Monday, December 26, 2016

Touring the Lake District

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‘Our farmer was himself the man, that last year plundered the eagle’s eyrie; all the dale are up in arms on such an occasion, for they lose ...
Tuesday, December 20, 2016

No larking or slacking

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‘The work consists of the following duties: Searching incoming workers for matches, cigarettes spirits etc. in pockets, baskets etc.; Search...
Monday, December 19, 2016

To every historian’s despair

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Today marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader who did much to build up his country’s nuclear arms and...
Friday, December 16, 2016

The general emptiness

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‘This life is nomadic, cold, transient, disordered. We are getting used to just hoping for the best. That wheezing accordion underscores the...
Wednesday, December 14, 2016

To Bataan and Back

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‘Why do the American people at home parade and rejoice in the glory of “all out” war when these poor devils here daily watch the seas and sk...

Nothing to fear from the Soviets

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Juho Kusti Paasikivi, the Finnish statesman who successfully guided his country towards peaceful relations with its much bigger and more pow...
Friday, December 9, 2016

A giant of Japanese literature

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Natsume Soseki, one of the greatest and most important novelists of modern Japan, died a century ago today - events celebrating this anniver...
Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Of Thee I Sing

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‘Evening we were too tired to go to the Kit-Cat Club where a “George Gershwin Night” was on, so stayed in hotel & played 21.’ This is fr...
Monday, December 5, 2016

Rubicund, serene, puffing

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A century ago today saw the resignation, amid high political drama, of Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith. He had been the UK’s leader for...