Quantcast

California Literary Review

History – 04.07.08

April 7th, 2008

Ian Fleming’s novel plan to outwit the Nazis: A secret mission cooked up by Ian Fleming in September 1940, more than a decade before he created James Bond, appears as preposterous as any adventure that he devised for his fictional creation. Fleming, in his role as a naval intelligence officer in the Second World War, was the architect of Operation Ruthless, a daring scheme to seize a German codebook that may have inspired From Russia with Love. [Times]

Ancient world: Five out of 12 Roman skeletons uncovered in a group burial site near Cambridge were found to have a spinal deformity. Meanwhile, an examination of 4th century AD skeletons at a Cirencester cemetery has revealed that 80 per cent suffered from osteoarthritis (a painful condition that can cause deformity and virtual paralysis). Julius Caesar mentions almost casually that in a single incident during the civil war, four out of the six centurions in one cohort were blinded. We can tell a lot about a culture’s values by the language it uses. Neither the Greeks or the Romans had a word equivalent to ‘disabled’ but the term that they often use is ‘teras’ (for the Greeks) and ‘monstrum’ (for the Romans). [New Statesman]

The day the beer flowed again: Seventy years ago, legal beer returned to the U.S. and provided a spark of hope for a country in a depression. [LA Times]

Bookmark and Share

Leave a Comment

California Literary Review on Facebook

Get The Latest California Literary Review Updates Delivered Free To Your Inbox!

Powered by FeedBlitz

Recent Comments:

  • Movie Review: New Moon: twiLIGHTER notes: i completely agree with this review, perhaps differing on the point of music… i found it incredibly easy to talk during the film, not missing much...
  • Movie Review: New Moon: Ethan notes: The music was brilliant throughout. New Moon is the most difficult book to read because of the dark tone in the first half. It is a MUCH better read the second...
  • Movie Review: New Moon: Movies notes: Twilight Saga is a much awaited movie. It is the romance in it that pulls the crowd out.
  • Movie Review: New Moon: Deborah notes: I missed Catherine Hardwicke as director. New Moon has Cheezy settings & cardboard action. If it weren’t for Catherine Hardwicke directing Twilight...
  • Movie Review: New Moon: Rosalinda notes: I fell asleep. Twice.
  • Movie Review: New Moon: Laura notes: As an adult fan of the series, I disagree with your review. I found the movie to be visually beautiful, the emotions to be powerful, the actors on point, the...
  • Sudden Onset: sylvia notes: After reading so many of your experiences, Im so comforted in the knowing that not only is this terrible desease not exclusive to anyone, but for various reasons or...
  • A Place for Three Seasons: Crested Butte: haakon daviknes notes: Peter! I have read your article and seen the fine pictures. Crested Butte must be a wonderful place. Haakon.
  • Movie Review: Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire: barb notes: Saw the movie tonight, absolutely riveting and raw. Precious is unbelievable. The acting is superb, everyone...
  • Under the Dome by Stephen King: Lorraine Peddle notes: The KING is back. Love “Under the Dome”. He is great.