This interesting article by Deanna Rodriguez gives details of many of Christine’s works, some of which are readily available to the modern reader in translated form. Christine de Pizan (or Pisan) was born in Venice but moved to France at an early age and spent the rest of her life there. After her husband’s death,… Continue reading Christine de Pizan (or Pisan)
Tag: Italy
The oldest perfume you can still buy….?
While I am no Marilyn Monroe, nor ever have been, in one respect I am just like her….beneath my (faux!) fur coat, I am likely to only be wearing one perfume. In her case Chanel Number Five; in mine Diorissimo. I have worn it since I was sixteen and still love it. It’s been… Continue reading The oldest perfume you can still buy….?
Useful Charts on Italy
So now, having analysed Henry VIII’s will, the Jacobites, the Roman Empire, France, Russia, Germany and Portugal, we move on to a monarchy that was still extant eighty years ago: that of Italy, which was ended by referendum in 1946. Umberto II (pictured), who reigned for the (1861) House of Savoy’s last five weeks after… Continue reading Useful Charts on Italy
The reason for confession….
We’ve all seen illustrations of harrowing deathbed scenes, and in the medieval period such occasions were only too familiar and frequent. If you go here you’ll find an extremely interesting article about the whys and wherefors of confession in those final moments. But of course, confession was used in many other situations too, and the… Continue reading The reason for confession….
Richard II enjoyed ravioli….!
Well, one lives and learns. I quote from this article : “….the first written mention of ravioli was in a 14th-century Tuscan merchant’s recipe and, surprisingly, around the same time in a cookbook written by one of King Richard II’s chefs….” That one book has been enormously influential concerning our knowledge of medieval… Continue reading Richard II enjoyed ravioli….!
Born back Ceaselessly into the Past: the History of the Fitzgeralds
When most people think of the beautiful Scott and Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, they tend to think of the Jazz Age. That is the epithet coined by Scott to explain the wild ride of the 1920s – the drinking, the music, the partying, the real estate and stock market boom. And let’s not forget literary genius.… Continue reading Born back Ceaselessly into the Past: the History of the Fitzgeralds
The Middle Ages and the movies….
“….In The Middle Ages and the Movies eminent historian Robert Bartlett takes a fresh, cogent look at how our view of medieval history has been shaped by eight significant films of the twentieth century. The book ranges from the concoction of sex and nationalism in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart, to Fritz Lang’s silent masterpiece Siegfried, the art-house classic The Seventh Seal to… Continue reading The Middle Ages and the movies….
The prompt medieval response to the Kos earthquake of 1493….
“….a spectacular rescue operation. They sent a fleet from the islands of Leros and Kalimnos to transport doctors and surgeons from the order to the island along with a significant provision of medicine and timber for temporary shelters. They also delivered tools to grind flour to counteract the lack of essential foodstuffs during the… Continue reading The prompt medieval response to the Kos earthquake of 1493….
Richard II’s visit to Edward II’s tomb, 1390.
Edward II‘s “tomb” is, as is well-known, to be found in Gloucester Cathedral. What is less well-known is that Richard II wanted it become a shrine, and for his great-grandfather to become St. Edward of Caernarfon. Interestingly, we cannot even be entirely sure that Edward II’s remains lie in the tomb. Kathryn Warner has produced… Continue reading Richard II’s visit to Edward II’s tomb, 1390.
Long live the King
This interesting tome has finally appeared in paperback. The opening Parts read like an abridged biography of the story familiar to us through Warner’s The Unconventional King, but to be read with an open mind as to whether Edward II survived his “official death” today in 1327 or not. The reader will re-learn the events… Continue reading Long live the King
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