John Skelton: Poet, Tutor, and Troublemaker

About this episode

This episode explores the life and career of John Skelton, a poet and tutor to Henry VIII, highlighting his influence and controversies during the Tudor age.

John Skelton is one of the most fascinating figures of the Tudor age - and somehow, one of the most overlooked. Poet, scholar, tutor to the future Henry VIII, and professional troublemaker, Skelton spent his life using words to entertain, provoke, and occasionally land himself in serious trouble. In this episode, Amy McElroy joins me to explore the life and career of a man who was praised by scholars, admired by royalty, and feared by those who found themselves on the receiving end of his sharp tongue. We look at Skelton's role in the education of Prince Henry, his unique style of poetry, his clashes with powerful churchmen, and how he managed to survive in the turbulent world of Tudor politics. Was John Skelton a loyal servant of the Crown, a fearless critic, or simply someone who couldn't resist stirring the pot? Join us as we uncover the story of one of Tudor England's most colorful characters. Here is the link for the book. Commentu[m] familiare in Ciceronis Officia / cum Petri Marsi exactissima explanatione, ab ipso recognita et diligenter annotata ; cumq[ue] de Amicitia, Senectute, [et] Paradoxis eiusdem Ciceronis non penitendis commentarijs et omnium tum rerum, tum…

People in this episode

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Amy McElroy

Topics covered

• Tudor history
• John Skelton
• poetry
• education
• politics
• Henry VIII

Keywords

• John Skelton
• Tudor age
• poet
• Henry VIII
• politics
• education
• literature

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

Books & works: Commentum familiare in Ciceronis Officia, Prince Henry’s “boke”

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