Nicolaus Copernicus: A National Treasure

German and Polish historians have been wasting their time over an issue of nationality. Is the eminent astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus German of Polish? Whole tomes have been filled with learned dissertations proving the one or the other to the author's liking. I do have an answer to that question, and nobody will like it. 

Nicolaus Copernicus

Barbara Cartland Lives

Just in time for Halloween, BBC4 rings on a drama based on Dame Barbara Cartland’s life. TV reality more ghoulish than any Halloween haunt.

Dame Barbara Cartland

Six Notable Women

Royal Mail has issued the portraits of six women of distinction (?) as a new stamp series. The inclusion of a Nazi has provoked heavy criticism. The other five faces on these stamps are also controversial.

Royal Mail stamp collection

James Bond 007 Quantum of Solace

James Bond is back. I mean the real James Bond 007, not some washed up replica from the eighties trundling around with his gadgets. I got news to share on the film to come: Quantum of Solace.

Daniel Craig as James Bond 007

 

Barbara Cartland's Etiquette Handbook

Random House republished Dame Barbara Cartland’s Etiquette Handbook. But why? Sometimes, writers, and not only second class writers like Dame Barbara Cartland, just go off in a tangent from what they normally write, and thereby produce what can be best titled as literary fraud. Obviously, there can be extremely funny frauds. One of my favorites, gladly brought back to mind by the Daily Mail, is Barbara Cartland’s Etiquette Handbook published by Random House.

Dame Barbara Cartland