Podcast

04. Mind your grammar! Barbara Crosbie on Anne Fisher

About the Episode

The 18th century Newcastle entrepreneur, Anne Slack, who published under her maiden name Fisher, has been described as the first female grammarian of modern English. However, she has disappeared into the archives and Barbara Crosbie wants to bring her back.

In this episode, Barbara and I talk about why she was such a trailblazer, and the work Barbara has done to revive interest in this significant northern figure. This includes the 2019 installation of a black plaque dedicated to Anne Fisher at the Church of St John the Baptist in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Barbara Crosbie is Associate Professor of Early Modern British History at Durham University.

Subscribe

References

Sally Graham

Barbara Crosbie

Related Materials

More Episodes

05. The Ephemeral Tate Wilkinson, with Gillian Russell

In this episode, I talk with cultural historian Gillian Russell about Wilkinson, York and the ephemerality of eighteenth-century theatre and performance.

06. William Shield: no Geordie Dick Whittington, with Amélie Addison

In this episode Dr Amélie Addison reveals new findings about the prolific musician and composer William Shield.

07. William Newton and the North’s Rural Renaissance, with Richard Pears

Richard Pears and I discuss William Newton, arguably Northern England's first home-grown 'modern' architect.

08. Preach It! Rachel Hammersley on James Murray

In this episode Rachel Hammersley joins me in Newcastle’s Lit and Phil to talk about the Presbyterian preacher and writer James Murray who helped to radicalise the region.

09. Sarah Hodgson a radical type, with Helen Williams

In this episode I am joined by Helen Williams, a specialist in eighteenth-century book history to find out about the Newcastle-born printer, newspaper editor and radical Sarah Hodgson.

10. James Field Stanfield and the Art of Biography, with Declan McCormack

In this episode I look at the actor James Field Stanfield who made Sunderland his home in the 1790s where he promoted the abolition of slavery and founded the town's first subscription library.

01. What is Biographicon?

In this trailer, I introduce myself and the cast of characters that will appear in the upcoming Biographicon podcasts.

02. Psychogeography and Thomas Spence, with Alastair Bonnett

Be warned – you may risk arrest if you listen to this podcast! Join human geographer Alastair Bonnett on a psychogeographic tour of Newcastle upon Tyne seen through the mind of the radical Thomas Spence.

03. Joseph Ritson’s Revolution, with Jon Mee

Professor Jon Mee joins me in this episode to talk about the cantankerous northern antiquarian Joseph Ritson, the man who is responsible for making Robin Hood a champion of the poor.