Sir John Suckling’s card scam
On this day in 1609 the Cavalier poet Sir John Suckling was born. A soldier as well as a poet, he is famous as the... Read More
Amy Lowell, America’s powerful poetess
On this day in 1874 the American poet Amy Lowell was born. By all accounts Lowell was a short and rather plump lady. Ezra Pound... Read More
Sir Thomas More listens to his conscience
On this day in 1478 Sir Thomas More, humanist, writer and statesman was born. More was a great scholar and a pious man who had,... Read More
Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare’s rival
On this day in 1564 the playwright Christopher Marlowe was born. Shakespeare was born the same year and the two are often compared. Marlowe’s plays... Read More
William Burroughs invents cut-up poetry
On this day in 1914 the author William Burroughs was born. The son of wealthy parents, Burroughs was one of the group of enfants terribles... Read More
Dietrich Bonhoeffer stands up for his beliefs
On this day in 1906 the cleric, theologian and anti-Nazi pacifist Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born into a large and loving family in Germany. With the... Read More
Buddy Holly’s last flight
On this day in 1959 the American singer Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash. It was the ‘day the music died’ for thousands... Read More