Giacomo Casanova, philanderer and lottery salesman
On this day in 1798 the Venetian adventurer and philanderer Giacomo Casanova died. People who are so well known that their own name becomes a... Read More
Franz Kafka’s horror stories
On this day in 1924 the Czech author Franz Kafka died. Anyone who reads his work is likely to be horrified and strangely, amused. Here... Read More
Thomas Hardy’s ‘Jude the Obscure’ sold in brown paper bags
On this day in 1840 the English author and poet Thomas Hardy was born. Hardy qualified as an architect but practiced this profession very little.... Read More
Reinhold Niebuhr composes the Serenity Prayer
On this day in 1971 American pastor, academic and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr died. Born into a devout German immigrant family, Niebuhr worked in Detroit for... Read More
Rameses II, Great Pharoah of Egypt, dies of toothache
On this day in 1279 BC Rameses II of Egypt became Pharaoh. Said by many to be the greatest of all the pharaohs, this warrior... Read More
Christopher Marlowe stabbed to death in a London pub
On this day in 1593 English playwright Christopher Marlowe was stabbed to death in a London pub. Although he was born in 1564, the same... Read More
G K Chesterton combines wit and religion
On this day in 1874 English writer Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born. A prolific writer of lay theology and philosophy as well as novels and... Read More