Sometimes, I fall into rabbit holes. And one of my deepest and most satisfying holes involves the mid-to-late 19th century. It’s not a time period I would have chosen, mind, but it is the period that seems to have chosen me. A couple of years ago, I found myself fascinated by Isabella Bird, a British middle-aged traveler/writer from the 1860s through the turn of the century who (among other feats of derring-do) rode a horse across the rougher parts of northern Japan in a time when women did not do such things. What followed was reading more of her books about her other adventures, as well as texts about her and the time. And, well. Rabbit hole.
Enjoyed the whole piece, but I laughed aloud at "I do think modern soccer hooligans are missing an opportunity by opting for wanton destruction rather than re-enacting the battles of the Crimea. There’s just no pride in craftsmanship anymore." Thank you for that!
Enjoyed the whole piece, but I laughed aloud at "I do think modern soccer hooligans are missing an opportunity by opting for wanton destruction rather than re-enacting the battles of the Crimea. There’s just no pride in craftsmanship anymore." Thank you for that!