In the previous episode towards the latter part of the Middle Ages, we uncovered a bunch of tensions and contradictions reflecting the soon-to-come transition beyond the end of the medieval period, including notably between Latin and the vernacular Italian, which all have a bearing with the progression of society and so of relevance to our story. Today, let’s explore similar trends on a topic closer to home, something more relatable to most of us here.

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Article written by Ash Stuart

Images and voice narration generated by AI

Further Reading & Reference

* Horobin, Simon & Smith, Jeremy. (2002). An Introduction to Middle English. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-1480-X.

* Barber, Charles & Beal, Joan C. & Shaw, Philip A.. (2009). The English Language A Historical Introduction. Second. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-85404-7.

* Corrie, Marilyn. (2009). A concise companion to Middle English literature. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4051-2004-3.

* Crystal, David. (2012). Spell it out: the singular story of English spelling. Profile Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84668-567-5.

More than 15 years ago, I wanted to write poetry, poetry as in, proper verse, like the ...

...Today I hope to take you on a journey to that fount, to the very origins of more than one type of Romance, buckle up!

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Article written by Ash Stuart

Images and voice narration generated by AI

Further Reading & Reference

* Kirkham, Victoria & Maggi, Armando. (2009). Petrarch. A Critical Guide to the Complete Works. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226437415.

* Madame de Genlis. (1820) Petrarch and Laura. London.

After writing Episode 34, I realized that some of the key points I’m making there might not be sufficiently clear without going back in historical time to lay the foundations of it. Plus, in the previous released Episode, [33B], we have discussed the revival of only one strand of the intellectual literature and legacy from what’s called the (European) Classical Antiquity. Let’s briefly go back to that past to complete that picture first.

Also, as you can tell from the hints in the title, this is in some sense an extension of [Episode 30] that came out six weeks ago. I ended that episode by the potentially provocative suggestion that perhaps Rome fell when the Republic fell.

Let me now add some more color to my case behind that proposition.

We know that Rome...

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Article written by Ash Stuart

Images and voice narration generated by AI

Further Reading & Reference

* Everitt, Anthony. (2003). Cicero - The life and times of Rome’s greatest politician. Random House Inc. ISBN 978-1588360342.

* Scheidel, Walter (2021). Escape from Rome. The Failure of Empire and the Road to Prosperity. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691216737.

* Clackson, James & Horrocks, Geoffrey. (2007). The Blackwell History of the Latin Language. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-1405162098.

* Harris, Robert. (2006 etc). Imperium (A fictionalized-but-true-to-history trilogy of Cicero’s life as said in the voice of his secretary Tiro (who is said to have invented short hand!))

* The Works of Cicero - English Translations, Gutenberg

* The Works of Cicero - Latin Original, The Latin Library

* Plutarch - The Life of Cicero