The Lion Queen: Victorian Big Cat Tamers
6/15/202637 min
Nellie Chapman has an extraordinary way of drawing a crowd. Born into the strange and spectacular world of 19th Century travelling menageries, she rises to fame as one of Britain's most celebrated lion tamers. Performing inside the cage with some of the world's most feared predators, Nellie captivates audiences eager for a glimpse of danger.
A performance for Queen Victoria offers the chance of a lifetime, but life among the big cats comes with enormous risks. At the height of Nellie's career, a shocking on-stage tragedy sparks public outrage and shines a spotlight on the hidden realities of the menagerie industry.
How did Nellie Chapman become Britain's famed Lion Queen? Why were Victorian audiences so enthralled by lion tamers and exotic animals? What dark and dangerous truths lay behind the spectacle? And what can Nellie's story reveal about our complicated relationship with wild animals?
Michelle is joined by expert Dr Peta Tait to explore a world of spectacle, danger, and caged beasts, uncovering the remarkable story of Britain's Lion Queen.
Discover More:
Check out Dr Peta Tait's book, Fighting Nature
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Nature-Travelling-Menageries-Publics/dp/1743324308
More Beastly:
Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory
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Michelle Douglas· Host0:37
[gentle music] You hurry through the overpowering sights and smells in the traveling menagerie to get a good view of what you've come here to see. [animals calling] You make your way past the unimaginably exotic caged beasts you've been gawping at all evening; wolves, hyenas, sloths, even giraffes. It doesn't sit quite right with you to see these wild creatures in cages, but right now your curiosity overrides everything else. You see a crowd ahead. They're getting restless. You know these places have a reputation for getting rowdy, but when a traveling menagerie comes to your town, it's impossible to resist. You squeeze through the crowd and you catch sight of what you're looking for,