank you women all over the world who continue to fight for our rights, thank you to the women who inspire me
@wmarybeard
@JoCoxFoundation
@DrJaninaRamirez
@RebeccaRideal
@hrcastor
@KateWilliamsme
@lucyjones
@HallieRubenhold
and many many more
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Westminster Hall- built in 1097, one of the oldest parts of the Palace of Westminster. Renovated by Richard II in 1383 adding statues of the line of kings that came before him. The place of the trial of Charles I. The resting place of Elizabeth II until Monday.
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Dreading the inevitable scene of historians falling over each other to get inside the
@UkNatArchives
upon reopening. I imagine a sort of day of the dead intellectual anarchy.
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My son woke up at 6.15 rather than his usual 4.20/5am and I feel like I’ve been at a health spa.
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Just let me indulge in this moment, before I’m hit with all the edits.
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So proud to announce What is History, Now? Edited by me and
@sixteenthCgirl
with an array of voices discussing how we can look at the past, now. Please pre-order from
@foxlanebooks
for signed copies.
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My mum just sent me this from her place in Scotland. Most places you get some birds, there you get stag.
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Typing up a transcription of a 16thC manuscript and my computer spellcheck is like, ‘wtf wtf wtf wtf?’
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It’s paperback publication day! A Times and Sunday Times best book of 2021, The Red Prince. If you have not already snatched a copy, if paperbacks are more your cup of tea, now is the chance.
@OneworldNews
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Two weeks to go until we publish What is History, Now? A volume of essays discussing how we can talk about history, why it is important and why we must shine light on histories that have been marginalised. Get your copy from
@foxlanebooks
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I’ve had messages re. my podcast attacking me for being ‘posh’. What does that even mean? I grew up on a council owned sheep farm in Wiltshire in a post Foot and Mouth economy. Nothing posh about that.
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John of Gaunt’s cellar. Beneath Leicester business school is this incredible cellar, used by John of Gaunt. Later used as a dungeon holding prisoners of the Napoleonic War- some wonderful graffiti survives from this time.
#hiddenhistories
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Toddler starts nursery, toddler brings back every bug known to man. Point of nursery, entirely redundant. Send help.
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I just read that it takes the average young woman 5.5 hours to get ready for a night out. Wait, what..?!!!! It takes me between 40 mins to 60. 20 if I don’t dawdle about. Anyone else?
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For those who have asked, The Red Prince audiobook will be released 25 May. Available to pre order now!
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C. 1466, Alice de la Pole decorated her birth room with a tapestry of Amazonian warrior queens. I’d love to channel this, but not sure is this is what the midwife means by ‘birth plan’.
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Sad to see BBC4 turn into an archive channel. I was part of the team that made the 2 x Charles I series in 2019 ft.
@childs_jessie
@_paullay
@SocialHistoryOx
amongst other wonderful historians. We hoped there would be a finale series. BBC4 is the Radio 6 of TV. A huge loss.
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History should and must be a priority in our education system, and accessible to all.
I think historical illiteracy plays a central yet underappreciated role in the recent rise of rightwing nationalism on both sides of the Atlantic...
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My child is suddenly interested in bows and arrows, re-enactment, living history, battle. I feel this is my moment- where do I go?! What is on?!
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Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional overwhelm of sending my baby girl into reception this morning- her little socks pulled up to her knees.
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This is my doggo and her name is Otter. She found a cushion she loves so much. You’re welcome.
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I have a sore throat and a slight case of claustrophobia but the audiobook for The Red Prince is coming soon!
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ITS MY BIRTHDAY AND I’M IN EDINBURGH! Calling all historians and enthusiasts, where shall I go..?
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Annnnnd breathe! What a year to have created What is History, Now? with
@sixteenthCgirl
based on the seminal work of my great-grandfather and with the hope to encourage and inform about history and who it really belongs to- spoiler alert: everybody.
This beauty is coming your way soon. Edited by me and
@HelenhCarr
, it is filled with goodies from
@profdanhicks
,
@simon_schama
,
@jaivirdi
,
@sarahchurchwell
, Maya Jasanoff,
@EJBrand
,
@islamaissa
,
@lottelydia
@carolinepennock
,
@ProfBlackbird
, Rana Mitter,
@MiriERubin
, plus ...
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Crushing on everything at Hardwick Hall, but look at these exquisite door locks
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Pretty happy to see the female protagonist of ‘Normal People’ discussing ‘What is History?’ by my great grandfather In her history seminar. I think she made a good argument.
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Happy Birthday to my literary partner in crime (and oft’ grime)
@sixteenthCgirl
. She’s a real star so do send her some birthday cheer.
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Happy new year, to you all! So much for us all to look forward to. A vaccine, friends and family, a new president. Personally, I have three big events impending- two new books in April & in the autumn and all being well, a tiny person in between.
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Does anyone else imagine their research/book being made into a movie? I do, and in it Michael Fassbender plays John of Gaunt and gives me hugs on set.
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Dogs are so hot, I’ve draped wet tea towels over them and now they look like tiny racehorses
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The beautiful island of Lindisfarne. On today’s episode of Hidden Histories
@DavidPetts1
talks about the establishment of the monastery, the cult of Cuthbert and why the tide is so important to the Holy Island and the monks that lived there.
@ahrcpress
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Forget Black Friday, Black Monday in 1360- “the daye was full darke of mist and haile and so bitter cold that many men dyed on their horsebackes with the cold”
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I’m not doing as much history work as I would like right now but gazing at these hand dimples is rather lovely.
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I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the death of the fabulous, extraordinary and wise, Dame Hilary Mantel. She has been such an inspiration to me, from those long nights reading the Cromwell trilogy to the fantastic 2017 Reith Lectures. A real loss.
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For anyone who enjoyed The Red Prince, I would be hugely grateful if you could leave a review of the book on Waterstones. It would crucially drown out the essay somebody wrote about everything HE knows about the Black Prince. Mansplaining at its finest.
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This is such an honour!
London Library Member
@HelenhCarr
's The Red Prince is her best-selling debut factual history book and was also published in 2021.
#NationalWritingDay
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The York window at Canterbury Cathedral. Centre, the crown of England, left- Edward IV followed by his two sons (the princes in the Tower). Right- Elizabeth Woodville with her daughters. A rare York feature in what is a Lancastrian dominated cathedral
#hiddenhistories
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Plague, climate change, protests and now war with France. No the 21st is nothing like the 14thC....
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I used to listen to this podcast religiously (back in the days of its funky theme tune) now feels pretty cool to be in its inimitable line up. Thank you, as ever,
@thehistoryguy
for having me on the pod to talk all about the Red Prince.
@HelenhCarr
joins Dan on the podcast today to discuss John of Gaunt: Son of Edward III, younger brother to the Black Prince, uncle of Richard II and father of Henry IV, founder of the House of Lancaster and originator of the Tudor dynasty 👑 -
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When your mum makes you go see history at 2.5 weeks old. Tomb of Edward Middleham son of Richard III tucked away in Sheriff Hutton Church
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Don’t forget, episode 2 tonight, Charles I, Killing A King! I’m out , as it’s my birthday, but you should ALL watch it.
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I am thrilled to be hosting a course with
@HistFestUK
on my favourite and most beguiling royal dynasty, the Plantagenets. Please do sign up for a rollicking dive into Britain’s bloodiest kings and queens, starting in February.
📢 NEW COURSE!!
THE PLANTAGENETS: HOW A MEDIEVAL DYNASTY SHAPED BRITAIN
Start date: Wed 7 Feb 2024
Join bestselling author & historian
@HelenhCarr
for a fascinating online course exploring the history of the Plantagenets
Sign up (£40 +booking fee):
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Nobody can re-write history. History is interpretive. We use the facts available to us. As other histories become less marginalised, this adds further context and potential for interpretation- beyond 19thC antiquarian studies of white men.
Our history is complex, as is inevitably the case for any nation state of at least 1,200 years. Re-writing parts of that history, or seeking to erase them because they are painful, or trying to impose today’s morality on people from a different era, does not bring enlightenment.
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The Red Prince is now available as an audiobook with a beautiful new look! I am a huge audiobook fan, which makes me all the more thrilled to jump on the audible bandwagon with my own.
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We are bereft. The end of an era and a steady presence throughout our lives. Rest in Peace.
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Bird lovers, I write from this desk and I have a few lovely birds visit me but none interested in my feeder. What am I doing wrong?
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How about a statue of Emily Hobhouse, who shed light on the atrocities of the concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer war, which she worked tirelessly to change. I’d like to walk my daughter past a statue of her.
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I’ll be signing copies of The Red Prince in
@WaterstonesYork
this morning. Pop in if you’d like a signed copy or to say hello!
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I just got mistaken for my children’s nanny and I am so flattered. (I dont have a nanny- i think this means i look young and exuberant).
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My new book, Sceptered Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century is out next year and I can only hope it touches the sides of Tuchman’s classic.
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I am SO excited to share this tonight. First full feature for
@HistoryHit
-
Thank you to my partner in crime
@HelenCarrie2
for pulling this together and to everyone who worked tirelessly
@HistoryHit
to get it out on time. You’re all rockstars.
250 years ago today Captain James Cook set off on the Endeavour on his momentous first voyage to explore the Pacific Ocean. To celebrate
#Cook250
we have made a programme all about Cook and his legendary vessel. Watch now only on History Hit TV
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Someone has left a very cross review of my book (everywhere and it’s very long) maddened that the title is The Red Prince, ‘Gaunt was never called The Red Prince’ BUT he tells me all about why the Black Prince is called the Black Prince. Thanks for this brand new insight.
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