Archives
Meta
Category Archives: European history
A Review of Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse Five, written in 1969, is overall an antiwar book in which war so messes with a person that they go in and out of imaginary dreams and experiences, time is totally disoriented, the traditional narrative of life is broken, … Continue reading
Vespasian Bradford, London Cook, 1560-1618
Vespasian Bradford of early 17th century London was a craftsman belonging to the city livery company, or guild, of cooks, people involved in the preparation of food. Vespasian’s namesake was the Roman Emperor Vespasian, who ruled Rome from 69 to … Continue reading
William Hawkins, 1609-1699, and Margaret Harwood Hawkins, 1612-1687: Early Settlers of the English Colony of Rhode Island
William and Margaret Harwood Hawkins were among the first English settlers of Rhode Island. William, by trade a glove-maker, was a native of Exeter, England, born in 1609; his parents were William Hawkins and Katharine Gonson. William, Jr, sailed from … Continue reading
Posted in American History, European history
Tagged Biography, genealogy, history, women's history
4 Comments
Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis is a strange story about a man who awakes one day to find himself transformed, or metamorphosed, into a bug-like creature with many small skinny legs, antennae, and a hard shell. His appetites change and he can … Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity, European history
Tagged books, Jesus, Love, New Testament
Leave a comment
Hugh Crawford, Scottish Paper Stainer and Emigrant to America, 1789-1857
Hugh Crawford was born in Glasgow on January 31, 1789; he died in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on July 1, 1857 when he was 68. He was the second-born son of John Crawford and Agnes Wright of Glasgow. He had many … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Biography, European history
Tagged Biography, genealogy, history, History of New Engand
Leave a comment
Montaigne’s Lesson about Life
“We are great fools,” Montaigne declared, in Of Experience. “I have done nothing today,” the fool says. “What! Have you not lived?” The living of life is a sufficient task. “Have you known how to . . . manage your … Continue reading
Posted in books, European history, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged Essays, history, Montaigne, philosophy
Leave a comment
Grunter’s Plea: The Ancient Philosophy of Vegetarianism
One of the more fascinating tales of Homer in the Odyssey is that of the bewitching of Odysseus’s men by the witch Circe. Odysseus and his men have arrived at an unknown wooded island. Odysseus sends a detachment of men … Continue reading
Posted in European history, General Essays, Natural History
Tagged Homer, Plutarch, Vegetarianism
Leave a comment
Sibyl’s Leaves
One of my favorite authors is Michel de Montaigne, author of Essays. In Montaigne’s final essay, “Of Experience,” he traces his experience with the disease of kidney stones. He wrote about his anxiety and fears, his expectation of death, which became … Continue reading
Posted in books, European history, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged books, Montaigne, Poem
Leave a comment
War Story
Bob lived in an old two story tenement, thin, tall, and long with clapboard exterior badly in need of paint. Other tenements of similar age and quality lined the street, which was crowded with parked cars, some working but others … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Biography, European history
Tagged D-Day Invasion, World War II
Leave a comment
Richard Hooker’s Message from the Past
In light of the Supreme Court decision on marriage this past week, and the controversy from opposing sides that has ensued, it is worthwhile, in my opinion, to seek the wisdom of the past. Oftentimes the human perspective living in … Continue reading
The American Plutarch 