Friday, April 22, 2022

Napoleon plays whist

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‘Since General Buonaparte’s arrival at St Helena I have been so occupied that I have seen but little of him. . . but in the evenings I under...
Monday, April 18, 2022

Our spirits were overflowing

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‘Yesterday was one of the happiest I have ever passed. It was a yachting party. I love the water, the day was perfect, the people were nice,...
Friday, April 15, 2022

A man with qualities

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The Austrian author, Robert Musil, died 80 years ago today. His most famous work and one of the masterpieces of 20th century European litera...
Friday, April 8, 2022

Kaiser behind the haystack

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Alfred Ludwig Heinrich Karl Graf von Waldersee, a German soldier who rose to become (briefly) Chief of the Imperial German General Staff, wa...
Sunday, April 3, 2022

I whipped the first boy

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‘In the afternoon I whipped the first boy I have had occasion to. It was a bad business, perfectly disgusting to me, but I found it was abso...
Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Negotiations can now begin

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‘Ambassador Tim Barrow, Permanent Representative of the UK to the European Union, hand-delivers the long-awaited letter to Donald Tusk. Nine...
Saturday, March 26, 2022

House blown up

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‘Went to Capitol early and was met by a reporter who told me that my beautiful house at Foxrock had been destroyed by the Republicans. Serva...
Friday, March 18, 2022

Newfoundland’s Dr Rusted

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Dr Nigel Rusted, a Canadian doctor much honoured and credited with having made outstanding contributions to the medical profession in Newfou...
Monday, March 14, 2022

A spear through the throat

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‘During the days march we passed many rings of fires made by the natives, doubtless for the performance of some one of their extraordinary c...
Friday, March 11, 2022

Waiting for Horace

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‘Waiting for Horace to come home. The hours drag. I wait for his footsteps - his breathing - this long day at the college must be very exhau...