Miguel de Cervantes was captured by pirates
On this day in 1616 Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes died aged 69. Cervantes had been a soldier and sailor in his youth and had fought at the battle of Lepanto. Later his ship was... Read More
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On This Day
with audio
Vladimir Nabokov chased butterflies, not nymphets
On this day in 1899 the novelist Vladimir Nabokov was born. After an idyllic childhood in a leading St Petersburg family, Nabokov’s world was upended by the revolution in 1917. From then on the family... Read More
Queen Elizabeth II did not expect the Throne
On this day in 1926 Queen Elizabeth II was born, in Mayfair, London. Her father had never expected to become monarch and nor did she. It was only in 1938, when her uncle Edward was... Read More
Poetry Blog
The New PCL Commonplace Book Has Arrived
The original book – Poetry Changes Lives – was inspired by the author’s commonplace book – that he was given at school. He has used... Read More
Poetry Therapy for the Inner Child
When Paul Gauguin painted his famous masterpiece ‘D’où Venons Nous / Que Sommes Nous / Où Allons Nous’ (Where Do We Come From, What... Read More
William Dalrymple, Historian, Presenter and Chronicler of Djinns, Jains and Jesus (and so much more)
The genial yet commanding figure of William Dalrymple has been a regular feature of the wonderfully unique Beyond Borders International Festival at Traquair House, Innerleithen... Read More