Tag: History

Makers of Rome: by Plutarch. Translated and Introduced by Ian Scott-Kilvert #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, opinion, Reading, Review9 Comments

I’ve had this book on my shelves for so long I’d forgotten it resided there. Curiosity made me pick up this ‘classic’ to discover what I could. There is much to learn here, if you have an interest in European history. However, it becomes clear that Plutarch was not a particularly reliable historian. His interest …

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Tamed, by Alice Roberts: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Nature, Reading, Review2 Comments

368 pagesEvolutionary Psychology, Philosophy of Physics Subtitled ‘Ten Species the Changed Our World’, this book is a tremendous work of scholarship, intelligence, insight, and sheer common sense. Professor Roberts, the history and science buff often seen leading BBC TV documentaries, has pressed into service all her wide knowledge into describing how ten of the crops …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 23/Feb/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, politics7 Comments

In the distance, you’ll see an old railway bridge, locally known as the Black Bridge. It’s currently in use as a casual public footpath, joining the English side of the land with Wales, which is where this photograph was taken. The River Wye forms part of the border between the two countries. Illustrating the peculiarities …

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The Illustrated Pepys, Edited by Robert Latham: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, opinion, Reading, Review3 Comments

Subtitled, Extracts from the Diary, this is a selection of Pepys’s diary entries over the years from 1660 to 1669, when his eyesight deteriorated to such an extent that he could no longer spend the time needed to write in secret by candlelight. There is a useful introduction by the editor, explaining the way he …

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The Lost Villages of England, by Maurice Beresford: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, opinion, Reading, Review2 Comments

This is history, obviously. I generally enjoy reading about the past, learning about life long before I was born. Unfortunately, this book, a scholarly work, was just a little too dry for my tastes. For those seeking the statistics, fine details that are available, and the names of those involved in the various landgrabs that …

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#PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 25/Oct/21

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography19 Comments

Pictures to inspire words or images. Poem, story, play, novel, memoire, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph? Up to you. Or simply enjoy the pictures. My image is untitled to avoid guidance. But the title, not always helpful, is here. If you use the prompt, please post a link to your work, or the …

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#PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 12/Oct/21

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography13 Comments

Pictures to entertain, interest, and inspire you to create with words or images. Poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph? Up to you.  You can, of course, just enjoy the pictures. My image is untitled to avoid directing you. But the title is here. If you use the prompt, you …

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 30/Sept/21

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography2 Comments

Pictures to entertain, bring joy, and inspire you to create with words or images, if you wish. Whether that’s a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is up to you. Don’t feel obliged: you can just enjoy the pictures. My image is untitled to avoid directing anyone. If you …

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 24/Sept/21

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography2 Comments

Pictures to entertain, bring joy, and, if you wish, inspire you to create with words or images. Whether that’s a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is up to you. Please don’t feel obliged: you can just enjoy the pictures. My image is untitled to avoid directing anyone. If …

Continue reading Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 24/Sept/21

Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 22/Sept/21

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography19 Comments

Pictures to entertain, bring joy, and, if you like, inspire you to create with words or images. Whether that’s a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is up to you. Please don’t feel obliged: you can just enjoy the pictures. The image is untitled to avoid directing anyone. If …

Continue reading Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 22/Sept/21

Heaven’s Mirror, by Graham Hancock & Santha Faiia: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, opinion, Reading, Review4 Comments

332 Pages Nonfiction Hardback Subtitled ‘Quest for the Lost Civilisation’, this book led to a major TV series on the UK’s Channel 4 network. Published in 1998, some of the content may now be a little out of date, as archaeological work is constantly updating information based on finds. The book is an attempt to …

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