"Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477" by Ruth Putnam offers a compelling exploration of the life and times of one of the most significant figures in European history. The book delves into Charles's ambitious reign, his efforts to consolidate power, and his relentless pursuit of a greater Burgundian state. Putnam paints a vivid portrait of Charles as a complex leader, whose military campaigns and political maneuvers shaped the landscape of 15th-century Europe, ultimately lead...

The Count of the Saxon Shore; or The Villa in Vectis unfolds a rich tapestry of narratives that transport readers back to the Late Roman Empire, exploring themes of power, cultural intersection, and societal transformation. This anthology skillfully blends historical richness with captivating storytelling, inviting readers to traverse varied literary landscapes, from dramatic dialogues to reflective prose. Within its pages, diversity emerges, showcasing a spectrum of styles that reflect th...

On St. Andrew's Eve, in the year 1433, the good people of Dijon were abroad, eager to catch what glimpses they might of certain stately functions to be formally celebrated by the Duke of Burgundy. The mere presence of the sovereign in the capital of his duchy was in itself a gala event from its rarity. Various cities of the dominions agglomerated under his sway claimed his attentions successively. His residence was now here and now there, without long tarrying anywhere. His coming was usua...

Alsace-Lorraine was ceded by France to Germany in 1871 after the Franco-German war, then retroceded to France in 1919 after the First World War. It was again ceded to Germany in 1940 during the Second World War and finally retroceded to France in 1945. Today, Alsace-Lorraine is a 5,067 square mile territory in France. However, as you'll find out, it did not use to be so. Before the wars and the back-and-forth ownership between France and Germany, Alsace-Lorraine was Alsace and Lorraine, tw...

Charles the Bold was the last Duke of Burgundy of the House of Valois. Born in 1433, his dream was to be crowned king by declaring the territory of Burgundy an independent kingdom. He increased his land through purchase and conquest, leading to serious unrest throughout western Europe. His enmity with Rene II of Lorraine led to his early death in 1477.

Excerpt: "One evening in the beginning of the eighteenth century—as nearly as we can conjecture, the year might be that of 1720—some time about the end of April, a young man named Lamh Laudher O'Rorke, or Strong-handed O'Eorke, was proceeding from his father's house, with a stout oaken cudgel in his hand, towards an orchard that stood at the skirt of a country town, in a part of the kingdom which, for the present, shall be nameless. Though known by the epithet of Lamh Laudher, his Christia...

It will naturally be expected, upon a new issue of works which may be said to treat exclusively of a people who form such an important and interesting portion of the empire as the Irish peasantry do, that the author should endeavor to prepare the minds of his readers—especially those of the English and Scotch—for understanding more clearly their general character, habits of thought, and modes of feeling, as they exist and are depicted in the subsequent volume. This is a task which the auth...