Shakespeare – Allison Thurman

biweekly links 8-29-2018

Book review: ‘Shakespeare and the Resistance’ is a tale of a real-life Elizabethan plot: until I read this review about another linking of Shakespeare to covert politics I’d never heard of Clare Asquith. I gather from sniffing around the web that her previous book on Shakespeare’s coded commentaries on Elizabeth I’s regime is lauded in some circles and virulently ridiculed in others. I don’t know enough to judge either way, so I just present this as “interesting” in the same spirit as Shakespeare’s mooted connections to Dee and Kelley’s possible spying in Bohemia.

Not-So-Silent Cinema presents “Häxan”, Witchcraft Through the Ages: if you can get to the Mütter Museum for Halloween, this looks like a fun way to spend it (depending on your definition of “fun”. I’d be all in).

Spellbound: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft: if you’re in Oxford UK between now and January you might want to check this out at the Ashmolean Museum. The rest of us will have to make do with the website photos, including one of John Dee’s famous shewstones.

biweekly links 4-11-2018

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.

Helen Mirren in robe of shining blue shards, wielding a staff — I thought of digging up an old Nosferatu pic for y’all, but I’ll use any excuse to include a picture of Helen Mirren in something fabulous. Here she is as Prospera in “The Tempest”. Via

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.

biweekly links 7-26-2017

Notorious look at 16th century: check this out! An amateur (!) builder spent 10 years (!) researching and building a replica of a Portuguese caravel. This is the kind of insanely dedicated experiential archaeology I lurve. To my eternal regret I can’t find a website or blog chronicling the building process, but the ship’s Wikipedia page has some information. To find out where it docks next check out its Twitter and Facebook page.

Photo of ship Susan Constant at sunset — Reproduction of the “Susan Constant” at the Jamestown Settlement, no less impressive though it wasn’t made by a single man in his backyard. Author’s own.

A $70 ‘Worry Stone’ and Other Bizarre Spiritual Products You Can Buy Online: I used to have a worry stone – can’t imagine where it got off to but it’s nice to know I can replace it from the comfort of my keyboard. For serious high rollers you can get an “orgon [sic] accumulator” starting at $2000.

What’s Fact and What’s Fiction in Dunkirk: One of many articles about the movie, but I think covers history vs. fiction the best. As a former stickler for historical accuracy at all costs, writing The Book has humbled me to the real difficulties of hammering historical events into a compelling narrative. Nolan’s aim was to “put you on that beach” and I think he did so admirably, while sticking astonishingly close to the facts. Not included: why Germany stopped their attack or the fate of those left behind.

Will: 5 ways ‘The Two Gentlemen’ twists history: from painstaking historical accuracy we go to flamboyant liberty with the facts, or at least the image. I’ve not seen “Will” (yet?) but I can’t hammer it’s “punk rock Elizabethan” aesthetic too hard – I love artful anachronisms – but opinions differ.

Biweekly links 12-22-2015

Historical links: necklaces from the Cheapside Hoard being mounted for display. Source: AstleyClarke.com

Merry/Happy [insert holiday here]!

First glimpse of lost library of Elizabethan polymath John Dee – delicious animated images of marginalia and pop-up elements in books from Dee’s famous library. A sneak preview of an upcoming exhibit at the Royal College of Physicians that I’d give my eyeteeth to attend. Here’s hoping they do an exhibit catalog!

How much do you know about Elizabethan money? I only got 50%, maybe you can top me.

Where there’s a quill … help to unpick manuscripts from the days of Shakespeare – a crowdsourcing project in which volunteers transcribe 400 year old documents. I love it when technology intersects with primary sources in an effort to make them available to everyone! Check out Shakespearesworld.org to get started.

The Studiolo of Francesco de’ Medici – a secret room created in Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio, it’s a beautiful example of a study/cabinet of curiosities popular in the sixteenth century.