#historical book

[earlgodwin]

omg i read blood and beauty and its sequel last week bc it had been on my reading list for months!!!! and is this a safe space where i can just say that it hit the nail on the head for all of the borgias without unnecessarily vilifying one or the other (i mean basically considering how most writers hold some vendetta against juan) and i loved how u could really see lucrezia's growth from her childhood innocence to being forced to mature and grow up AND obsessed w any media that portrays cesare as ferocious and sharp and ruthless and juan finally got his flowers bc they obv showed his flaws but without making him the big bad evil when instead he also started off a kid but ended up being dragged to the bottom of the river by his father's ambitions 😔

i wish the 2nd book had progressed a little further to lucrezia's childbirth bed death so the story could come full circle and sometimes the pov switching was confusing for me but aside from that, the borgias will always be famous to meeeeeeeee and i love a good book that portrays them well!

ive been on the hunt for more borgia-centric books so if u have any recs......... <3

zaynab omg hello!!!!! i was kinda waiting for someone to talk to me about this book because it's my absolute #1 favorite historical fiction book <3

i'm so happy you enjoyed reading it! the way miss dunant brilliantly humanized the borgia family by creating striking and compelling narratives for them was truly *chef's kiss*. it's safe to say that her portrayal of them has even made her my favorite author as well (and made me want to check out her other work, lol). the way she made them so sympathetic is truly admirable to me, which is also a standout aspect of the book as we manage to develop a deep understanding of their motivations and complexities through her nuanced portrayal, you know? i say it could've been done more when it came to lucrezia, as she is truly one of the most compelling figures in history (and my all-time favorite). i'm not criticizing dunant for lucrezia's portrayal!! but it's more like i wished she added more of lucrezia's lore...but alas! other books did her more justice, i must say!

my favorite theme of the book is the immense love the pope has for his children. the way [spoiler] juan was taken too soon from him is profoundly melancholic and it added emotional depth to the story and it highlighted the power of a father's love and the devastating impact of losing a beloved child. also, YEAH, the book felt like a breath of fresh air when it came to juan borgia! he was unfairly demonized with no reliable narrative and mostly used as a prop to hype up cesare at his expense *yawns*… but dunant made him an individual, likable character in the book, countering the unjust treatment he always receives. her portrayal of him allowed us to discover the vulnerability and sensitivity that lie beneath his outwardly arrogant and handsome demeanor. we really can't help but feel deep empathy and pity for him as we read about his inner struggles and emotional depth. he became a truly compelling and sympathetic figure within the borgia family, especially when his death is met with cruelty and brutality. the tragic nature of his demise evokes an even stronger sense of empathy and sorrow in the narrative of juan losing himself and being overwhelmed by the heavy task he was entrusted with…

and cesare, of course, was portrayed as that sulking, bitter, cruel but incredibly intelligent, cunning, and charming guy! lowkey a recurring theme for him, but the flavor in making him extra dark in the slayest way possible made me insane in a very positive way! you should watch "los borgia (2006)" for a delicious portrayal of cesare (and personally, i think it's the most historically accurate).

more books? i'd recommended emma lucas's 'lucrezia borgia' and maria bellonci's 'life and times of lucrezia borgia' - both are biographies btw! their work is a solid read, very unbiased without any manipulation of the letters about/between the siblings to push certain narratives (hello sarah bradford!!), well-researched, sheds light on the family's complex relationships and their rise to power, and is highly sympathetic to all of them. you won't be disappointed!!

for historical fiction, i'd recommend mario puzo's 'the family' ...you will never be disappointed after all it's by the dude who wrote the godfather!

i hope you enjoy them <333 i'll be waiting for your feedback :)

#zaynab 💌 #giggles i love this family #i'm glad you enjoyed the book <3 #the borgias #history #historical fiction #book recommendations #historical book #house of borgia #borgia #blood and beauty #mario puzo #sarah dunant

[lucidmagic]

First Book Read of the Year (1/30/2023)

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn

4.25/5

[List of some trigger warnings: angst, parental death, self-harm (on page), depictions of depression, depictions of agoraphobia, death (off and sort of on-page), some blood, horror, dead bodies (old and fresh)]

Utterly beautiful and thought-provoking prose in a character-driven, slower-paced story about loneliness, loss, curses, and trust set in an atmospheric, gothic Schloss. Along with a romantic slow-burn subplot (main plot?) of the sapphic variety of course. I could not put this book down once I read it. I only stopped when my temples were aching from lack of sleep. Definitely recommend it if you don't mind a slower-paced narrative with little to no plot, instead focusing on characters and the unlying mystery of the Witch and the strange castle. It could have been longer, by about forty or fifty pages, and have more scenes stretched out instead of sometimes telling us what happened than showing, especially between Mina (the MC) and the Witch. I have other smaller criticisms, but that requires spoilers and a bit more context I don't want to type out. Otherwise, Bitterthorn is an (almost) cozy story perfect for a weekend read.

Next on the list to read: The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist by Ceinwen Langley

#please check other places for the full list of trigger warnings #i'm just listing it off the top of my head #lucidmagic reads books #bitterthorn #kat dunn #book review #historical book #gothic horror book #gothic book #gothic romance #sapphic book #historical romance #lesbian book #queer book #book recommendation #bitterthorn by kat dunn #lgbt books #Mina x the Witch

[nickthebookworm]

{12.05.23}

I really enjoyed reading the clippings and notes in this 120+ year old book! I donated it to the local archives, hopefully someone else will find it interesting too.

#local history #historical book #bookish #booklr #bookworm #book #books #currently reading #my reads #books & libraries #bookshelf #book cover

[bones-n-bookles]

Photos from Охотничьи Лайки (Hunting Laiki) by А. Т. Войлочников (A. T. Voylochnikov) and С. Д. Войлочникова (S. D. Voylochnikova).

Top image is of the typical head shape of an East Siberian Laika.

The bottom image is a Laika from the *working district of the* Tuva Region.

I'm only able to roughly translate russian currently so *please* correct me if I make any errors on these! Especially unsure about what to make of the "fishing/working/industrial district" part of the bottom image caption this time around.

#hunting laiki #a. t. voylochnikov #s. d. voylochnikova #east siberian laika #laika #landrace laika #landrace dog #hunting dog #historical dog #historical book #old books #my library #laika books #i feel like i should be tagging these more book related stuff #breed history #dog history #i mainly tag things for my own finding later vs for other people to find #even though i do want people to find my stuff if they are the same type of nerd as me #anyways #primitive dog

[ihearttseliot]

GOOD BOOKS: The Feast of Roses, by Indu Sundaresan

#feast of roses #the feasts of roses book #the feasts of roses indu sundaresan #indu sundaresan book #indu sundaresan books #indu sundaresan author #historical book #historical fiction #historical #good read #good reads #good book #good books #goodread #goodreads #Mehrunnisa #taj mahal #taj mahal fiction #taj mahal novel #taj mahal trilogy #novel #book club #romance #romance book #romance novel #indian literature #indian book #asia #asian literature #india

[flamencapolaca]

From a midwife's textbook, authored by Justine Siegemund and originally published in 1690.

#calcogravura #agua forte #metal engraving #historical book #vintage illustration #midwife #birth

[worldmets]

Itihaser Raktakta Prantare by Hemendra Kumar Roy

Itihaser Raktakta Prantare by Hemendra Kumar Roy PDF. Book Name – Itihaser Raktakta Prantare, Author – Hemendra Kumar Ray, Genre – Historical Novel, Book Pages – 106, Book Format – PDF, PDF Size – 6 MB, Hemendra Kumar Ray wrote the historical novel Itihaser Raktakta Prantare Hemendra Kumar Ray is a lion of Bengali literature. He wrote many Bengali stories, novel and dramas. His famous works in…

View On WordPress

#Hemendra Kumar Roy #Historical Book #Itihaser Raktakta Prantare

[figarotrilogy]

happy birthday protag of my book, you're basically 255 rn but you're still my young reckless girl

#wip book #fantasy books #beginner artist #beginner writer #historical book #historical fantasy #historical fiction #18th century

[snailpants]

A naturalist in western China, with vasculum, camera, and gun; being some account of eleven years' travel, exploration, and observation in the more remote parts of the Flowery kingdom

Wilson, Ernest Henry, 1876-1930

Sargent, Charles Sprague, 1841-1927

#archival photography #botany #botanical illustration #horticulture #historical book #botanical photography

[greatwritenorth]

Book Recommendations: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

If there is one book that I firmly believe has been overlooked and underrated, it is the entire Montague Siblings series by Mackenzi Lee. I am confident they have their own small following, because I saw it years before I finally managed to read it, so someone had to be talking about it, but they are SO GOOD, they deserve to be on everyone's lips.

From LGBTQ+ representation (both mlm, wlw, and, in my opinion, asexuality in book two, though it is not named), to feminist struggles (trying to fight for your place in a "mans" world), and anxiety (Adrian Montague is my darling and I will protect him to the death). These books are perfection.

I decided to call out the first one first, both cause it's first, and because I was doing a romance thing for February (which is past now), and it's the most traditionally romantic of the three. However, these books are hilarious, cliche in all the best ways, and revolutionary in even better ones. They're just everything I've ever wanted from a book and I need everyone to know that. Read it, today!

Then come yell at me, so I can gush and hear all your thoughts.

#mackenzi lee #monty montague #henry montague #a gentleman's guide to vice and virtue #book recommendations #lgbtq books #queer books #queer lit #ya literature #ya books #historical book

[nerdfightercupcake]

The Sands Shall Witness by Walter Hurst Williamson

Add to Goodreads Buy on Amazon My Ratings: 4.5/5 stars About this book: World War I in German Southwest Africa is the backdrop for a spellbinding story about forbidden love, genocide and human endurance. Set in present-day Namibia, this historical fiction novel tells the story of colonial aide Conrad Huber, who falls in love with Sybille, daughter of the prominent chieftain of the native…

View On WordPress

#4 stars #Africa #Alextheshadowgirl #book blogger #Book review #Book reviews #Colonisation #Germany #Historical Book #Historical fiction #historical literature #Namibia #New Historical fiction #World War #World War 1

[jaideepkhanduja]

Dethroned by John Zubrzycki: Unraveling the Integration of India's Princely States in 1947 #BookReview @JohnZubrzycki @juggernautbooks

Dethroned by John Zubrzycki: Unraveling the Integration of India's Princely States in 1947 #BookReview #Books #PrincelyIndia @JohnZubrzycki @juggernautbooks

Dethroned by John Zubrzycki is a historical book that tells the story of how India’s princely states were integrated into the newly independent nation in 1947. The book focuses on the roles of Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of India, and V.P. Menon, the chief negotiator and strategist of the integration process. The book also…

View On WordPress

#26th Amendment #historical book #Indian History #Kashmir conflict #Lord Mountbatten #modern India #Operation Polo #Princely States #Sardar Patel #States Reorganisation Commission #V.P. Menon

[escapismsworld]

Sintra, Portugal

#dark academia #light academia #classical #academia aesthetic #academia #escapism #books and libraries #classic literature #books #architecture #old #building #historical #portugal #royal core #cottage core #goblincore #fairy core #magical #fantasy #aesthetics #mood #vibe #tumblr

[bebs-art-gallery]

Collected Studies on the Pathology of War Gas Poisoning (1920)

— by Milton C. Winternitz, Robert A. Lambert

#illustration #illustrations #art history #historical #painting #art #drawing #dark academia #medical whump #whump #whump art #hannibal aesthetic #hannibal lecter #hannibal #nbc hannibal #aesthetic #red aesthetic #illustrated book #artist #artists #anatomy #art community #chaotic academia #goth #gothic

[catilinas]

The wind blows their ghosts to the ground

line (loosely a translation of iliad 6.146-9) from memorial by alice oswald, embroidered onto a ginkgo leaf i found on the ground

#desk lamp lighting because it is dark and i Would take a photo tomorrow but i am Sure it will shrivel overnight #and it's in red for iliad book 3 reasons :-) #oh embroidery as somewhere in between the ideas of historical memory as presence and historical memory as a series of puncture wounds #we're really in it now!!!!!! #like leaves who could write a history of leaves #trees instead of gravestones #embroidery #alice oswald #iliad #beeps

[worldmets]

Spainer Rupasi Kanya Vol-2 by Shahidul Islam Bengali PDF

Spainer Rupasi Kanya Vol-2 by Shahidul Islam Bengali PDF. Book – Spainer Rupasi Kanya Vol-2 (Pretty Daughter of Spain), Author – Inayatullah Altamash, Translated by – Shahidul Islam, Genre – Historical Book, Language – Bengali, Book Format – PDF, PDF Size – 5 MB, Book Pages – 162, Inayatullah Altamash wrote the historical book Spainer Rupasi Kanya Vol-2 The historical book Spainer Rupasi Kanya…

View On WordPress

#Historical Book #Inayatullah Altamash #Shahidul Islam #Spainer Rupasi Kanya V-2 #Translated Book