My mother was a big fan of poetry, and she would often read poetry out loud to us, in Swedish or English or Spanish. (A galopar, she would read, a galopar hasta enterrarlos en el mar, and all those rolling Spanish r’s would send shivers down my back. She was rather fond of Rafael Alberti’s
There came a letter – a reflection on home, memories and golden moments Read More »
I grew up with a mother who loved to swim. As a young girl she’d swum competitively, and like most good Swedish swimmers, she had a collection of swim badges. Some of those badges merely required swimming a specific distance—200 metres or 1 000 metres or 3 000 metres. Others were more of a combo:
Like riding a bike – a reflection on swimming and age Read More »
Elizabeth St.John has been a frequent visitor to this blog. By now, I consider her a dear friend – and an amazing author! The first time we met was in Oxford in 2016 – we bonded over 17th century history (as one does) and spent several pleasant hours following in the footsteps of Charles I
Keeping it in the family – Elizabeth St. John’s fabulous 17th century trilogy Read More »
When Sweden offers up days so warm you actually want to sit in the shade, it is a crime to spend time indoors. At most, we get like five or six such days a summer which is why I am sitting on our back porch tapping away (while glancing at the view) Tapping away .
Looking for the sloth within – my July newsletter Read More »
I have a special fondness for the Netherlands – I mean, what can one possibly dislike about a country that has given us Vermeer, Rembrandt and chocolate sprinkles on your bread and butter? I am also very, very fond of my Norwegian neighbours (except when they totally crush us in the cross-country skiing events) so
The Dutch Muse – a new release from Heidi Eljarbo Read More »
Anyone who is a frequent visitor to this blog knows I am a big fan of Alison Morton’s Roma Nova series – alternate history at its best, IMO. Since some years back, I am also a fan of her present-day dynamic duo, Mel and Jeff. With very different backgrounds, theirs is a story that does
Double Stakes – check out Alison Morton’s latest release Read More »
It has been quite some time since I indulged in my fascination with the Hapsburgs, this once so powerful family that controlled most of Catholic Europe and preferred to marry very close kin—which, eventually, led to disaster, at least for the Spanish Hapsburgs. But the Hapsburgs weren’t always an inbred dynasty on the brink of
Anna and Maria – Holy Roman Empresses that took their procreating duty seriously! Read More »
Today, Paula Lofting has popped by with a post about Swegn Godwinson. I can hear you go “Swegn? Wasn’t his name Harold Godwinson?” And yes, it was Harold Godwinson – and for those interested in HIM, check out Paula’s recent release Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King – but today’s protagonist is Harold’s older brother,
An Anglo-Saxon Bad Boy – guest post by Paula Lofting Read More »
Today, Christina Courtenay visits me with a guest post about Roman baths in Bath which ties into her latest release, Shadows in the Spring. Further down, you can read my review, but first, let’s get to grips with Christina’s guest post! Bath and the Roman baths Doing research for a story can be extremely enjoyable,
In November of the year 1700, that gallant warrior king Karl XII of Sweden, hastened to defend the city of Narva (in present day Estonia) from the besieging Russian army. The Great Northern War had kicked off some months earlier when an alliance between Denmark, Russia and Saxony/Poland had initiated an attack on Sweden’s Baltic
The enslaved child – of Lovisa von Burghausen and her travails in 18th century Russia Read More »