Tag Archives: Books

2009: A Trade Union for Trees

Posted on January 25, 2018 by corvusfugit

Look at a single tall tree standing proud in the middle of an open area. Why is it so tall? Not to be closer to the sun! That long trunk could be shortened until the crown of the tree was … Continue reading →

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1874: Lost Beauties

Posted on January 25, 2018 by corvusfugit

A few entries from Charles Mackay’s Lost Beauties of the English Language: An Appeal to Authors, Poets, Clergymen and Public Speakers (1874): Airt, the quarter from which the wind blows. “Helter skelter from a’ airts, In swarms the country drives.” … Continue reading →

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1666: Too Stars Fighting

Posted on January 24, 2018 by corvusfugit

In the same moneth [September, 1666] was seen a strange prodigy near us, Grace Butler my near neighbour that saw it told me of it, togather with several of James Brookesbankes family, it was too stars fighting, they struck violently … Continue reading →

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1973: Self-Translation

Posted on January 23, 2018 by corvusfugit

Born in Ireland, Samuel Beckett wrote almost exclusively in French after moving to Paris in 1939. He would then translate his novels and plays into English. He wrote the following sentence in his 1946 short story “Premier amour”: Personnellement je … Continue reading →

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1920: Drag

Posted on January 20, 2018 by corvusfugit

Afanasy Shaur, a member of the Russian Baltic Fleet, organized this gay wedding in Petrograd in 1921. The event featured elements of a traditional Russian wedding, such as a special bread presented with a dish of salt for the betrothed … Continue reading →

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1283: Book of Games

Posted on December 23, 2017 by corvusfugit

Illumination from the Libro de los Juegos, a compendium of games commissioned by King Alfonso X of Castile, Galicia and León in 1283.

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17th Century: Satan

Posted on December 18, 2017 by corvusfugit

Zämänfäs Qeddus: How Satan came (again) looking like four women and St. Michael trod on him; a page from the late 17th century Gondar Homiliary. This Homiliary was created in Gondar, Ethiopia, during a period of artistic flowering in the … Continue reading →

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1822: Clouds

Posted on December 18, 2017 by corvusfugit

John Constable: Cloud Study (1822) Twenty of Constable’s studies of skies made during this season are in my possession, and there is but one among them in which a vestige of landscape is introduced. They are painted in oil, on … Continue reading →

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1457: The Book of the Love-Smitten Heart

Posted on December 16, 2017 by corvusfugit

In the early 15th century, King René of Anjou’s devotion to the courtly arts and literature flourished only after decades of conflict, war, and inter-familial drama. He spent years in prison following a struggle for the throne with his older … Continue reading →

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1904: Discarded Treasures

Posted on December 12, 2017 by corvusfugit

John Frederick Peto: Discarded Treasures (c. 1904) At some point, someone added the forged signature “W M”—for the popular trompe l’oeil painter William Harnett (1848-1892)—to this painting by John Frederic Peto. In the 1940’s, however, it was observed that paintings … Continue reading →

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