Passchendaele

Passchendaele

I have written about the Eighty Years War because my ancestor, Sir Anthony Standen, was an Elizabethan spy during it. I’ve written about World War II because my father fought in it. But I have written very little about World War I. The Battle of Passchendaele, also...

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Defenestration

Defenestration

I have written about a number of key players in the reformation, such as Martin Luther and John Wycliffe. The event which strikes me for 30th of July from history is another key event in the reformation. The First Defenestration of Prague, a pivotal event in European...

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Lord Darnley

Lord Darnley

On the 29th of July, 1565, the widowed Mary Queen of Scots married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at Holyrood Palace. Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, was born on 7 December 1545 at Temple Newsam in Leeds, Yorkshire. He was a significant figure in 16th-century British history,...

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Robespierre

Robespierre

I am working on the second draft of The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. It is set in Paris around 1612 to 1614, and the Estates-General of 1614 features. Perhaps that is why the execution of Robespierre by guillotine on the 28th...

read more
The Favourite Murder

The Favourite Murder

Here’s an update on progress with The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Yesterday I completed the grammar and spelling checks with ProWritingAid. That was certainly well worth doing. So far my sternest critic has been my wife,...

read more
Macbeth

Macbeth

The Battle of Dunsinane was fought on the 27th of July, 1054, and Siward, Earl of Northumbria defeated Macbeth, King of Scotland. William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a renowned tragedy that draws loosely from the historical figure Macbeth, who reigned as King of Scots...

read more
CIA

CIA

As my ancestor, Sir Anthony Standen, was an Elizabethan Spy providing Walsingham with detailed intelligence on the Spanish Armada, I am interested in matters related to espionage. Therefore the creation of the CIA has grabbed my attention today. Origins and Formation...

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Paris is well worth a Mass

Paris is well worth a Mass

On the 25th of July, 1593, King Henry IV of France publicly converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism. Henry, or Henri in the French of the time, is a key character in The Suggested Assassin, the third book in the Sir Anthony Standen Advetures. King Henry IV...

read more
War Wolf

War Wolf

On the 24th of July, 1304, King Edward I of England (Longshanks) took Stirling Castle, during the Wars of Scottish Independence,  using War Wolf, believed to be the largest trebuchet ever made. War Wolf, also known as "Ludgar" or simply "the Warwolf," was a colossal...

read more
Passchendaele

Passchendaele

I have written about the Eighty Years War because my ancestor, Sir Anthony Standen, was an Elizabethan spy during it. I’ve written about World War II because my father fought in it. But I have written very little about World War I. The Battle of Passchendaele, also...

read more
Defenestration

Defenestration

I have written about a number of key players in the reformation, such as Martin Luther and John Wycliffe. The event which strikes me for 30th of July from history is another key event in the reformation. The First Defenestration of Prague, a pivotal event in European...

read more
Lord Darnley

Lord Darnley

On the 29th of July, 1565, the widowed Mary Queen of Scots married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at Holyrood Palace. Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, was born on 7 December 1545 at Temple Newsam in Leeds, Yorkshire. He was a significant figure in 16th-century British history,...

read more
Robespierre

Robespierre

I am working on the second draft of The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. It is set in Paris around 1612 to 1614, and the Estates-General of 1614 features. Perhaps that is why the execution of Robespierre by guillotine on the 28th...

read more
The Favourite Murder

The Favourite Murder

Here’s an update on progress with The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Yesterday I completed the grammar and spelling checks with ProWritingAid. That was certainly well worth doing. So far my sternest critic has been my wife,...

read more
Macbeth

Macbeth

The Battle of Dunsinane was fought on the 27th of July, 1054, and Siward, Earl of Northumbria defeated Macbeth, King of Scotland. William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a renowned tragedy that draws loosely from the historical figure Macbeth, who reigned as King of Scots...

read more
CIA

CIA

As my ancestor, Sir Anthony Standen, was an Elizabethan Spy providing Walsingham with detailed intelligence on the Spanish Armada, I am interested in matters related to espionage. Therefore the creation of the CIA has grabbed my attention today. Origins and Formation...

read more
Paris is well worth a Mass

Paris is well worth a Mass

On the 25th of July, 1593, King Henry IV of France publicly converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism. Henry, or Henri in the French of the time, is a key character in The Suggested Assassin, the third book in the Sir Anthony Standen Advetures. King Henry IV...

read more
War Wolf

War Wolf

On the 24th of July, 1304, King Edward I of England (Longshanks) took Stirling Castle, during the Wars of Scottish Independence,  using War Wolf, believed to be the largest trebuchet ever made. War Wolf, also known as "Ludgar" or simply "the Warwolf," was a colossal...

read more