Napoleon, leading a French army, invaded and occupied Egypt in 1798. His justifications for the endeavour were to have a position to harass the British in India, to protect the interests of French trade and to bring science and liberal, Enlightenment values to Egypt. The French saw some early successes, yet just 3 years later,... Continue Reading →
Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain is a pseudohistorical narrative of the Kings of Britain published in 1136. It begins with the foundation of the British nation by Trojan exiles and continues for about 2000 years until the Anglo-Saxon invasion and the rise of King Arthur. Thomas More’s Utopia is a... Continue Reading →
This brochure promoting tourism to Ireland is based on “The History and Topography of Ireland” by Gerald of Wales. What defined the work for me was Gerald of Wales outlining the benefits of Ireland’s natural features such as the climate and the air. I also liked how he praised the music of the native Irish... Continue Reading →
The word “marvel/marvelous” conjures up diverse meanings: in the 1300s, it would have meant a marvelous event outside of human power and nature and thus believed to be supernatural/divine. But it can also mean something wonderful or astonishing that causes someone to feel surprise, admiration or wonder (Oxford University Press). Something which is marvelous is all... Continue Reading →
I wanted to write a story about someone hunting for a phoenix. I expanded it to include a persistent, brave teen who looks for adventure and wants to gain his father’s respect while having no clue how to achieve it, with the phoenix hunt and the context/background. It was inspired by a Russian folk song... Continue Reading →
We returned to my father Lord Vlad's castle in high spirits. On the way I had been apprehended by the guards for what had occurred at the Iris Inn, but I paid all debts and damages from a tribute of gold I had received from the nobles of Ranvig Castle as a reward for freeing... Continue Reading →
I think I stayed here forever as the sun began to sink and the sky became red. Until piercing screams startled me. I stood, and the bird held my brother in the sky from the torso and the shoulders, only wearing a white chemise. He looked down at me. "Brother, help me!" I trembled in... Continue Reading →
On the seventh day of entering the forest, my horse hit a giant, sharp rock, whinnied in pain and threw me forward. I hit the floor with a thud and yelled. I turned to my horse, raised my fist, and shouted. "What the hell was that for, you bloody beast?!" The horse turned around and... Continue Reading →
We rode for a few hours before reaching a crossroads, where a vendor stood beside a small light wooden wheelbarrow, filled with pots, pans and cutlery. He was a large, burly man wearing a beaver hat and a light red buttoned shirt and sporting a black mustache. He waved at us, but we ignored him.... Continue Reading →
The darkness parted away like a curtain, revealing a long wooden room, filled with tables and chairs. The image flickered and took a while to form. I had just woken up and could not remember where I was or what I was doing there. However, the glass bottles beside me on the round table indicated... Continue Reading →
diegodelaparra 