Just when you thought this blog couldn't get any more exciting, I've decided to add a few book reviews to really push the reader over the edge! I enjoy reading history books, and I've just finished a fascinating 760 page tome examining the possible links between Freemasonry and that lovable rogue known to posterity as … Continue reading They All Love Jack!
The Irish in Latin America Concluded
In this blog post, I intend to move beyond Chile and the O’Higgins clan and examine some other exceptional Irish individuals who played their part in the history of Latin America. There were quite a few men and women either Irish born or of Irish descent, and their names are still revered in places such … Continue reading The Irish in Latin America Concluded
The Irish in Latin America
So it's time for a well deserved break from the history of great cities......fascinating and all as they are....and take a look at some of the stories of Irish people who got themselves involved in the independence struggles of Central and South American countries. There were quite a few, and their names are still revered … Continue reading The Irish in Latin America
Londinium Baby, Part Four
By the beginning of the 19th century, London was well on the way to becoming the biggest city in the world, as well as the largest port, the capital of an empire, and a major centre of trade and finance. In this final gripping installment of the history of London, I’ll examine the Victorian city … Continue reading Londinium Baby, Part Four
Londinium Baby, Part Three
Ok, it's time for another "then and now" blog post, examining famous London locations at different times in history, just as I did with New York. I'm going to compare images of various parts of that great city to try and understand how they developed over the years, hopefully also giving us a better understanding … Continue reading Londinium Baby, Part Three
Londinium Baby, Part Two
So before I start my inane ramblings again, I just want to point out that as I write this on a PC, the images may be more impressive and easier to access if viewed on a bigger screen than the one that fits in your pocket.....just a suggestion.....though I'm happy if anyone bothers to read … Continue reading Londinium Baby, Part Two
Londinium Baby, Part One
Ok, now I'm moving on to another of the big boys. One of the oldest cities in the world and a centre of civilisation for two millennia, London was founded by the Romans just after the J-Man passed away and stopped magicking up fish, behaving inappropriately around dead bodies and hookers, and pretending his rambling … Continue reading Londinium Baby, Part One
New York, New York, Part Three
So we're finally coming to the end of our exploration of one of the greatest cities in the world. At the beginning of the 19th century, New York City officials sought to put a level of order on the northerly spread of their growing metropolis, and to divide off the land to sell. To achieve … Continue reading New York, New York, Part Three
New York, New York, Part Two
Marty: Wait a minute, Doc. Ah… Are you telling me that you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?Dr. Brown: The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? Back to the Future (1985) As a special treat to my many … Continue reading New York, New York, Part Two
New York, New York, Part One
In this blog post, I'll continue examining how cities physically grew and developed from basic settlements to massive metropolises over time. This week (and next) it's the turn of one of the world’s greatest cities – New York - and how it grew from a tiny trade centre in the New World into the sprawling … Continue reading New York, New York, Part One
