Tolkien and Kingship
It’s fair to say that Tolkien was a royalist. Although he rarely discussed his political views in detail in his correspondence, in a letter to his son Christopher in 1943 he wrote, “My political opinions…
Tag: History
Robin Hood “Telling His Beads”: A Catholic Reflection on the Prince of Thieves
The legends of Robin Hood and his Merry Men exert a near universal appeal, and have done so for generations. From ballads to books to films, the daring rebel spirit of the Prince of Thieves…
Companion in Affliction: The Private Life and Wartime Trials Lord Charles Cornwallis
Lord Charles Cornwallis is a name that is inextricably linked with the British surrender at Yorktown and the end of the American Revolution in the popular imagination. Few think of him as more…
Tolkien and Restoration: A Look at Catholicism in England during the 19th and 20th Centuries
In his time the City was made more fair than it had ever been, even in the days of its first glory; and it was filled with trees and with fountains, and its gates were…
Beauties, Beasts, and Phantoms: A Brief History of Beauty & The Beast
The perennially beloved tale of Beauty and the Beast has been told in dozens of different ways throughout the years. From its origins in far off days as a myth of a god and a…
Making the Bones Live: A Look at Claude Manceron’s Epic History of the French Revolution
Many history books collect dust on library shelves across the globe--and for good reason. Too many of these books instruct but fail to entertain or even engage readers. Simply put, there are many reasons books…
The Wild Hunt: An Exploration of Its Origins in European Folklore
The following article looks at the origins of the Wild Hunt in folklore and some of the variations around Europe. A separate piece considers the idea of the black dogs that are linked to the…
Hussain at Karbala
I wander the sands, smeared crimson o’er gold The blood of my house runs red as the dusk The children are crying, their throats parched earth Children of this earth, begging for rain Just to…
Jimmy Carter: A Life After the Presidency
Author's Note: This article is dedicated to Professor Tom De Palma, who taught me that learning about history could be fun. Also, to Achelle and Andrea, for their friendship. ~ History simply does not judge…
Memories of Sarajevo: The Healing Power of Art and Music
As we reflect on the tragedy of the Bosnian War, two horrific events are likely to stand out in the minds of many people. Firstly, the massacre in July 1995 of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims,…