The Day of the Dupes
The tenth of November 1630 was a critical day in an ambitious attempt to overthrow Cardinal Richelieu, France’s powerful chief minister, shook the political landscape of France. Known as the “Day of the Dupes,” this dramatic failed “palace revolution” revealed the...
Charles Neville
Charles Neville was one of the leaders of the Northern Rebellion of 1569 and also a character in The Spy who Sank the Armada,the story of Sir Anthony Standen my 10th great-grandfather’s elder brother. I chose Neville because he was in the right places at the...
Libraries
The eighth of November seems to have been an important day in the history of libraries on both sides of the Atlantic, as both the Bodleian and Library Company of Philadelphia were founded on that day, in 1602 and 1731 respectively. The Bodleian Library is one of the...
John Blanke: A Remarkable Musician in Tudor England
I have posted about Renaissance musicians previously. The On This Day website tells me that on the seventh of November 1507 John Blanke is first mentioned in a written record when he petitioned Henry VII for a pay increase, citing his commitment and expertise. He was...
Gutenberg and the Printing Press
The Sir Anthony Standen Adventures would be nothing more than a hand written memoir if it weren’t for Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. I think many of us know of Gutenberg, but what about Johann Fust? Gutenberg is famous for his printing press...
Continuous Improvement
When I was working in my old job of engineering and project management, continuous improvement was the mantra of quality management. In my new “job” of writing the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, continuous improvement remains my goal. I posted recently about the...
Revolution
Revolution seems to have been a feature of the fourth of November over the years. Since I was born on the 5th of November, Guy Fawkes night was a special childhood celebration. Fawkes was discovered in the undercroft of the House of Lords on the night of 4th November...
The Siege of La Rochelle
I am getting to know Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu through writing The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. I expect this book to end in 1617, so the siege of La Rochelle is still ten years distant. It was a defining event for...
Media and Crosswords
The 2nd of November seems to have been an interesting day for media in the past. In 1924 the Sunday Express printed the first British crossword puzzle, and in 1936 the BBC started the first regular high definition television broadcast from Alexandra Palace. This...
The Day of the Dupes
The tenth of November 1630 was a critical day in an ambitious attempt to overthrow Cardinal Richelieu, France’s powerful chief minister, shook the political landscape of France. Known as the “Day of the Dupes,” this dramatic failed “palace revolution” revealed the...
Charles Neville
Charles Neville was one of the leaders of the Northern Rebellion of 1569 and also a character in The Spy who Sank the Armada,the story of Sir Anthony Standen my 10th great-grandfather’s elder brother. I chose Neville because he was in the right places at the...
Libraries
The eighth of November seems to have been an important day in the history of libraries on both sides of the Atlantic, as both the Bodleian and Library Company of Philadelphia were founded on that day, in 1602 and 1731 respectively. The Bodleian Library is one of the...
John Blanke: A Remarkable Musician in Tudor England
I have posted about Renaissance musicians previously. The On This Day website tells me that on the seventh of November 1507 John Blanke is first mentioned in a written record when he petitioned Henry VII for a pay increase, citing his commitment and expertise. He was...
Gutenberg and the Printing Press
The Sir Anthony Standen Adventures would be nothing more than a hand written memoir if it weren’t for Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. I think many of us know of Gutenberg, but what about Johann Fust? Gutenberg is famous for his printing press...
Continuous Improvement
When I was working in my old job of engineering and project management, continuous improvement was the mantra of quality management. In my new “job” of writing the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, continuous improvement remains my goal. I posted recently about the...
Revolution
Revolution seems to have been a feature of the fourth of November over the years. Since I was born on the 5th of November, Guy Fawkes night was a special childhood celebration. Fawkes was discovered in the undercroft of the House of Lords on the night of 4th November...
The Siege of La Rochelle
I am getting to know Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu through writing The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. I expect this book to end in 1617, so the siege of La Rochelle is still ten years distant. It was a defining event for...
Media and Crosswords
The 2nd of November seems to have been an interesting day for media in the past. In 1924 the Sunday Express printed the first British crossword puzzle, and in 1936 the BBC started the first regular high definition television broadcast from Alexandra Palace. This...