28 October is a National holiday in the Czech Republic. Independence Day (Den vzniku samostatného československého státu) marks the foundation of the independent Czechoslovak State in 1918.
The Curious Woodcuts in Hartlieb’s Late-Medieval Adventures of Alexander the Great
There are countless adaptations of the Alexander Romance, a collection of fantastical stories about Alexander the Great originally brought together in Greek, probably in the third century AD.
There are countless adaptations of the Alexander Romance, a collection of fantastical stories about Alexander the Great originally brought together in Greek, probably in the third century AD.
‘As if Some Long-since Inhabited Country Had Been Fished Up Out of the Bottom of the Sea’: Travel Literature on Iceland
As the National and University Library of Iceland commemorate the 250th anniversary of Joseph Banks’s expedition to Iceland with an exhibition, we are publishing a series of blogs on all things Icelandic in the British Library collections.
As the National and University Library of Iceland commemorate the 250th anniversary of Joseph Banks’s expedition to Iceland with an exhibition, we are publishing a series of blogs on all things Icelandic in the British Library collections.
Remembering Mikhail Gorbachev
On 30 August 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and the last President of the Soviet Union died at the age of 91 in Moscow.
On 30 August 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and the last President of the Soviet Union died at the age of 91 in Moscow.
Your Name Here: Five Spanish Bullfighting Posters From 1769
If you’re of a certain vintage you’ll remember the colourful bullfighting posters where you could have your name hand-printed, a souvenir of the modern period of Spanish tourism from the 1960s onwards.
If you’re of a certain vintage you’ll remember the colourful bullfighting posters where you could have your name hand-printed, a souvenir of the modern period of Spanish tourism from the 1960s onwards.
The Art of Noises
Futurism was a multidisciplinary artistic and social movement. Futurists wanted to reinvent all art forms: painting, sculpture, literature, photography, architecture, book production, dance, even cuisine.
Futurism was a multidisciplinary artistic and social movement. Futurists wanted to reinvent all art forms: painting, sculpture, literature, photography, architecture, book production, dance, even cuisine.
Swedish Bird Books
Many of us would have taken part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, the much-loved annual mass participation birdwatch at the end of January.
Many of us would have taken part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, the much-loved annual mass participation birdwatch at the end of January.
In Defence of Armchair Travellers
Stand up for bookworms. Sir Christopher Wren never went to Italy. But he did have a library.
Stand up for bookworms. Sir Christopher Wren never went to Italy. But he did have a library.
When Wagner ‘Met’ Beethoven
The Bayreuth Festival was founded by the composer Richard Wagner as a showcase for his own works of music drama.
The Bayreuth Festival was founded by the composer Richard Wagner as a showcase for his own works of music drama.
“Only Your Work Will Be Remembered”: The 150th Anniversary of JožE PlečNik’s Birth
On 21 July 2021, UNESCO added four new cultural sites to its World Heritage List.
On 21 July 2021, UNESCO added four new cultural sites to its World Heritage List.
Dante and Esperanto
Is Esperanto an artificial language? Yes, but neither more nor less than any other language spoken by humans.
Is Esperanto an artificial language? Yes, but neither more nor less than any other language spoken by humans.
Vaclav Havel’s Pokouseni – Temptation of a Bibliophile
The sensation of moving fingers along the surface of the cover, flipping through pages, the distinctive scent of a new book.
The sensation of moving fingers along the surface of the cover, flipping through pages, the distinctive scent of a new book.
Occupied City, 1921-2021
Paul van Ostaijen wrote his poetry collection Bezette Stad (‘Occupied City’), with art work by Jesper Oscar and René Victor, in 1921.
Paul van Ostaijen wrote his poetry collection Bezette Stad (‘Occupied City’), with art work by Jesper Oscar and René Victor, in 1921.
Poets and Pen-Pushers
When the boss went on a parish visit he found bécquer drawing.
When the boss went on a parish visit he found bécquer drawing.
Connie Palmen’s Laws, Loves, and Stories
The protagonist doesn’t understand how this is possible.
The protagonist doesn’t understand how this is possible.
Venice: Tales of a Sinking City
Venice is both a muse and a maker.
Venice is both a muse and a maker.