Archive · Books · People
George Sand suggested the idea of the novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" to Jules Verne, proposing in a letter of 1865 that he write a book about a voyage across the ocean in a submarine. In Russian translation the novel appeared under various titles: Eighty Thousand
Architecture · Moscow · Heritage · People
An Italian house where Leonardo da Vinci once lived is up for sale. The building is currently owned by a former Italian footballer. The residence in Emilia dates from the 15th century and forms part of the Palazzo Felisini. Da Vinci lived here after moving to Bologna with his patron
NB! · Monarchies · People · Humour
Was Mary of Teck a strict grandmother? Hm, let me think
London · Monarchies · People · Humour
Prince Philip's aunt and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's niece, Queen Louise of Sweden (1889-1965), née Battenberg, often visited London, and once a bus nearly ran her down there. After this unpleasantness Queen Louise, when walking the streets of London, always carried a small card printed with
NB! · Art · People
Archive · Art · Monarchies · Paris · People
A self-portrait of Louis XIII, drawn by the Dauphin of France at the age of 6! The drawing was preserved by the court physician. The sheet was later bound into the journal of Louis XIII's activities as king.
Monarchies · Observations · People
How many times must it be repeated: Camilla will be queen consort and nothing else. I am tired of the cheap headlines that speculate on the subject. Yes, at the coronation she will be called queen. And she will be crowned as queen. Do understand that it is not necessary
Aristocracy · Monarchies · Mores · People
The reigning Queen of Spain (1833-1868), Isabella II, great-great-great-grandmother of the present King of Spain, Felipe VI, was known for her fiery temper and her easy way with men. She changed lovers as other women change gloves, while her openly despised husband was made to acknowledge
Art · Mores · People · Humour
This is exactly what you were thinking! Papa with a lantern and the entire family burst into the attic to catch their son at a shameful occupation. Little Georg Friedrich Handel was strictly forbidden to study music. The four-year-old child found an abandoned old harpsichord and taught himself
Education · People
When Stanislavsky asked Mikhoels what, in his opinion, the flight of a bird begins with, he answered: the bird first spreads its wings. Stanislavsky objected: nothing of the sort, for flight a bird needs, above all, free breathing, and so it fills its chest with air, becomes proud, and begins
Archive · Art · People
Oscar Nemon at Work on His Sculpted Portraits of Sigmund Freud. In 1920, when Nemon was a very young sculptor and an entranced admirer of the celebrated psychologist's work, he approached Freud through one of his pupils with a request to be allowed to model him, but Freud
NB! · Cinema · People · Pop Culture