Category Archives: Factual
Dies natalis
Filed under Events and diary dates, Factual, History
Dies Natalis
American authors worthy of note in our list of birthdays
24-9-1896 F Scott Fitzgerald, novelist and short story writer who gained early success with his autobiographical novel, “This Side of Paradise,”
One year later on 25-9-1897 William Faulkner, winner of the 1949 Nobel prize for Literature.
Filed under Events and diary dates, Factual, General post, History
Dies natalis
On this day
Born 15-9-1890, Agatha Christie, highly successful crime writer, creator of both Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, he of the twirling moustache and the diminutive spinster Miss Jane Marple, both of whom frequently portrayed on film and T.V.
Also, in 1789, James Fenimore Cooper, American author, probably best remembered for, “The last of the Mohicans.”
Filed under Events and diary dates, Factual
Narrative Structures: England’s Literary History in 11 Places
Discover the historic sites in England where famous writers found their inspiration.
Narrative Structures: England’s Literary History in 11 Places
Filed under Factual, Re-blogged
Designus adsimulaticius factorem
On this day
J.R.R. Tolkien, Professor of Anglo-Saxon, compiler of languages, creator of worlds, scholar and author of the books against which the majority of later fantasy novels are compared, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion among others, died on 2nd. September 1973 aged 81.
Filed under Events and diary dates, Factual, General post, History
Literati inclytus
On this day
The death in 1688 of John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Also in 1867, Charles Baudelaire in poverty, essayist, translator and influential poet, at the age of 46.
Micro seasons
Useless now, her wings
forgotten like the sunlight
a Queen in the dark
Filed under Factual, Haiku, nature inspired, Self compositions
#writephoto-fresco #The shelter
It was frustrating. For two days we had been sitting down in the hot, humid cellar. Our wine was warm, our food was cold. At least we could breathe down here, unlike in the street above. The choking fumes clogged our nostrils, the tiny wind-blown cinders got into our throats. Everyone was coughing and the stench was unbearable.
From what they said it seemed to be getting worse outside. Last night only a few of us had come down but today more and more people started arriving. Most had not brought anything down with them in their panic. They were just concerned with getting away from the ash cloud that sat like a dragon atop the hill. The very ground had started to groan and shudder as if all the denizens of the underworld were on the move.
My father had told us that we need not worry as this had happened many times before.He stayed in the villa thinking that it would soon pass but the Gods appeared to be really angry this time. No-one was sure how to placate them. Even the priests from the temple had decided to join us.
As the daylight, what there was of it, Helios having been smothered by the dark, impenetrable cloud, began to fade for the second day, we heard a strange noise as if the very rocks and earth beneath our feet was moaning in pain and it seemed to be getting louder.
I shouted for everyone to be quiet and as our babble subsided we realised that the sound was coming from a great wind that was blowing through the passageways. Some of the women started to wail and before long both men and women started to sob as we realised something terrible was about to happen. Strangely there was no panic and I could hear my companions muttering low incantations. Before long even the chanting ceased.
Wrapping my cloak around my shoulders I took my wife and daughter in my arms. Their eyes were wide with fright and tears in the warming air. We huddled against the wall and the stifling air grew steadily hotter. We will try to rest, perhaps sleep and with the aid of the Gods return to our beloved Pompeii home in the morning.
Filed under As you read it, Factual, Flash fiction, History, Self compositions, Temperatures rising
Ocean farming for Carbon Kapture
Ocean farming is something I keep an eye on. It’s potentially a climate solution, a way of feeding the world, and a way of restoring marine ecology, …
Filed under Eco posts of note, Factual, General post, Re-blogged
Sammiscribbles weekend writing prompt #289 #Last of the few
This week it was sad to see
died Johnny Johnson MBE
on his medal his name engraved
for those lives his bravery saved.
Filed under Factual, From the heart, Self compositions
When the pen takes control. 