Jones’ overview of the Tower of London’s thousand year history was no doubt a massive undertaking. Imagine it: ten centuries worth of sieges, celebrations, world-altering decisions, wrongful deaths and sovereign decrees all held within these walls, on just a few acres of land. Jones visits the (in)famous as well as the less well-known. Henry VIII’s…
REVIEW: CITY OF RAVENS BY Boria Sax
Last summer I went to the Tower of London. There I made a number of unexpected discoveries, although if I had ever stopped to think about it would have seemed rather obvious. For instance, there are several buildings that make up the “tower”, the oldest and most famous being the White Tower. It isn’t really…
GIVEAWAY: Midnight in Peking
Thanks to the folks at Penguin, I am giving away a hardcover copy of MIDNIGHT IN PEKING by Paul French. It’s the best historical true crime I’ve read since The Devil in the White City. (My full review is here) To enter, please: 1. Leave a comment, with link to a Facebook or Twitter post…
FOUND PHOTO: Car Rally – 1915
I found this photo on an old scrap book page. The page label said this was a car rally in 1915.
REVIEW: AMERICA WALKS INTO A BAR by Christine Sismondo
A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops As someone who grew up on episodes of Cheers and lived in a colonial-era tavern and inn, I suppose I might have been somewhat predisposed to be enamored by the subject. But if you stop to consider, I think most people are. The gathering…