Tag Archives: England

“To An Athlete Dying Young” by A.E. Housman

The benefits of living a short life

Alfred Edward Housman’s poem “To an Athlete Dying Young” was published in 1896. Housman was a professor of Latin at the University of London and, finally, at Cambridge. His sad, pessimistic poems spoke to a generation on the brink of … Continue reading

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The Funeral That Took 530 Years

A king of England is getting a proper burial for the first time this week

He died in 1485, but King Richard III is finally getting his own funeral. It took 530 years after his death in battle for the former ruler to have a proper burial. The king’s story is an unusual one. In … Continue reading

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All’s Fair In Love And War…Except At Christmas

Why World War I troops ceased fire on this day in 1914

On December 25, 1914, British and German troops gave each other one of the greatest gifts of all time: an unofficial truce. I know that “We’ll stop shooting at your heads for a few days” doesn’t sound like a loving … Continue reading

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The Victorian Era & the Art of Mourning

Understanding the art of an era obsessed with death, mourning, and ceremony

December, 1861: Prince Albert feels pangs of what wife Queen Victoria describes as “a nasty, feverish sort of influenza and a deranged stomach.” He retires from the household Christmas festivities, bed-ridden, and passes away on the dawn of December 14th, … Continue reading

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 “A Candle in The Wind,” By Elton John

A song that deals with the loss of a national celebrity also can be interchanged to deal with the loss of a loved one

Back in 1997, the world watched as Elton John sang and played the piano at the unexpected funeral of the beloved Princess Diana. He had transformed the words in one of his most hauntingly beautiful tunes, “Candle in the Wind”, … Continue reading

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