Book review: Land of thieves, by Janna Coomans (2025)

Most history books are about kings, politicians, wars and the rulers and shakers who shaped the world of our ancestors.Luckily these days there’s a lot more attention for what life was really like for the common people, the housewives, teachers, shopkeepers and soldiers.I’ve always been more interested in that side of history and I feel … More Book review: Land of thieves, by Janna Coomans (2025)

Art review: Bathing scene from the Hausbuch von Schloss Wolfegg (c. 1480)

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. Look at those filthy medieval people who never bathed or washed and who thought bathing was dangerous and bad. Look at them… er… having a … More Art review: Bathing scene from the Hausbuch von Schloss Wolfegg (c. 1480)

Film review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny (2023)

This article was originally a LIVE thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. LIVE film review! I’m going to watch ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny‘ and review it as I go along.Disclaimer: I am in … More Film review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny (2023)

John Gabriël Stedman and his misunderstood distaste for bathing

Here’s an interesting example of how misunderstanding & not properly fact checking a text results in spreading misinformation that, again, makes it seem some people of the past were scared of bathing and filthy icky boys. I had researched this before but today someone who seems to be obsessed with European hygiene and who just … More John Gabriël Stedman and his misunderstood distaste for bathing

Art review: ‘Der lästige Kavalier’ by Berthold Woltze (1874)

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. This is ‘Der lästige Kavalier’ (The troublesome cavalier/”gentleman”) painted by Berthold Woltze (1829–1896): It depicts a scene most women will recognise, some men just can’t … More Art review: ‘Der lästige Kavalier’ by Berthold Woltze (1874)

Art review: ‘The Saint Nicolas Feast’, by Jan Steen (1660s)

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. This is ‘The Saint Nicolas Feast’ (1660s) by one of my favourite Dutch painters Jan Steen. First a bit of background information: every year around … More Art review: ‘The Saint Nicolas Feast’, by Jan Steen (1660s)

Book review: ‘Gross facts about the Middle Ages’ (2017)

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. Let’s review a kids book from 2017 called “Gross facts about the Middle Ages”.Why am I doing this to myself?The cover alone is promising…You can … More Book review: ‘Gross facts about the Middle Ages’ (2017)

Film review: ‘The First Great Train Robbery’ (1978)

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. Remember ‘The First Great Train Robbery’?Oh boy… It’s an 1978 film set in Victorian times with Sean Connery & Donald Sutherland:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Great_Train_Robbery I’ve watched it before … More Film review: ‘The First Great Train Robbery’ (1978)