Sleep, as usual, is evading me, so here's another little collection of words to pass my time, and to edify you. Maybe. Ah, Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy, the novel that dances on the edge of melodrama with the grace of a Victorian lady in a hoop skirt attempting to navigate a tightrope. Hardy, in … Continue reading A Jovial Journey Through Hardy’s Desperate Remedies
The Great Catholic Conspiracy: the 1678 Popish Plot
In the annals of British history, the year 1678 stands out as a time of unparalleled paranoia, where the English public was whipped into a frenzy over a fantastical and entirely fabricated threat: the Popish Plot. This elaborate tale, crafted by the masterful fabricator Titus Oates, involved a fictitious Catholic conspiracy to assassinate King Charles … Continue reading The Great Catholic Conspiracy: the 1678 Popish Plot
James’ Bark & Bite: The Ash Tree
I have an enduring love for the countryside, especially those areas filled with ancient, brooding trees that seem to harbour their own secrets. One such tree caught my eye in the charming town of Cockermouth, Cumbria (UK). Its gnarled bark and twisted branches bore an uncanny resemblance to the features of an old witch, a … Continue reading James’ Bark & Bite: The Ash Tree
The Mystical Maze: Teresa of Avila’s Blueprint for Spiritual Confusion
Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle is often hailed as a masterpiece of Christian mysticism, but let's cut through the reverential fog and call it what it is: a convoluted, self-indulgent mess. Written in 1577, this so-called spiritual guide drags the reader through a tortuous maze of theological mumbo jumbo, all while Teresa pats herself on … Continue reading The Mystical Maze: Teresa of Avila’s Blueprint for Spiritual Confusion
Cain: A Descent into Darkness
The individual in this painting appears utterly wretched, a little like myself, however, I'm not feeling wretched because I've committed fratricide, thankfully - our subject here though, has. So, for your edification, read on... Julius Paulsen’s painting, Cain, is an unsettling, morose portrayal of one of the most infamous characters in biblical lore. It is … Continue reading Cain: A Descent into Darkness
Wording 