Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium. Whatever you call it, it’s one of the most important, interesting, and complicated cities in history. It was the seat of the hold-out Roman… Read more “Book Review: Midnight at the Pera Palace”
Tag: Christianity
Book Review: For All the Tea in China
There are some pretty big gaps in my knowledge of History, and China is definitely one of them. I know a bit, but not a lot. Over… Read more “Book Review: For All the Tea in China”
Book Review: Cod
This is an excellent book, and a much quicker read than Kurlansky’s more famous and popular book, Salt. I love that it balances History, Food, and Environmentalism… Read more “Book Review: Cod”
Book Review: The Job
William S. Burroughs is a challenging figure in American literature, especially fringe literature. Key to the Beats, but not a part of it; key to drug culture,… Read more “Book Review: The Job”
Book Review: The Cult of Alien Gods
The more history and science I read, the more it becomes clear that everything is connected, and nothing exists in a vacuum. I don’t mean that in… Read more “Book Review: The Cult of Alien Gods”
Book Review: Strange Gods
As is frequently the case, this anthology is spotty. There are a couple good stories, a lot of what would be filler in the pages of Weird… Read more “Book Review: Strange Gods”
Book Review: Odessa
The subtitle of this book is ‘Genius and Death in the City of Dreams.’ That seems very accurate. Charles King takes us through the relatively brief history… Read more “Book Review: Odessa”
Book Review: The Maid and the Queen
As a kid, the story of Joan of Arc fascinated me. So much great imagery swirls around her legend, so much mystery and power. What then is… Read more “Book Review: The Maid and the Queen”
Firenze: Three Days of Art, History, and Food
In February of 2016, Rebecca and I took our second European trip, this time to Italy. As we had done with Lisbon, our plan was to… Read more “Firenze: Three Days of Art, History, and Food”
Book Review: Lost to the West
Lars Brownworth’s history hangs like a purple cloak off the rather broad shoulders of Byzantium, the oft forgotten remnant of the Roman Empire that survived right up… Read more “Book Review: Lost to the West”
