Books · Moscow · Museums
The Editorial and Publishing Department of the V. Dal Museum of the History of Russian Literature seeks a manager. Duties: working in the museum bookshop "Ostroukhov": advising customers, arranging books on the shelves, handling primary accounting documents. Days off: Monday and Tuesday. Experience is not required. What matters
NB! · Archive · Art · Books · Monarchies · Observations · Humour
The genealogy of Henry II from the Nuremberg Chronicle is an example of naïve graphic art. The generations are joined by some thick, unpleasant yellow umbilical cord, and I quite understand the fellow who is about to sever it
Architecture · Monarchies · Mores
In 1870 the Windsor Baths were moved because of Queen Victoria's displeasure. She had no wish to behold, from the windows of Windsor Castle, half-naked men swimming in the pool
Cinema · London · Monarchies · Mores
The execution scene from the series "Gunpowder", starring Kit Harington, about the plot against King James I
Coming Up · London · Museums · Observations · New York · People
Speaking of remains, do you remember my writing about my favourite philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, whose mummified body and head are on display at University College London? Well, for the first time in 186 years the philosopher's body will leave London and travel to the USA, where it will
NB! · Faith · Heritage · Rome
There were several Christian figures named Valentine at around the same time, and alas there is no way of establishing exactly whose remains are the holy ones. But the skull in Santa Maria in Cosmedin is venerated by many
NB! · Faith · Heritage · Rome
NB! · Art · Mores · Humour
Elaine of Corbenic, daughter of the Fisher King, seduces Lancelot. Be careful in matters of the heart
Aristocracy · Monarchies · Mores · People
In 1561 a young French nobleman, Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, found himself in the retinue of the eighteen-year-old Mary Stuart as she returned from France to Scotland. In the course of the journey Pierre grew close to the queen and won her favour, so much so that
Archaeology · Museums · Observations · Heritage
I was told some interesting details of this story. The burial was discovered by chance. As my interlocutor put it, “they barbarously melted the ice lens with boiling water, damaging it considerably, and then hauled the unmelted remainder off to Novosibirsk on a hastily summoned helicopter. After the reconstruction, paid
In the Press · Books · Observations · Education · People
Sarah Bond, historian, lecturer at the University of Iowa and contributor to the American Forbes, has written a short piece on the Black classicist of the eighteenth century Francis Williams. According to her, this scholar, a native of Jamaica, was known for his knowledge of mathematics and his mastery of
NB! · Archive · Art · Monarchies · People
Louis-Philippe supports Talleyrand. As you can see, the old man is wearing orthopaedic footwear. The injury sustained at the age of 4 was to become emblematic of the life of a courtier who would come to be called the lame devil