Category Archives: history
The Picture
Young J. Edgar Hoover was tapping his desk with the eraser end of a sharpened pencil; it was habitual when he was feeling agitated. And J. Edgar was agitated. He kept staring at the picture in front of him and … Continue reading
Princess Zoe, Mehmet and the Third Rome
May 29, 1453. Everyone knew it was the last day. The armies of the new God were outside the walls and tonight they would enter into this holy city. All the signs were visible; the sun had turned black … Continue reading
Victory Day – May 9, 1945 – A Re-Post
The great war memorial to Mother Russia at Stalingrad (now Volgograd) under which 70,000 soldiers are buried Wait for me, and I’ll come back! Wait with all you’ve got! Wait, when dreary yellow rains Tell you, you should not. Wait when … Continue reading
The Last Empress Dowager
It is the year 1861 in the Western calendar while in China the Xianfeng Emperor lay dying. He was the ninth Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and he was but thirty years old. Each Emperor, upon ascending to the throne … Continue reading
Children of Stalin
Joe Stalin died on March 5, 1953. I was almost twelve years old at the time. While such things rarely mattered to kids in middle school, then called junior high, Stalin’s death was the talk of the school yard at recess. … Continue reading
Marzabotto
The Marzabotto massacre was a World War II mass murder of at least 770 civilians by Nazis, which took place in the territory around the small village of Marzabotto, in the mountainous area south of Bologna. It was the worst … Continue reading
The Succession
It is the Spring of the year 1553 and Edward, the sixth of his name, King of England lay dying in his bed. He was but 15 years old. His father, Henry VIII, of blessed memory had desperately wanted a … Continue reading
