Frederic Chopin’s country idyll with George Sand
On this day in 1789 the composer and pianist Frederic Chopin was born in Warsaw. Chopin’s name is much linked with George Sand, the diminutive... Read More
Victor Hugo gets an Avenue
On this day in 1802 the French novelist Victor Marie Hugo was born. His father was an officer in the French army. These were interesting... Read More
Pierre Auguste Renoir’s prolific output
On this day in 1841 the French artist Pierre Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges. As a youth, he worked in the famous local porcelain... Read More
Samuel Pepys has a dream
On this day in 1633 the English diarist Samuel Pepys was born. Sometimes he comforted himself at night as when he dreamt, during the terrible... Read More
King Henry VIII – reformation or deformation ?
On this day in 1491 the future King Henry VIII of England was born. The damage that this appalling man did to so many people... Read More
Make poetry
You don’t like reading poetry? Try writing it then. Modern poetry can be fun. Try the ‘cut-up’ poetry technique used by American writer and lifelong... Read More
Joyce Kilmer and Trees in Poetry
Joyce Kilmer wrote a famous poem about trees but almost every other poet I know has done a tree poem at some time – –... Read More