54 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category


    • Chapter 25 – La Comedie Francaise a Orange Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 25 - La Comedie Francaise a Orange opens in a place where art, history, and landscape fuse into one unforgettable experience. Traveling through sun-drenched valleys and alongside the ancient Rhone, we followed the path of classical revival, our destination not merely a town but a vision—Orange, with its legendary Roman theatre. The performances by La Comedie Francaise, supported by Les Felibres, weren’t just artistic acts; they were a passionate reclaiming of history, echoing the spirit of…
    • Chapter 26 – Pre-palatial Newport Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 26 - Pre-palatial Newport brings to light a period of quiet charm in Newport, long before it became synonymous with extravagant mansions and social grandeur. This chapter paints the Ocean House not as a mere hotel, but as a cultural cornerstone, representing a simpler time in American leisure history. It stood during an era from 1845 to 1885, when society’s pleasures were modest, refined, and deeply rooted in community. Families gathered for early dinners, strolls replaced formal engagements, and…
    • Chapter 27 – SARDOU at Marly-le-Roy Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 27 - SARDOU at Marly-le-Roy opens with a scenic retreat into the wooded charm of Marly-le-Roy, a village once alive with royal splendor. Though the grandeur of the old palaces has faded, the land still breathes with echoes of regal history. Once favored by Louis XIV, the village now offers quiet reverence instead of the sounds of courtly music, its prestige whispered through the statues and stone remnants scattered about. Among these is the home of Victorien Sardou, an iconic playwright who has…
    • Chapter 28 – Inconsistencies Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 28 - Inconsistencies offers a thought-provoking encounter between two men from vastly different cultures as they observe the unfolding of a formal American social event. One, a Westerner used to the ebb and flow of local customs, casually lights a cigar on the piazza to escape dull conversation about sports. The other, a young Turk, carries himself with solemn curiosity, having expected the event to begin promptly, as written on the invitation. His confusion is met with calm explanation—the start…
    • Chapter 29 – Modern “Cadets de Gascogne” Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 29 - Modern "Cadets de Gascogne" brings to life a journey where history, art, and fellowship merge with the vibrant spirit of the French South. The Cadets, a troupe of young men devoted to drama and poetry, are not mere performers but cultural emissaries, carrying forward the legacy of a passionate past. Their approach to performance is more than entertainment—it’s a mission to awaken the soul of forgotten towns and celebrate the enduring strength of regional heritage. The companionship they…
    • Chapter 30 – The Dinner and the Drama Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 30 - The Dinner and the Drama opens by highlighting a curious contradiction in American culture—how a nation overflowing with theaters and wealth can still fail to cultivate a robust dramatic tradition. Despite the presence of grand venues and generous patronage, the heart of the theater seems to beat faintly. Plays with lasting value are rare, and foreign works or shallow entertainments often dominate the stage. The transformation of American life, especially in cities like New York, reveals how…
    • Chapter 31 – The Modern Aspasia Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 31 - The Modern Aspasia opens with a portrayal of Paris as a city unlike any other in Europe. It is not simply a collection of landmarks, but a force that draws people in, seduces them, and reshapes their desires. Unlike Bruges or Ghent, which offer stillness and depth, Paris pulses with a kind of magnetism that attracts both the thoughtful and the frivolous alike. Every street corner seems to whisper a new invitation—one to history, to beauty, or to indulgence. It’s a city of paradoxes, where…
    • Chapter 32 – A Nation in a Hurry Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 32 - A Nation in a Hurry begins with a telling comparison between American life and that of Europe. Returning home after time abroad, one is immediately struck by the heightened tempo of daily life in the United States. From the bustling activity on the docks to the way people rush their meals, the national obsession with speed is unmistakable. It permeates everything—how business is done, how people talk, even how they relax. The story about steamboat captains placing someone on the safety valve…
    • Chapter 33 – The Spirit of History Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 33 - The Spirit of History presents not just the chronicle of events, but the embodiment of a man whose life became one with his country’s past. Jules Michelet, driven by a profound calling, gave himself to the task of animating the silent echoes of French history. He did not simply record events—he felt them. To him, dusty records were not remnants of forgotten days but voices waiting to be heard again. With each turn of a page, he believed he was uncovering the living breath of a nation. His…
    • How They Held the Bass for King James–1691-1693 Cover
      by LovelyMay How They Held the Bass for King James--1691-1693 recounts one of the boldest episodes in the Jacobite struggle, where four men, once prisoners on a lonely rock fortress in the Firth of Forth, turned captivity into rebellion. The Bass Rock, often used to imprison those loyal to the Covenant, had seen hymns echo off its cliffs as prisoners clung to faith within cold, damp stone. But in 1691, that somber silence was shattered when Halyburton, Middleton, Roy, and young Dunbar, imprisoned there under grim…
      History • Poetry
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