19th Century
Not The Worst President
“History shall be kind to me for I shall write it” wrote Sir Winston Churchill at the end of the Second World War. He had previously written a six volume history of the First World [more…]
19th Century
17th Century
The good ship Fredericus Quartus, Part Two
The good ship “Fru Alida” Even less well known than Denmark’s triangular trade is the history of Danes and Norwegians as victims of slavery. North African pirate raids were a problem that affected coastal communities [more…]
17th Century
The good ship Fredericus Quartus, Part One
Transatlantic slavery was ended in 1833 by Britain after a campaign by William Wilberforce. It is one of the key dates in British history, and Wilberforce is a name known to everyone. Britain may have [more…]
19th Century
Once Quarried From The Old Testament
They say you should never meet your heroes. Is this a recent phenomenon? Certainly, you’d be advised to make an excuse and leave if you think a chief constable is about to enter the room. [more…]
18th Century
How Napoleon went from ‘Cannibal’ to ‘Majesty’ in 20 days
In French history, the period from March 1 to March 20, 1815 is known as Le Vol de l’Aigle: the Flight of the Eagle. The Eagle, of course, was Napoleon – the diminutive Corsican whose [more…]
19th Century
A Gem From The Golden Age of Coffee
Despite finding San Salvador to be a much more pleasant place than expected, we shall strike into the provinces and catch our breath in a guest room in the sticks. En route, we shall allow [more…]
19th Century
Meet The Family
In part one of this odyssey into the past, you’ll recall me being curious and excited in anticipation of the results of a Christmas present DNA test: Who Do I Think I Am? In part [more…]
19th Century
The Muslim Brotherhood, Part One
Hidden by Lame Stream and the un-elite political class, the polemics ignored or failed to grasp form the baseline for future problems as Puffins know full well. Where did the Muslim Brotherhood come from, who [more…]
19th Century
Oliver Sarony – man of many parts
My last lurcher, over 16, who used to run like the wind delighting in her agility but only a memory sadly, because of her age we used to take very sedate walks with much deciphering [more…]