I spent hours in the Opera branch of the BnF in Paris, possibly holding my breath the entire time, as I leafed through a small volume of d’Albert’s letters to his beloved Julie-Emilie. I am pretty sure I have compiled the most complete history of La Maupin’s performances and have unravelled some complex relationships taken for granted by contemporary diarists and ignored ever since. This has also been the most challenging writing project I’ve ever undertaken – I’ve spent years figuring out complex French aristocratic family trees and the architecture of long lost opera theatres, researching everything from sword hilts to undergarments.

I feel in some ways like the character of the priest who takes her final confession, unable to get a word in edgewise and scribbling down every word. It’s possible she has driven me just a little mad. I’ve spent the last five years with Julie’s voice clamouring in my head, drowning out everything else. I had a few words to say too, and here they are (more or less): She talked about La Maupin’s life, said some lovely things about the book, and I was honoured to have her do so.

The lovely Alison Croggon launched Goddess last week at Readings in Carlton (thanks, team!). PS: There’s also an episode on Grace O’Malley, about whom I’ve also written (but not yet published). Jacques aux Colonnes d’Hercule, Paris and colourised later). It’s a contemporary engraving made of La Maupin, in costume and as if on stage (published by J Mariette, rue St. Having spent so many years researching her for Goddess, I love hearing people respond to her story, and I also love hearing historians engage with the materials – both dubious and as-legit-as-we-can-get when it comes to La Maupin. Greg is joined by Dr Sara Barker and returning special guest comedian Catherine Bohart to travel back to 17th-century France and meet the notorious Julie d’Aubigny. You can listen here or subscribe on your usual podcast app. I was delighted to be approached to help out with some research on La Maupin for this BBC4 episode of You’re Dead to Me, a terrific series hosted by Greg Jenner, which takes a different person from the past each episode, digs into their story, and combines that with bona fide comedy.

Queen of the Night by Leanne Hall