Saturday, August 31, 2019

The talented Mrs Mahler

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Alma Mahler-Werfel, the Austrian musician and wife/lover of several celebrated artistic figures, was born 140 years ago today. She was a sig...
Thursday, August 15, 2019

The war at the end of the world

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Died one hundred and ten years ago this day, did Euclides da Cunha, a Brazilian engineer and political writer - shot dead by his wife’s love...
Saturday, August 10, 2019

First circumnavigation of the globe

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Half a millennium ago this very day, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan launched a Spanish expedition that would complete the first ...

Snake chief doesn’t like horse

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‘While we were eating, we were visited by a Snake chief, a large and powerful man, of a peculiarly dignified aspect and manner. He was naked...
Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Nothing but snow and icy wind

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‘Finally reach Camp 3 at 6 a.m., almost totally exhausted. While the others prepare something to eat. I massage Canali’s feet. The pains beg...
Thursday, August 1, 2019

Diary briefs

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Hangman’s diary sells at auction - BBC , The Sun The world’s oldest diary? - Daily Express , Wikipedia War journalist’s diary to be auct...
Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Dark as soaring pine

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Witold Gombrowicz, a Polish born writer famous for his eccentric diaries, died 50 years ago today. His translator believes these diaries can...
Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Our Time of Day

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The British actor and political activist Corin Redgrave was born 80 years ago today. He kept diaries some of the time, and his second wife K...
Monday, July 15, 2019

On Magpies, on!

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‘Well - that worst part is over. Tomorrow, to pack, & then onto the Road & away. Details, like lorries & portable pianos & c...