LGTBQIA historical fiction: ‘White Houses’ explores Eleanor Roosevelt’s romantic life; Alan Hollinghurst sketches the evolution of gay rights in latest historical novel, ‘The Sparsholt Affair’: I’ve not read either but I’m especially looking forward to “White Houses”.
‘Nosferatu’ and 96 Years of Expressionistic Nightmares: I didn’t know that Albin Grau, one of the producers of this classic vampire movie, was a dedicated occultist. Grau intended “Nosferatu” to be the first of a string of supernatural/occult themed movies by Prana Film but the lawsuits from the Stoker family following “Nosferatu”‘s release bankrupted them. I also didn’t know that Robert Eggers is directing a remake. I loved “The VVitch” so I’m cautiously optimistic.
Review: Shakespeare’s hidden astrology revealed: that Shakespeare’s play’s show occult influences isn’t news; he based the wizard Prospero from “The Tempest” on John Dee, a man Shakespeare might have known in person. Astrologer Priscilla Costello has written several books arguing that Shakespeare poured far more Elizabethan arcane symbolism into his plays.
The murder that instigated the UK’s most dangerous autopsy: in light of the more recent Russian poisoning attempts I thought it worthwhile to look back on a terrifyingly successful one. It took multiple doctors and an atomic weapons specialist to diagnose Alexander Litvinenko’s poisoning by polonium-210, and the doctors performing the autopsy had to wear what sounds like level 4 biohazard suits. More chilling information in the article’s references.