Tag: historical
The Terror – TV Review
I enjoyed Dan Simmons’ sprawling novel about the doomed Franklin expedition, and this handsome, well-acted adaptation does justice to the haunting story of 19th century Arctic horror and survival.
Epitaph for Margarita the Dog
I’m a cat person first and most, but I was compelled to do a post about dogs for once, after coming across this moving ancient poem. This is the epitaph for Margarita (Latin for Pearl), inscribed on a marble plaque in honour of a beloved lap dog, deceased in second or third century Rome.
Gaul sired me, the shell of the rich sea gave me my name: the honour of that name is becoming to my beauty. Taught to roam unexplored woodlands with courage and to chase hirsute game in the hills, unaccustomed ever to be restrained by heavy harnesses or to endure savage beatings with my snow-white body: for I used to lie in my master’s and my mistress’s lap and mastered the art of resting wearily on a spread-out blanket. Even though I used to be able to express more than I was entitled to with my inarticulate mouth – that of a dog! – no one feared my barking. But I have already met my fate, stricken down during ill-omened whelping – me, whom earth now covers under this little marble plaque.
Death Comes As the End by Agatha Christie – Book Review
And now for something different from the Queen of Crime – a murder mystery set on the bank of the Nile, in Ancient Egypt circa 2000 BC.
Gran Hotel – TV Review
I haven’t reviewed any movies lately because for the past few weeks I’ve been glued to this addictive Spanish TV series… so why not review it.
I, Claudius – TV Review
I don’t usually write about TV shows on my blog, but I really wanted to give a shout-out to this classic 1976 BBC mini-series set in ancient Rome, based on the historical fiction novels by Robert Graves (which I of course will have to read now).
The Terror by Dan Simmons – Book Review
A peculiar blend of historical fiction and supernatural horror, The Terror is a chilling speculation on the fate of the doomed 19th-century polar expedition led by Sir John Franklin. Though it’s not an easy breezy read at over 900 pages long, it’s a meticulously researched, deeply absorbing and deeply nightmarish tour de force.
Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush by Lael Morgan – Book Review
One of the joys of travel is finding things you’re never going to encounter at home. I spotted this book at a supermarket checkout while in Alaska, and I think it’s safe to say I wouldn’t have come across it anywhere else.
Lenin the Dictator: An Intimate Portrait by Victor Sebestyen – Book Review
I was very interested to read this biography by Hungarian-born, UK-raised Sebestyen; while complete objectivity is non-existent I thought that the book provided a fairly balanced view of Lenin’s undeniably remarkable life.
The Good People by Hannah Kent – Book Review
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