1,992 words
Jack London
The People of the Abyss
New York: Macmillan, 1903
Some phrases stay with you for life, and one such for me has been attributed to Carl Jung, but seems rather to be a Latin motto favored by the European alchemists of the 15th century: Liber librum aperit, or, “one book opens another.” (more…)
Kay Nielsen draft of a shipwreck, ca. 1940
6,074 words
It was a dark and soon-to-be stormy night on the Gulf Coast some years ago, when my other half and I sat on our porch chairs, gazing toward the sea. He held a cigarette — a bad (thankfully short-lived) habit he’d picked up during his year-long research sabbatical in Valladolid; paired with his fedora, I’m sure he knew that it lent him a (pretentious) air reminiscent of interwar Europe (more…)
George Barbier, “Eventails (Fans)”
7,971 words
Twentieth Century Studios is threatening to release a remake of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile (1937). And if Kenneth Branaugh’s previous outing as the Hercule Poirot character in 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express was anything to go by, best to avoid it. (more…)
Wawel Castle in Kraków, Poland
3,012 words
Part 1 here
This part of the interview was published in the XXXIV issue of the magazine Reconquista.
In this part, Jaroslaw will discuss metapolitics, Polish culture, music, art, his travels, and writing. (more…)
Ivan Bilbin, Igor’s Campaign, 1941.
1,520 words
It is often said that a new year can be the start of a new life. Along with my own year-end traditions, I have always spent New Year’s Eve reflecting on the past while looking forward to each new year. Due to the events of 2020, it is difficult for many of us to have a positive outlook for the future. After reading The Tale of Igor’s Campaign this week, I was reminded that our ancestors have also faced difficult times and uncertain futures. (more…)
Ferdinand Lindner, Altnordisches Julfest, from Die Gartenlaube magazine. 1880.
1,818 words
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. From Christmas decorations to Christmas songs, I always get into the holiday spirit wherever my travels and adventures take me. Although I prefer spending Christmas with friends and family, I have spent a few holidays by myself in various countries. While I was never one to question (more…)
Simon Marmion, The Eight Phases of the Song of Roland, ca. 15th century.
1,863 words
I sold my car before moving to Europe a few years ago. I had this car for several years and took it on various road trips across the US. During a few of these trips, I thought about The Song of Roland, the French poem from the 11th century. From tales of tragedy to stories of heroism, this epic poem has given me a lot to think about during the various road trips of my life. (more…)
Michael Drolling, The Wrath of Achilles, 1819.
1,636 words
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Along with eating turkey and pumpkin pie, it is a day where I reflect on all the things that I am thankful for in my life. As our governments take advantage of the COVID lockdowns to impose draconian measures and the Great Reset, I found myself feeling more angry than thankful (more…)
Canaletto, The Return of the Bucentaur to the Molo on Ascension Day, 1730.
1,648 words
On the train ride home this weekend, I ended up talking with a drunk woman about the concept of happiness. Although brief, the conversation reminded me of Giacomo Casanova’s memoir The Story of My Life. As I have gotten older, this memoir has reminded me not to let certain vices ruin my life. While each person (more…)
William Hogarth, Canvassing for Votes, from The Humours of an Election, 1755.
1,881 words
Since the last US presidential election, my life has been a tangled web of travels and adventures. I was fortunate enough to experience Trump’s historic election night in 2016 while living in a small town in Texas. This year, I spent the election night in a small British town near Tamworth Castle. Like everyone else, I stayed up late both nights (more…)
1,210 words
A road trip may be the ultimate antidote to all of the insanity of 2020. In late September, I took time off from work and drove from Washington state in search of some sanity that I haven’t felt in months. I traveled nearly 3,500 miles and the drive was worth every minute. If done properly, simply getting to your destination is half the fun. (more…)
Harald of Norway with Halfdan the Black, from Flateyjarbok.
1,880 words
My recent adventure took me to the Northern Isles of Shetland and Orkney. During my trip, I visited the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, the Bronze Age settlement of Jarlshof, and the Viking Age sites described in the Orkneyinga Saga. As I visited these locations, I was reminded of all the hours (more…)