New Money in the Ancient World
It turns out the “invention” of money in the ancient Near East came about during a time of crisis and shrinking economy. It starts with handy “portable wealth.”
Review of When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris
Sometimes long-running series like C.S. Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries loose steam, but that is definitely not the case with When Blood Lies, book 17 of her series. It was named Editor’s Choice in Historical Novels Review. My review.
A New Kind of Iliad
There have been some successful onstage versions of the Iliad lately. This one definitely caught my attention–aerial display, music, a new interpretation.
Goddesses and Mythic Transmission
An article about a book called Goddesses of Myth and Cultural Memory has me thinking more about the blending and borrowing across the ancient Mediterranean, European, and Near Eastern world.
Schliemann, the Discoverer & Destroyer of Troy
In the annals of archaeology one man stands out as a particularly egregious villain. Like various contemporary “visionary” businessmen today, Heinrich Schliemann used his abundant cash to do whatever he wanted and ignored the scientific, expert advice of his day. That didn’t work out well for the archaeological remains of Troy.
Review of The Raven Spell
Today I’m sharing a review of a book by Luanne G. Smith that I really enjoyed reading. With page-turning effect, The Raven Spell combines vividly portrayed Victorian London, a serial murder mystery, a detective with amnesia, and witches.
The Bow of Odysseus: Ancient vs Modern Weapons
Odysseus was the clever Greek hero, even devious. He was a man of mind power over brute force. However, he was no slouch as a warrior, especially with his bow. Smithsonian and Bettany Hughes compare the ancient Greek composite bow to a “hyper-modern” one. How does one of my favorite legendary heroes hold up?
Guest Post: The Chinese Passion for Tea
This week I’m welcoming M.K. Tod to my blog. Enjoy her guest post about the Chinese Tea ceremony in honor of her new novel The Admiral’s Wife.
Review of The Admiral’s Wife
I recommend M.K. Tod’s latest historical fiction, set in Hong Kong in a dual timeline of 1912 and 2016. My review of an engaging deep dive into family dynamics, cultural heritage, and romance.
Best Books Set in the Trojan War
I was recently asked to put together an annotated list of my personal favorites among Trojan War books. I had fun putting it together, although limiting myself to five was challenging.