Addicted to the Past--journeying through art history

I have been neglectful of late in posting my Addicted to the Past feature.  As many of you know, I'm in college and this semester has been quite a challenge so far (I'm on spring break this week...yay!).  However, both of my classes are very suited to Addicted to the Past and my historical slant on this blog.  I am taking African American history and art history and, while both are interesting, I have to admit that I am happily immersed in art history.  So I've decided to focus this feature on art history for the next several posts.  I hope you enjoy it!

Art in Pre-History

Woman from Brassempuoy

Discovered in the Grotte du Pape in Brassempuoy, France, a tiny ivory head dated to circa 30,000 BCE.  This is one of the many predominantly female figures discovered from the Upper Paleolithic period.  While it is clearly an abstract representation of a female head, I love the imagery of the grace of the female form in the depiction of the long, graceful neck and the patterned hair or headdress.

Wall Painting with Horses, Rhinoceroses, and Aurochs

Discovered in Chauvet Cave, Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Ardeche Gorge, France dated to circa 30,000-28,000 BCE.  The medium is paint on limestone.  There has been much speculation as to the significance of these paintings ranging from ritualistic reasons to symbolic meanings for the luck of the hunt.  Recent findings have determined that most of the animals depicted were not a part of the paleolithic diet.  Many scholars now believe that, due to the inaccessible nature of the paintings' locations, the paintings were created solely for the purpose of enjoyment in the act of their creation.  Much the same reason as people create art today...for the pure enjoyment of the act.

Figures of a Woman and a Man

Ceramic figures discovered in Cernavoda, Romania dated to circa 3500 BCE.  Their meaning is unknown, but since they were found in a grave, they are thought to have a symbolic meaning.  The figures are posed in a very true to life fashion.  Perhaps for the dead individual they were meant to depict a continuation of a normal existence in the afterlife.  I think they are beautiful and the male statue reminds me of that famous statue, The Thinker by Rodin.

So, what do you think about prehistoric art?  Was it created for symbolic or ritualistic reasons or purely for personal enjoyment?

*Reference used was Art History: Volume I: Third Edition by Marilyn Stokstad.

Addicted to the Past--Prelude to Revolution

On this day in history, February 9, 1775, the English Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.  This was in reaction to the provincial congress that was held on February 1st, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during which John Hancock and Joseph Warren began defensive preparations for a state of war.  The fight for our independence begins!

Addicted to the Past--Queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's Death Sentence

Today in history, February 1, 1587, English queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's (queen of Scots) death sentence.

Elizabeth was conflicted when it came to the matter of her cousin.  She knew that Mary represented danger, but she was highly aware of Mary's being a sovereign queen who was unlawfully deposed by her subjects.  She could not malign her cousin at the risk of damaging the model of royal prerogative.

At her trial, Mary defended herself; arguing that she was a sovereign queen and not punishable under the laws of England.  Additionally, she denied that she had ever plotted the death of Elizabeth.  By this time, it was too late.  She was condemned to death.  Elizabeth did not want to sign the execution warrant at first.  She agonized over the decision.  It is probable that she was tricked in to signing it.  Some believe that once she did sign it, the council rushed the execution in case Elizabeth changed her mind.  Mary was beheaded on February 8, 1587.  Elizabeth sent the following letter on the 14th to Mary's son, King James VI of Scotland:

My dear Brother,

I would you knew (though not felt) the extreme dolor that overwhelms my mind, for that miserable accident which (far contrary to my meaning) hath befallen. I have now sent this kinsman of mine, whom ere now it hath pleased you to favour, to instruct you truly of that which is too irksome for my pen to tell you. I beseech you that as God and many more know, how innocent I am in this case : so you will believe me, that if I had bid aught I would have bid by it. I am not so base minded that fear of any living creature or Prince should make me so afraid to do that were just; or done, to deny the same. I am not of so base a lineage, nor carry so vile a mind. But, as not to disguise, fits not a King, so will I never dissemble my actions, but cause them show even as I meant them. Thus assuring yourself of me, that as I know this was deserved, yet if I had meant it I would never lay it on others' shoulders; no more will I not damnify myself that thought it not.

The circumstance it may please you to have of this bearer. And for your part, think you have not in the world a more loving kinswoman, nor a more dear friend than myself; nor any that will watch more carefully to preserve you and your estate. And who shall otherwise persuade you, judge them more partial to others than you. And thus in haste I leave to trouble you: beseeching God to send you a long reign.

Your most assured loving sister and cousin,

Elizabeth R.

Clearly, Elizabeth felt that her actions were justified, but she felt somewhat wrong about it because Mary was her cousin and also a queen. I also think that Elizabeth remembered a time when she was in a similarly precarious position with her sister, Mary Tudor.  Recalling that must have given her pause, if only for a moment.

 I can't imagine ordering the death of a cousin, but Elizabeth was a queen.  Her main priority was keeping her safety intact so as to preserve the safety of the realm.  Someone once said, "It's good to be the king queen."  When it came to decisions like these, it probably wasn't!

Source: englishhistory.net

Addicted to the Past--The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Today in history, January 29, 1845, one of the most famous poems by Edgar Allan Poe (one of my favorite authors) was first published.  Poe was a true master of the macabre and The Raven was no exception in bringing forth an atmosphere of gloom and terror.

 I give you...

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow, sorrow for the lost Lenore,.
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore,
Nameless here forevermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me---filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
" 'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door.
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you." Here I opened wide the door;---
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word,
Lenore?, This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word,
"Lenore!" Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping, something louder than before,
"Surely," said I, "surely, that is something at my window lattice.
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore.
Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore.
" 'Tis the wind, and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven, of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door.
Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly, grim, and ancient raven, wandering from the nightly shore.
Tell me what the lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore."
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door,
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered; not a feather then he fluttered;
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before;
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master, whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster, till his songs one burden bore,---
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never---nevermore."

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore --
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

Thus I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl, whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by these angels he hath
Sent thee respite---respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, O quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!--prophet still, if bird or devil!
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted--
On this home by horror haunted--tell me truly, I implore:
Is there--is there balm in Gilead?--tell me--tell me I implore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil--prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that heaven that bends above us--by that God we both adore--
Tell this soul with sorrow laden, if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden, whom the angels name Lenore---
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting--
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming.
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted---nevermore!

~Edgar Allan Poe

Addicted to the Past--Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

Today in history, January 25, 1533, King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn were secretly married.  Now I know some of us have often  wished we could go back and change a choice we made...whether it be who we married or some other path taken.  I know I do have! LOL! So it only makes sense that Anne Boleyn was thinking the same thing just a few years after the fateful day she married Henry. 

So what made Anne finally give up the ghost and marry Henry after resisting him for so long.  Pressure from her family, her own ambition to be queen, and I suppose she, like so many women, actually believed that Henry was over the moon for her.  Perhaps she should have taken a clue from how easily Henry got rid of his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, even if he didn't have her executed.  He probably would have if not for fear of repercussions from her nephew, Emperor Charles V.

Although I regret that Anne was wrongly dispatched by the king, I am thankful for this day because without the union of Henry and Anne the world would never have known one of the greatest monarchs in history, Elizabeth I of England.  So really, Anne won in the end.  Good for her!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Announcement and 100+ Followers Giveaway

Update: I am extending the deadline for entry until January 31st.  I came across a copy of The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett so I'm adding it to the giveaway.  I'll need all entrants to indicate if they have read Pillars or World Without End.  If you have already entered, just add another comment.  If the entrant I draw (that has not indicated a preference for the Catherine the Great book) has not read both books, then that entrant will win BOTH books!

After much thought and soul searching, I have decided to take The True Book Addict in a (slight) new direction.  I have noticed that I have many historical fiction books in my personal library which isn't really surprising.  History is one of my passions.  I love history so much that when I decided to go back to college in 2003 (at age 34, with a 7 month old and 21 month old at home!), I chose history as my major...later adding English as a double major.  To make a long story short, I'm going to shift the focus of my blog slightly toward historical fiction and non-fiction.  What this will entail will be more reading and reviewing of historical books...mostly fiction, but also some non-fiction.  Since I will be participating in 2 historical fiction challenges next year, I will be reading a lot of these types of books.  I will also feature a weekly event titled "Addicted to the Past"--inspired by Ryan's (Wordsmithonia) Favorite Fictional Character and with some great advice from Lucy (Enchanted by Josephine)--which will highlight a favorite historical figure, place or event.  I think this will be a great way to expose people to the wonder of history and also a way to further my learning of history.  Now this change doesn't mean that I will only be reading historical fiction...I will still read horror, fantasy, etc....whatever strikes my fancy.  But I will have a more general focus on historical fiction and non-fiction.  Please let me know what you think?  I'm hoping this is a good step for me and for my readers!

And now for the giveaway!

In honor of reaching 100+ followers (and to thank you!) and of my new direction, I'm giving away two books that fit nicely with my changes. 

There will be two winners:

First

the sequel (sort of) to one of my favorite books, The Pillars of the Earth:

World Without End by Ken Follett (also one of my favorites)

Here is what the author had to say about his book:

Ever since The Pillars of the Earth was published in 1989, readers have been asking me to write a sequel. The book is so popular that I’ve been nervous about trying to repeat its success. But at last I screwed up my courage, and wrote World Without End.

I couldn’t write another book about building a cathedral, because that would be the same book. And I couldn’t write another story about the same characters, because by the end of 'Pillars' they are all very old or dead. 'World Without End' takes place in the same town, Kingsbridge, and features the descendants of the 'Pillars' characters two centuries later.

The cathedral and the priory are again at the centre of a web of love and hate, greed and pride, ambition and revenge. But at the heart of the story is the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the human race: the plague known as the Black Death, which killed something like half the population of Europe in the fourteenth century. The people of the Middle Ages battled this lethal pestilence and survived – and, in doing so, laid the foundations of modern medicine.

Synopsis:
On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. In the forest they see two men killed.

As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. One boy will travel the world but come home in the end; the other will be a powerful, corrupt nobleman. One girl will defy the might of the medieval church; the other will pursue an impossible love. And always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day.

World Without End is the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth. However, it doesn’t matter which you read first. The second book is set in the same town, Kingsbridge, but takes place two hundred years later, and features the descendants of the original characters.

(all of the above from Ken Follett's website)

Second

Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, And Power by Virginia Rounding (non-fiction)

From the acclaimed author of Grandes Horizontales comes a book that the Washington Post calls “a vivid portrait of a sensual and intellectual woman.”

Dutiful daughter, passionate lover, doting grandmother, tireless legislator, generous patron of artists and philosophers---Empress Catherine II was all these things, and more. Her reign, the longest in Russian imperial history, lasted from 1762 until her death in 1796; during these years she realized Peter the Great’s ambition to establish Russia as a major European power and to transform its new capital, St. Petersburg, into a city to rival Paris and London. (from Amazon)

Both books are hardcover and gently used (World Without End is a discarded library book).

Rules, Rules, Rules!

• U.S. and Canada only...sorry overseas...someday, I promise!
• There will be TWO winners
• You MUST leave a comment with your email address and which book you want to win.
• +2 old follower
• +1 new follower
• +1 for each place you spread the word: Twitter, Facebook, blog (sidebar or post)--MUST leave links
• +1 for following me on Twitter @truebookaddict
• +5 for every person you refer, if they mention your name/blog name (they will get +5 too!)

This giveaway ends on January 15, 2010 at 12:00 am CT

Good Luck and Happy Reading!