Anthony Trollope worked in the Post Office
On this day in 1815 novelist Anthony Trollope was born. Trollope drew on incidents in his own life when writing his famous series of novels... Read More
Miguel de Cervantes was captured by pirates
On this day in 1564 Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes died aged 69. Cervantes had been a soldier and sailor in his youth and had... Read More
Vladimir Nabokov chased butterflies, not nymphets
On this day in 1899 the novelist Vladimir Nabokov was born. After an idyllic childhood in a leading St Petersburg family, Nabokov’s world was upended... Read More
Queen Elizabeth II did not expect the Throne
On this day in 1926 Queen Elizabeth II was born, in Mayfair, London. Her father had never expected to become monarch and nor did she.... Read More
Bram Stoker wrote ‘Dracula’, never saw Transylvania
On this day in 1912 Bram Stoker writer and theatre manager died. Stoker’s career began as a journalist in Ireland. While writing theatre reviews in... Read More
Tiananmen Square rally shakes China
On this day in 1989 a pro-democracy student rally began in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Popular support for the rally grew rapidly and there were similar rallies,... Read More
Albert Einstein wanted to die elegantly
On this day in 1955 Swiss physicist Albert Einstein died of an aneurism aged 76. He could have had surgery but refused, saying: “I want... Read More
