Program 408a: Europe's Royal Families; Agatha Christie's Grand Tour; Bloomsday In Dublin

We start with a close look at how World War I upended the roles of Europe's monarchies, then hear about Agatha Christie's 1922 Grand Tour to promote the British Empire, as told to her grandson. And, just in time for "Bloomsday," a Dublin tour guide takes us on an audio walk past the city's must-see sights for fans of James Joyce's "Ulysses."

• Ben Curtis, author of "The Habsburgs: The History of a Dynasty"  (Bloomsbury)
• Mathew Prichard, grandson of author Agatha Christie, and editor of "The Grand Tour:  Around the World with the Queen of Mystery"  (Harper)
• Joe Darcy, tour guide based in Dublin

• Ben Curtis writes about the Habsburg family's royal history in "The Habsburgs: The History of a Dynasty."  Ben is also the author of "A Traveller's History of Croatia."
• Mathew Prichard compiles Agatha Christie's correspondence from her 1922  "grand tour" in "The Grand Tour:  Around the World with the Queen of Mystery."
• Agatha Christie describes her travels in her 1946 book "Come, Tell Me How You Live."
• The recently-renovated Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul incorporates "Murder on the Orient Express" themes in the hotel, since it is where Agatha Christie once stayed. 
• The International Agatha Christie Festival is planned for September 13-17, 2017 in Torquay, England, to honor the "Queen of Crime."  It's also the location of the Agatha Christie Literary Trail. 
• Agatha Christie's house at Greenway is open for visitors, and managed by the National Trust.
• Joe Darcy offers themed walking tours of Dublin.
• Davy Byrne's Pub in Dublin was a favorite of writer James Joyce, and is visited on June 16, "Bloomsday," by fans of his book "Ulysses."  Other pilgrimage sites in Dublin on Bloomsday include the historic Sweny's Pharmacy for a bar of lemon soap, or an afternoon reading from one of Joyce's works. 
• There is a museum at the James Joyce Centre in Dublin.
• The O'Connell Bridge over the Liffey River, the General Post Office building, Casino Marino, the Temple Bar district, and pedestrian Grafton Street, are some of Dublin's landmarks. 
• The Anna Livia statue has been moved from its original location in Dublin. 
• The Book of Kells is on permanent display at Trinity College in Dublin. 
• The Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse has one of the best views of Dublin.