Dorothy L Sayers and the Golden Age Queens of Crime
There’s an article in October’s issue of Red Herrings titled “A Celebration of Lord Peter Wimsey”. I always find something to inspire or educate me in the CWA monthly bulletin. I already knew that Sayers had a first-class degree in Modern Languages from Somerville...
Pilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace began on 13th October 1536, almost immediately after the suppression of the Lincolnshire Rising. One of the primary catalysts for the Pilgrimage of Grace was the religious upheaval brought about by Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church....
My Favourite Film
I’ve written in Readers Club about my favourite book, The Last Enemy, by Richard Hillary. So perhaps it’s time to identify my favourite film. The shortlist would include Casablanca, The Battle of Britain, The High and the Mighty, In Which We Serve, Robin Hood Prince...
Henry IV & Tottenham Hotspur
On 30th September 1399 King Richard II’s abdication was read in parliament by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry IV replaced him. Whether the abdication was genuine or not is a matter of debate. Richard II's reign was marred by political instability, economic...
Harold Harefoot
As I researched my last post on the Battle of Stamford Bridge, I was struck that King Harold, of Battle of Hastings fame, Harold Godwinson, was King Harold II. So who was King Harold I? He was Harold Harefoot, named after his hunting prowess. Harold Harefoot was the...
Stamford Bridge
King Harold II, Harold Godwinson, won the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25th September 1066. He defeated King Harald Hardrada of Norway and his own exiled brother, Tostig Godwinson. The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place during the tumultuous year of 1066, a period...
Ben Jonson – Playwright
On 22nd September 1598 the playwright, Ben Jonson appeared in court at Shoreditch indicted with the manslaughter of the actor Gabriel Spencer. Jonson was 26 years of age, and had shared a prison cell with Spencer the previous summer, when Jonson’s play, “The Isle of...
Battle of Arques
I have found a connection between the first and third books of the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, other than Sir Anthony, and myself, the author. The Battle of Arques was a significant military engagement that took place in September 1589, during the French Wars of...
Writing, Publishing, and the Secret of Success.
Claire and I recently attended a talk at Chippenham Library on the subject of Writing, Publishing, and the Secret of Success. Local writers Rachel Brimble, L.B. Griffin, and Jane Lark spoke and led the discussion. It was well attended, including by two of my new...
Dorothy L Sayers and the Golden Age Queens of Crime
There’s an article in October’s issue of Red Herrings titled “A Celebration of Lord Peter Wimsey”. I always find something to inspire or educate me in the CWA monthly bulletin. I already knew that Sayers had a first-class degree in Modern Languages from Somerville...
Pilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace began on 13th October 1536, almost immediately after the suppression of the Lincolnshire Rising. One of the primary catalysts for the Pilgrimage of Grace was the religious upheaval brought about by Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church....
My Favourite Film
I’ve written in Readers Club about my favourite book, The Last Enemy, by Richard Hillary. So perhaps it’s time to identify my favourite film. The shortlist would include Casablanca, The Battle of Britain, The High and the Mighty, In Which We Serve, Robin Hood Prince...
Henry IV & Tottenham Hotspur
On 30th September 1399 King Richard II’s abdication was read in parliament by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry IV replaced him. Whether the abdication was genuine or not is a matter of debate. Richard II's reign was marred by political instability, economic...
Harold Harefoot
As I researched my last post on the Battle of Stamford Bridge, I was struck that King Harold, of Battle of Hastings fame, Harold Godwinson, was King Harold II. So who was King Harold I? He was Harold Harefoot, named after his hunting prowess. Harold Harefoot was the...
Stamford Bridge
King Harold II, Harold Godwinson, won the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25th September 1066. He defeated King Harald Hardrada of Norway and his own exiled brother, Tostig Godwinson. The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place during the tumultuous year of 1066, a period...
Ben Jonson – Playwright
On 22nd September 1598 the playwright, Ben Jonson appeared in court at Shoreditch indicted with the manslaughter of the actor Gabriel Spencer. Jonson was 26 years of age, and had shared a prison cell with Spencer the previous summer, when Jonson’s play, “The Isle of...
Battle of Arques
I have found a connection between the first and third books of the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, other than Sir Anthony, and myself, the author. The Battle of Arques was a significant military engagement that took place in September 1589, during the French Wars of...
Writing, Publishing, and the Secret of Success.
Claire and I recently attended a talk at Chippenham Library on the subject of Writing, Publishing, and the Secret of Success. Local writers Rachel Brimble, L.B. Griffin, and Jane Lark spoke and led the discussion. It was well attended, including by two of my new...