I have spent most of last week in bed—or on the sofa—feeling sorry for myself. Why? Because I have been struck down by a bad case of flu, with fever, cough and a blinding headache. Problem with headache is that it makes it impossible to read. Or watch TV. So instead, I’ve listened to pods,
In the fair month of May – my monthly newsletter Read More »
One of our great Swedish poets once wrote “Ingen maj en dager sprider som den klarnande april” which loosely translates as “no May day ever shines as brightly as the returning light in April”. I totally agree: April is the month of LIGHT up here in the north. We write the 6th of April today,
For me, the 70s is the period when everyone went wild and crazy about orange and brown, when surviving hippie movements segued into Hare Krishna groups and both men and women could be seen walking the streets in purple velour pants. Yup, I kid you not . . . And then there was the Bee-Gees,
Marching through the 70s – a personal recollection Read More »
Deborah’s previous contribution to this blog tour of ours dipped into the 15th – 16th century. Today, she guides us through history far closer to us, namely the brave women who acted as secret agents during WW II. Some months ago, I read Deborah’s book, Operation Tulip, which is set in The Netherlands around 1944-45.
Marching through history – the secret agents of WW II Read More »
I am a big, big fan of Clare Flynn. Her books are the kind of books I read in one sitting with a major “DO NOT DISTURB” sign over my head. Clare blends effortless prose with historical tidbits, casually inserted facts that transport her readers to her chosen period, so yes, I am looking forward
And on we March – today with Clare Flynn’s fascinating post about Philippa Fawcett Read More »
Today, Nancy Jardine is back. Remember Nancy? She kicked off this month of female history with a post about Cartimandua, ancient British queen. Today, she has frog-leaped forward to the 19th century, with a post about a woman I had never heard about. But Nancy, I promise: next time I am in Edinburgh, I will
Marching through history – meet the sculptor Amelia! Read More »
As long as human civilisation has existed, a dark stain has existed right alongside: slavery. Sophisticated cultures have arisen and functioned based on slavery. Ancient empires, the predecessors of most countries that are still around—once, slaves was an integral part of the economy. In early medieval times, the Slavic tribes were repeatedly raided for new
There’s a huge, huge blot on the history of Europe. It starts spreading in the late 15th century and stains the years all the way up to the early 18th century. Years and years of women being persecuted, tortured and often executed-for being a witch. We, in this day and age, know there are no
Marching through history – the innocents: of the persecution of witches Read More »
Cryssa Bazos is a 17th century enthusiast – as am I. We do not agree on Prince Rupert, she tends to lean Royalist where I am more Parliamentarian, but those minor differences aside, I find her books set in the period utterly enthralling. In Cryssa’s novels, gorgeous descriptive prose marries convoluted plots, further enhanced by
Marching through history – on opposite sides of the divide Read More »
In 2024, Liz St.John’s latest’s book, The King’s Intelligencer, was selected as Book of the Year by the Coffee Pot Book Club. So well-deserved! It was one of my top three reads in 2024, and it is set in the late 17th century, seguing on to Liz’s excellent series of books portraying her St. John
Marching through history – Elizabeth St. John on women as healers in the 17th century Read More »