One of the oldest surviving legends from the Brythonic world tells of a being called the Ankow. This is its Cornish name, the Normans and Bretons(Brittany) know it as Ankou. A skeletal figure that collects and guides the souls of the dead. It is often depicted wearing a wide brimmed hat and carrying a scythe.… Continue reading Ankow: Don’t fear the reaper
Author: Richard Darch
Jack Sheppard: Stone walls do not a prison make.
In researching my next Biographica Incognita entry I have been looking at impressive escapes from prison. This inexorably led me to the story of Jack Sheppard whose criminal career only lasted about two years but in those two years he accrued the notoriety of a lifetime. Jack was born in March 1702 in Spittlefields, London… Continue reading Jack Sheppard: Stone walls do not a prison make.
Geographical Anomaly
So I was finally putting pen to paper on my Biographica Incognita entry on Gentleman Johnny Ramensky. I have spent weeks reading newspapers and court records from the first half of the twentieth century. However in writing about Johnny’s parents immigrating from Lithuania I realised I didn’t really understand the geography of Lithuania. So I… Continue reading Geographical Anomaly
OMH: Would World War Two Have Happened Without Hitler?
Would World War Two have happened without Adolf Hitler? There are few that would dispute that Adolf Hitler was one of the darkest figures in human history. The atrocities he visited upon millions of people are beyond imagining. Often in hypothetical discussions about time travel, the first thought visited is, “I would kill Hitler”. However,… Continue reading OMH: Would World War Two Have Happened Without Hitler?
BI: James Barry
I was anxious about writing this article. Whilst I feel that Doctor Barry’s story is one that has been neglected by history the issues it raises particularly around the possibility of Dr Barry being a transgender male are incredibly polarising which is something I have never particularly understood. Looking at social media almost any post… Continue reading BI: James Barry
BI: Hereward the Wake
I have just updated and republished my Biographica Incognita article on Hereward the Wake. I almost certainly haven’t done this incredible figure from history justice. In my retelling of his tale but my aim is to make people curious and to inspire further reading around some of histories more fascinating forgotten characters. Having read a… Continue reading BI: Hereward the Wake
Welcome
Welcome to my new home on the web. My intention is to use this to collect my works from around the web in one place. It will also allow me to work on some new projects. Initially I will look at getting Biographica Incognita back up and running. This page offers short biographies of some… Continue reading Welcome