Category Archives: History

Salve Regina

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites is a strange opera, and not an easy one. It weaves complex themes of devotion, martyrdom, fear, and politics around the storyline of a Carmelite convent during the French Revolution. It’s very talky, … Continue reading →

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Architecture Du Jour

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Garni Temple, Armenia. Click on the image to enlarge.

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Tango Du Jour

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Rumor has it that Libertad Lamarque (1908-2000) left her native Argentina to work in Mexico, after an on-set dispute with fellow actress Eva Duarte grew into a feud. After Duarte married  autocrat-to-be Juan Perón, the feud became … Continue reading →

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Poem Du Jour: “Roman Wall Blues” by W.H. Auden

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Over the heather the wet wind blows,I’ve lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.The rain comes pattering out of the sky,I’m a Wall soldier, I don’t know why.The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,My … Continue reading →

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Plus Ça Change…

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: It would be unfair to suggest that all universities in the Renaissance were sterile, conformist places; they often hosted vigorous discussion and dissent. But verbal sparring matches (“disputations”) could amount to point-scoring contests decided by nimble rhetoric, … Continue reading →

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Art Du Jour: Egypt and The Holy Land

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Via Bauman Rare Books: Inquisitive Western minds first glimpsed the mysteries of Egypt and the Middle East in detail through David Roberts’ folio-sized Holy Land, issued in 41 parts from 1842 to 1849 and containing 250 full-page hand-colored lithographs … Continue reading →

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A Day in the Life of an Ancient Athenian Citizen

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: It’s the 5th century BC. Because Athens’s allies pay the city tribute (i.e. protection money in exchange for Athens shielding them from the Persians), you are sufficiently wealthy that you don’t need to work for a living. You … Continue reading →

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Daily Life in Ancient Egypt

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: I’m currently working my way through the Teaching Company course called The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World by Prof. Robert Garland. I finished the lectures on ancient Egypt and thought I’d share some interesting … Continue reading →

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Irfé

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Irfé is a fashion house with a curious history. It was founded in 1924 in Paris by noble Russian expatriates Irina and Felix Youssupov. Those of you with a head for historical trivia may be wondering where … Continue reading →

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Medieval Scholasticism and Legal Reasoning

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Common-law legal reasoning, or the method by which lawyers and judges analyze a problem, has roots that stretch back almost 1,000 years to the educational method known as Scholasticism. Before we get to exactly what Scholasticism is, … Continue reading →

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