I probably should have been a historian rather than an English lit scholar, but I couldn’t have known that without going down that original path and encountering New Historicism. (How’s that for a Catch 22?) In graduate school, I became obsessed with the intricacies of European history and politics, particularly of monarchies, and specifically, of female monarchs. So here’s a list of my top five favorite English Queens to research:
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Posts Tagged ‘History’
5
Nov
“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
by Paul Standby, 1776
Remember, remember the fifth of November…
Most people will be writing about the outcome of the Presidential Election last night here in the United States today. But if you know me, follow me on Twitter, follow this site, or have spoken to me in the past week, you know that I just can’t stomach any more partisan political discussion. I’m elated that the political ads have disappeared from my TV. I’m disappointed in the responses of some of the people who surround me, but I can’t have everything, can I?
Instead, I’d like to draw attention to the fact that it’s Guy Fawkes Night! Most people became aware of him and the doggerels that are associated with him through the 2005 film V for Vendetta and through the hugely popular Graphic Novel by Alan Moore (1982-88: Originally published in The Warrior in black and white, and then by DC in color later. It’s being re-released in January 2009, by the way). But most people still don’t understand what Guy Fawkes Night is actually about, or what it is actually celebrating.
Guy Fawkes Night is celebrating the discovery and foiling of The Gunpowder Plot–an assassination attempt on the life of James I (and IV of Scotland) by a group of 13 English Catholics who intended to kill the King and his family, most of the Protestant aristocracy, and start a rebellion to place Elizabeth (James’s 9 year old daughter) on the throne as a Catholic monarch by blowing up the House of Parliament at its opening on November 5th.
- On November 5th - Guy Fawkes was discovered in the cellar of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder.
- The King sent orders to the Tower of London authorizing the use of torture on November 6th on Guy Fawkes to get him to give up the names of his co-conspirators.
- November 8th - The rest of the co-conspirators were rounded up; two were killed in the skirmish and the rest were carted off to the tower.
- November 9th - Fawkes signs a longer, detailed complete confession outlining the plot and conspirators (evidence of his torture is present in his shaky signature)
- January 27, 1606 - The trial of the Gunpowder plot conspirators (Read the transcript of the trial here)
- January 30, 31 - The execution of the remaining conspirators (It is documented that Fawkes jumped from the scaffold before he could be systematically hanged so that his neck would snap, thus avoiding being conscious for the disemboweling during the ordered Drawing and Quartering. Robert Keyes, one of the co-conspirators, tried the same, but did not snap his neck. He was conscious for the remainder of the execution.
The celebration of Guy Fawkes Night traditionally included fireworks and bonfires–usually with hanging Guy Fawkes dolls and burning them in effigy. This practice has mostly fallen out of favor, and the meaning of Guy Fawkes Night has slowly become appropriated to symbolize drastic revolutionary measures to stand up to a governing body. For that reason, the opening of the traditional rhyme is often sung, but not the entire thing (Omitted verses in bold):
- Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
- The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
- I can think of no reason
- Why the Gunpowder Treason
- Should ever be forgot.
- Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
- To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
- Three-score barrels of powder below
- To prove old England’s overthrow;
- By God’s providence he was catch’d
- With a dark lantern and burning match.
- Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
- Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
As with shifts in many popular concepts, the understanding of the origins of Guy Fawkes Night has shifted to only a cursory understanding of what the actual celebration is about–the saving of the King and Parliament, and maintaining the status quo. Without knowing the entire doggerel or rhyme, celebrants tend to miss the mark entirely.
Tags: Conspiracies, History, Holidays, Please do your research
Cinco de Mayo: What is Everybody Celebrating?
by Donald W. Miles
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Road
Suite100
Lincoln, NE 68512
278 pages
0-595-39241-5
$ 20.95
Responsible parenting or teaching would send an inquisitive child to “look it up,” whatever “it” may be—a word, a fact, or an historical event. But what happens when there are no credible, adult focused resources to research from? Donald W. Miles found this to be the case when he went searching for a book to recount the historical events of the popular holiday, Cinco de Mayo. Children’s books about the holiday were plentiful, but none were available for adults with accurate, historical, in depth information. In this world of constant documentation, it is hard to believe that some topics have gone un-discussed, and that false information continues to be taught regarding a largely celebrated holiday. With this in mind, Miles made it his mission to compile the disparate resources his research uncovered into one document—Cinco de Mayo: What is Everyone Celebrating?
Miles’ book is a step by step historical progression through the seven-year struggle for Mexicans to reclaim their country from the grip of Napoleon III that began with the battle of Puebla in 19th century Mexico. He painstakingly sets the scene for every move the European armies made on their progress to take Mexico City and install Archduke Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico. Not only does Miles give readers an intimate view of the military rationale for every advancement from Veracruz to Puebla to Mexico City and the eventual execution of Archduke Maximilian, he incorporates the perspectives of the Mexican people and how the American Civil War effected the movement of both French and Mexican armies. Miles provides a panoramic perspective on events that have been glossed over in the past, and drives home the impact of the battle of Puebla for any individual seeking an understanding of celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Though at times Cinco de Mayo can appear to be flirting with historical fiction, Miles demonstrates his thorough research in every segment of the book, and offers a complete bibliography to support his presentation of a segment of time in Mexican history.
Cinco de Mayo is a comfortable journey through the past, and does not bludgeon readers with footnotes or with dry accounts of military staging. Instead the snapshot structure of the book allows readers to easily follow the progression of events leading to the battle, and the motivations of all parties involved. Cinco de Mayo is as much about the creation of Mexican culture as it is an historical account of a battle against occupation and imperialization led by Napoleon III. Rather than recounting the events with the stereotyped sterility of history books, Miles brings to life the major actors in the theatre of war in a highly readable, accessible rendering of events and personalities.
~Review by Dawn M. Papuga
**Review completed for BookPleasures.com**
Tags: Book Reviews, BookPleasures, Cinco de Mayo, Donald Miles, History
15
Feb
What’s Next?
Wonderful news! More reviews and author interviews have been added to the list! In the coming weeks there should be a steady flow of reviews and interviews posted here, on the sister site, and at BookPleasures.com. Some of the great new additions coming next:
- The review of Bridie Clark’s first novel, Because She Can, will be posted today or tomorrow and the review will be followed by an interview with the author, as well!
- Award winning novelist Sandra Worth’s next novel, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace, will be hitting the shelves in May of 2007. The Rose of York: Fall from Grace has already won the Francis Ford Coppola New Century Writers Award, and concludes her The Rose of York series which has been the recipient of ten different awards. A review will be posted sometime in the coming weeks prior to its release. For more info on the book and the Rose of York series, see the Sandra Worth website.
Stay warm and keep reading!
~D.M. Papuga
Tags: Award Winning Novels, Bridie Clark, History, Interviews, Sandra Worth, Updates
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Dawn's Delicious Bookmarks
- Why Fans Are Forgetting the Point of Mixed Martial Arts | Bleacher ReportHearing boos resonate from the crowd when the fighters are displaying strategic, tactical, and technical skills on the ground is mind boggling. Then again, they might just be there for the flashy KOs, not the sport itself. A shame.
- Frank Mir Should Be Arrested After Public Death Threat on Brock Lesnar | Bleacher ReportWith the need to defend MMA from those who call it a Blood Sport, and with so many venues adn states fighting to get permission to legalize MMA and hold events, comments like this are irresponsible -- Especially from someone in his position.
- Dawn's Weekly Pull ListThis is the pull list of comics I have each week. I needed an organizational tool for this, and to help me write reviews more regularly. I think this will help. Check here each week for my pull list!
- A Love Letter For You » MuralsThese are like unexpected smiles from strangers. Lovely.
- DC Solicitations for November, 2009
- DC Comics Solicitations for December, 2009DC comics list!
- Wonder of WondersGail Simone's announcement of the Wonder of Wonders Message Board. Check it out.
- Modern Love - Those Aren’t Fighting Words, Dear - NYTimes.comThis gives me new perspective on a lot of things in my life.
LibraryThing
