“The whole idea of historical fiction is to fill in the gaps in the emotional feeling of the participants in the crisis.” — Barbara Southard In this episode of Uncorking a Story, historian and debut novelist Barbara Southard shares the emotional and intellectual journey behind her novel Unruly Human Hearts. Drawing from her academic roots and a deep fascination with 19th-century America, Barbara reimagines the infamous Beecher-Tilton adultery trial through the eyes of Elizabeth Tilton, the woman at the heart of the scandal. We explore gender dynamics, moral codes, and the role of historical fiction in giving voice to those left out of traditional narratives. Key Themes: The emotional power of historical fiction to tell untold stories The complexity of Victorian gender roles and societal expectations The double standard in “free love” and public morality How historical fiction bridges the gaps left by historical record Challenges of transitioning from academic writing to novel-writing The enduring relevance of women’s voices in historical scandals How empathy shapes character-driven storytelling Buy: Unruly Human Hearts: Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bK1Ajb Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647428303 Connect with Barbara Website: https://www.barbarasouthard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbara.southard45/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraSouthardAuthor Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #BarbaraSouthard #UnrulyHumanHearts #HistoricalFiction #VictorianScandal #WomenInHistory #DebutAuthor #BeecherTilton #FictionWithFeeling #UncorkingAStory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.