Category: England and Britain

Why The Great Revolt Matters Today

England and Britain / Rightwing claptrap / US PoliticsOne Comment

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Thirteen eighty-one. Almost 650 years ago in the time of Chaucer, the English people did something unprecedented: they rose up against their oppressive king and nobles. It is known today as The Great Revolt. It should serve as a lesson for the American people today to take to heart. An uprising against the dictator and his fascist administration is overdue. Trump — who started a war with Venezuela and Iran, demanding “regime change” in both — should look to his own people who are demanding the same thing at home. Many of the issues that triggered the English uprising are … click below for more ↓

The Father of Modern English

Chaucer / England and Britain / History & Biography / Language & Grammar / PoetryOne Comment

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As I promised in a previous post, here’s my almost certainly true and accurate explanation of why the language you’re reading now is the result of one man’s writing back in the 14th century. Yes, of course, I mean Chaucer; author of The Canterbury Tales. Thanks to him, you’re reading this in modern English. In his day, there wasn’t a cohesive form of English, but rather several dialects that were all Middle English (see map); each was influenced by its own invaders or immigrants, and in turn each influenced its neighbours. English evolved, but thanks to Chaucer, it did so rapidly … click below for more ↓

Juet’s Journal in Word format

Blog & Blogging / Books & Reviews / England and Britain / History & Biography / My Writing / Personal Reminiscences / Typography / What I'm Reading NowLeave a comment

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For those readers interested in the voyages of the late-16th-early-17th century adventurer, Henry Hudson, or in the European explorations of North America, I have recently scanned and edited a copy of Juet’s Journal into Word format and placed it online here. Here is my website on Henry Hudson, too. I haven’t done much with it of late, but that may be slowly changing as I find I have more time these days, during my recovery. The journal documents how Hudson and his crew ‘discovered’ parts of North America and sailed up the river that now bears his name. For Americans, … click below for more ↓

Wolf Hall reviewed

Books & Reviews / England and Britain / History & Biography / TV / What I'm Reading NowLeave a comment

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I have just finished watching the six-part BBC series, Wolf Hall, based on the two novels by Hilary Mantel. I am also about halfway through my reading of the first of the two, Wolf Hall (with Bring up the Bodies waiting in the bedside pile). The series conflates the two novels into six one-hour episodes. Given the length of the novels (Wolf Hall is 650 pages itself), compacting them and retaining clarity, plot and drama is quite a feat. Normally, I would argue for the written word over the adaptation. Any adaptation. As good as they may be, it is rare … click below for more ↓

Poor King Henry VII

Books & Reviews / England and Britain / History & Biography / Politics / What I'm Reading NowLeave a comment

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As Rodney Dangerfield might have said had he been cast in a role as Henry VII, “I don’t get no respect.” Henry VII is one of those English kings who never seem to get any attention, outside the rarefied realms of academia. Only of late, it seems, have a few writers and TV producers turned their heads towards him – no doubt because a lot of the other, more exciting monarchs have been thoroughly covered on screen and in print. Although he was the first of the short Tudor dynasty, his reign is overshadowed by those of his son, Henry VIII, … click below for more ↓

Neolithic site dig uncovers sophisticated structures

Critical Thinking / Culture / England and Britain / History & Biography / Media Issues / Places & Geography / Science & TechnologyLeave a comment

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A Neolithic site in the Orkney Islands shows our ancestors had sophisticated building skills more than 5,000 years ago. According to a story in The Scotsman, A groundbreaking excavation of a 5,000-year-old temple complex in Orkney has uncovered evidence to suggest that prehistoric people were a great deal more sophisticated than previously thought. The archaeological dig at the Ness of Brodgar, which is still in its early stages, has already thrown up discoveries that archaeologists say will force us to re-evaluate our understanding of how our ancestors lived. The picture that has emerged so far points to a complex and … click below for more ↓

The Hollow Crown: Henry V

Books & Reviews / Culture / England and Britain / Film & ReviewsOne Comment

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As I started to watch the last film in the Hollow Crown series, I wasn’t sure whether Tom Hiddleston was up to playing the iconic role in Shakespeare’s most patriotic (and jingoistic) play. I thought Hiddleston’s Prince Hal in Henry IV had just a little too much of Loki – and maybe the bully – in it for me to see him as a majestic king. But I was quickly won over. Whether the movie itself was good Shakespeare is another question. First a note on the lighting and sets: in Richard II, it was all light, bright and colour … click below for more ↓

Tudor politics: Elizabeth’s struggle

Books & Reviews / England and Britain / History & Biography / What I'm Reading NowLeave a comment

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David Starkey’s book, Elizabeth: the Struggle for the Throne, is the best book I’ve read on the period of Elizabeth’s life between the death of Henry VIII and her own coronation. It gives a clear, richly detailled picture of the machinations, the politics and the society that she lived in during the 25 years before she became monarch – 1533 to 1558. And what a life it was. In and out of favour, imprisoned, in fear of her life, threatened, cajoled, living on her wits, political puppet and Machiavellian instigator… Elizabeth emerges as a canny, quick and lively actor in … click below for more ↓

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