Who Were the Roman Gladiators? 6 Key Questions Answered
Roman gladiators hold an almost mythological stance in the modern understanding of Ancient Rome. A brutal spectacle that endured thousands of years, the gladiatorial games were a complex cultural phenomenon that reflected the values, politics, and social dynamics of the Roman Empire. Discover the world of history’s most renowned gladiators as we answer the most […]
The Herb Grower’s Grimoire: Preserving Ancient Herbal Wisdom
Discover The Herb Grower’s Grimoire, a carefully curated volume of lost herbal knowledge, folklore, and ancient wisdom for thirty garden herbs.
Chromatic Wood Type Design: Exploring the Art of Letterpress
In the world of typography, few titles hold higher esteem than William H. Page’s Specimens of Chromatic Wood Type (1874). Having procured a cult-like following in the modern field of design, this extraordinary volume is brimming with over 100 intricate typeface examples, all skilfully produced and vibrantly coloured. The elaborate fonts boast up to seven colours, […]
The Velveteen Rabbit: How Toys Become Real
A charming tale of self-acceptance, love, loss, and magic, The Velveteen Rabbit is one of the most enduring children’s stories in literary history. Originally published in Harper’s Bazaar in 1921, Margery Williams‘ wonderful children’s story delves into what it truly means to be ‘Real’, revealing that what matters most in life is to love and […]
The Lost Generation: Literature of the American Jazz Age
The Jazz Age is one of the most significant cultural movements in American history. Coinciding with the Roaring Twenties, the Prohibition Era, and women being granted the right to vote, the era that spanned from the First World War up to the Wall Street Crash in 1929 was a period of considerable social reform. With […]
A Brief History of the Harlem Renaissance
Discover a brief history of the preeminent period and the brilliant literary works that placed Harlem on the creative map, acting as catalysts for change that would eventually contribute to the civil rights movement. Table of Contents When was the Harlem Renaissance? The period of the Harlem Renaissance between the 1910s and the 1930s was […]
Euclid’s Elements – Oliver Byrne’s Geometric Masterpiece
Despite being printed over a century ago, Oliver Byrne’s stunning edition of Euclid’s Elements continues to be one of the most beautiful expositions in the world of mathematical publishing. Scattered across each page in brilliant reds, yellows and blues are triangles, squares and circles in a myriad of combinations with intersecting lines and numbers. These intricate figures […]
The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk – The Story of the Real Robinson Crusoe
Daniel Defoe’s 1719 book, Robinson Crusoe, is often labelled the first English novel. The adventurous tale of a sailor stranded on a desert island is commonly thought to be inspired by the real-life events of a Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk. For over four years, Selkirk was marooned off the coast of Chile on Más a Tierra […]
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: The Original Book Behind the Film
First penned in the 14th-century, the poem has influenced many remakes over the years, including the latest epic fantasy adventure film The Green Knight, starring Dev Patel, released in July 2021. Sir Gawain[…] embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, […]
1984 by George Orwell – Book Review
*DISCLAIMER* There are some spoilers in this Nineteen Eighty-Four book review. ‘To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone—to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone: From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, […]
