On My Nightstand

I love reading fiction, but I also get a big thrill out of reading historical non-fiction ( I'm odd that way). At the moment, I'm in the middle of researching my next book so I'm reading a hearty helping of non-fiction history. Of the few I'm perusing right now, I like the following three the best.

Harriette Wilson's Memoirs: The Greatest Courtesan of Her Age edited by Lesley Blanc- This is a Regency England era tell all book in which the narrator doesn't hold back. The biggest names of the Regency from Beau Brummel to the Duke of Wellington make appearances in this lady's memoirs. Written in the style of the era, it isn't the breeziest of reads and the author is a bit scattered, but she's fun and frank and well worth the time.





Victorian London: The Tale of A City 1840-1870 by Liza Picard  - Everything you wanted to know about Victorian London from medicine to museums. Be glad you weren't sick back then.

Upstairs and Downstairs: The Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey by Sarah Warwick. If you love Downton Abbey and want to learn more about the less than glamorous life of an Edwardian servant, this book is for you. It's light reading with lots of vintage photos. It makes me glad I wasn't a working woman back then.






This post was inspired by Ketchup With Us, even if I didn't stick to the 57 words.

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Rocking the Stuart Style

The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, is currently running an exhibit about the fashions of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs. http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/in-fine-style-the-art-of-tudor-and-stuart-fashion-QGBP

As if I need another reason to wish I could jet to England on a moment's notice. Here's an article on the exhibit that sums it up.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323368/Ye-royal-fashion-bible-New-art-exhibition-shows-Britains-Tudor-monarchs-led-London-style-stakes-300-years-ago.html

The exhibit focuses on the trendsetting fashions of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs. These kings and queens knew how to live large, and to wear enough heels and ruffles to put the Victorians to shame. Think lots of brocade for both men and women, codpieces, beauty marks and luscious hair. This was the age of Bubonic Plague, the Reformation and the London fire, and these monarchs faced all these calamities with poise, grace and a wicked sense of style. 

Since I can't journey to London for the exhibit, I will console myself with a few beefy actors who rock the Tudor and Stuart style.

Not the right era, but I can't resist.

Nor could I resist the Count de Monet.

But what killed Stonewall Jackson's Arm?

This article was the first thing to catch my attention this morning, after the comics and the Target ad.

SURGEON: ‘STONEWALL’ JACKSON DEATH LIKELY DUE TO PNEUMONIA

Stonewall Jackson's death has been making a lot of news lately. Recently, astronomers figured out the position of the moon and concluded that since the general was backlit, his troops didn't recognize him and they opened fire (read the story here). He was hit three times and it took his men two hours to get him to a hospital (considering it was a Civil War hospital, one wonders if getting him there any faster would have helped). On the way to the hospital, the people carrying him dropped him a couple of times. It wasn't a good night for the hero of the South and he eventually died of his wounds, but not before they amputated his arm and buried it. You can visit the grave of his arm at Ellwood Manor, VA, if you are so inclined.

However, what caught my attention about the above article was the interest in how Jackson died. After being shot, then dropped, then treated in a field hospital where sanitation was more of a suggestion than a rule, one would think the cause of death would be obvious. Apparently, it wasn't and a great many modern doctors and historians have taken the time to prove it. It seems the death blow was dealt by pneumonia as opposed to blood loss, septicemia, gangrene, or the embarrassment of being shot by your own men then dropped a few times on the way to the doctor. Although I found the article interesting, I had to wonder, does it matter how he died? Apparently, to a great many people it does, especially to Mr. Jackson and his arm.

Humor and Hot Men for Mother's Day

Here's a little humor with some hot men thrown in for fun. My Mother's Day everyone!

Wordless Wednesday - Sort Of

This week's theme -  happy hour!

A Knight in the Car Park.

So, what's with all the dead people under car parks? Lately, it seems like you can't dig up a car park in the UK without stumbling on a body.
First, there was poor old Richard III.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2273535/500-years-grisly-secrets-Richard-IIIs-lost-grave-revealed-King-discovered-car-park-stripped-tied-suffered-humiliation-wounds-death.html

Now, a knight and his family have been found beneath the asphalt. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2317097/Researchers-family-knight-Middle-Ages-buried-Edinburgh-car-park.html

I know these interesting finds have more to do with the layers of history under the UK soil than any nefarious plot to pave over people. I've read many stories of people in the UK digging in their backyard and finding bones, Roman coins, and dud WWI shells. I have to admit, I'm jealous. The most I've found digging in my back yard is an old swim mask and a 7Up can circa 1982. Truly exciting finds (yawn).  What I wouldn't give to find a Roman coin. Since I live in Southern California, this really would be news. Until that day arrives, I have to live vicariously through all those people lucky enough to dig up broadswords and Celtic hoards while planting tomatoes.

In honor of this latest car park find, and to console myself while I toss out yet another old soda can, I'm posting a collection of hot knights. Enjoy.

Books and Classic Movies - What a combination!

Happy Thursday all. I'm over at Caribbean Accent's blog today talking about my love of classic films, especially Gone With the Wind, and how they inspired my latest novel, Studio Relations. Follow the link below to read my post and to enter the contest.

http://caribbeanaccentbookreviews.com/2013/05/02/guest-post-giveaway-studio-relations-by-georgie-lee/

Good luck and have a great day!