If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair.  Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in one. This is already turning up some interesting evidence, suggesting that, far … Continue reading Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) is today a globally renowned artist, but his lifetime was marked by profound struggles and limited recognition. Amidst immense personal adversities—from health issues to a tumultuous relationship with a fellow artist—Van Gogh proved extraordinarily prolific, completing over 2,000 artworks in just over a decade. Many of these now rank among […]

‘The Invention of the Eastern Question’ by Ozan Ozavcı review JamesHoare Tue, 08/19/2025 - 08:29

On December 13, 1545, around 30 bishops and other religious representatives gathered in the Cathedral of St. Vigilius in Trent, a town in northern Italy. It was the first session of the Council of Trent, the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Summoned by Pope Paul III after a 25-year waiting period, the […]