H G Wells And Orson Welles Meeting in 1940
March 26, 2015 | Posted in AUTHORS, BOOKS, CLASSICS, HISTORICAL, HORROR, MOVIES, NON-FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION | By Arthur Chappell
H G Wells, who was travelling in the United States on a lecture tour, and safely away from the Luftwaffe bombing in Europe and London, expressed great amusement at the similarity of the names, Wells & Welles. He jokingly advises Orson Welles to drop the unnecessary extra e.
Theatre Review – Aristophanes – Birds
March 25, 2015 | Posted in AUTHORS, CLASSICS, COMEDY, FANTASY, HISTORICAL | By Arthur Chappell
Theatre Review – Aristophanes – Birds Spoiler alerts – c.5 BC Greek comedy is a medium I usually find mildly amusing, raunchy and philosophical, but not particularly funny. Even other works by Aristophanes, such as Lysistrata, in which
Book Review: The Towers of Tuscany by Carol M. Cram
February 14, 2015 | Posted in HISTORICAL | By sockii
Sofia Barducci is the daughter of a highly regarded painter in the medieval Italian town of San Gimignano. When she was younger, she learned how to paint and draw from her father, and though the lessons were often hard and grueling she developed a fine talent herself…
The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi’s Venice by Laurel Corona
July 26, 2014 | Posted in HISTORICAL | By sockii
A moving work of historical fiction blending music, love and life in 18th century Italy Book summary: Two young sisters—one three years old, one just born—are abandoned to the Ospedale della Pietà in 18th century Venice by their courtesan mother
“The Midwife of Venice” by Roberta Rich
July 7, 2014 | Posted in HISTORICAL | By sockii
Hannah Levi is known to be one of the most talented midwives in late 16th century Venice. She is also Jewish, and by law that means she is forbidden from attending to Christian mothers, no matter how great their needs for her talents. However…
Book Review: “Immortal” by Traci L. Slatton
June 30, 2014 | Posted in FANTASY, HISTORICAL | By sockii
When we first meet Luca Bastardo, the central character of Traci L. Slatton’s 2008 novel Immortal, he is awaiting execution—and it is a fate he is willing to accept after living a very rich life spanning nearly two centuries…
“The City War” by Sam Starbuck: Roman politics, intrigue and sexuality explored
April 6, 2014 | Posted in HISTORICAL, LGBT THEMES | By sockii
History, and historical fiction, typically portrays Marcus Junius Brutus as a devious, bloodthirsty traitor: power hungry and ready to kill, as he does by taking a leading role in the plot to kill Julius Caesar…
