Category Archives: History

The Virtues by Marcus Aurelius

* Auctoritas – “Spiritual Authority” – The sense of one’s social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria. * Comitas – “Humour” – Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness. * Clementia – “Mercy” – Mildness and gentleness. * Dignitas – “Dignity” – A sense of self-worth, personal pride. * Firmitas – “Tenacity” – Strength of mind,… Read on

A Trip to Shakespeare’s Birthplace

I recently went to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of my favourite writer William Shakespeare.  The building is located in very close proximity to the town centre, which boasts several good pubs and shops. Upon entering and paying the entry fee, we walked through to a dark room which had a very good video about Shakespeare and the… Read on

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“Seventeenth Century Lady” by William Merritt Chase

Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.     This painting by William Merritt Chase is called, “Seventeenth Century Lady.” Why, I do not know, for the dress is definitely not 17th century, it is from the 19th century.

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Brian Sewell – The Last of the Medici

This is a really great show from the great Brian Sewell. I highly recommend anything by Sewell, as the man is highly articulate, highly educated, and has a very great taste in art and architecture.

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A Visit to the British Museum

Yesterday morning, I travelled to the British Museum  in the Borough of Holborn, where I attended the anthropological conference Reviewer Meets Reviewed. There was a better turnout than I had expected and the subject was on the ethnographical book entitled Uncertain Vision: Birt, Dyke and the Reinvention of the BBC by Dr. Georgina Born, who I found to… Read on

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Palais Garnier

Since I was a little girl, I had dreamed of visiting this opera house. The Paris Opera was founded in 1669 by the Sun King, Louis XIV, and was housed at various venues throughout the beautiful city of Paris. The structure behind me in the photo below was made in the nineteenth century and is called the Palais Garnier,… Read on

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My Wedding at Blenheim Palace

I married my best male friend twice – once in Florida and again in England. My mother made my wedding dress – she embroidered everything by hand and applied little pearls on my train. The dress was based on a mixture of Queen Victoria’s wedding dress, some 17th Century ornamentation, and was basically a bit of my favourite… Read on

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Wrest Park

Wrest Park in beautiful Bedfordshire, England, was in a state of dilapidation for many years, and connected to a research facility. Now, under the careful and capable management of English Heritage (of which I am a member), the house and its gardens are looking great: I came to visit this building during my search for a suitable venue… Read on

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