Calling Karl Ludwig a major player is a bit of a stretch, since he played a pretty minor role in the events of the Thirty Years War. Still, he’s a historical figure upon which I base a major character, so …
While the Emperor Ferdinand II played a big part in kicking off the Thirty Years War, he died in 1637, eleven years before its end. By then, his son and heir, Ferdinand III had long been active in both fighting …
Wallenstein is one of the more interesting historical figures to emerge from the Thirty Years War and possibly the most notorious.
For someone who was involved in the Thirty Years War a mere two years, Gustav Adolf left an oversized impression. But that was par for for course for a man who spent his life virtually racing from one unqualified success …
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu and of Fronsac, sometimes called the Red Cardinal, was one of the most important political figures in French history. He’s had some pop culture fame by virtue of being portrayed as the arch-villain …
A few months ago I reviewed Simplicius Simplicissimus, a best-selling German novel set during the Thirty Years War. It seems Grimmelshausen, its author wished to capitalize on its success, so he wrote this sequel. Which is to be honest, much …
Book Review: The Life of Courage by Johann Grimmelshausen Read more »
Anyone who’s read Dumas’ The Three Musketeers (read it, it’s great!) or seen one of the many film adaptations will have a passing familiarity with this French king. Often portrayed as a benign nincompoop, the real guy was in fact considerably …
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts, but now that I’m in the process of editing Valley of the Shadow, it’s time to start introducing some of the new characters and the historical figures they’re based …
This is another sort-of reblog of a post from days long past. The original had some inaccuracies I now know enough to correct. Thankfully, hardly anyone saw it- one of the advantages of blogging in obscurity. As some- or maybe …
I swear this is not a book review blog. At least that’s not the only thing it is. I’ve just been doing a bit of reading lately. I tend to read fast, and multiple books at once, so things get …
Book Review: Gustavus Adolphus by Theodore Aryault Dodge Read more »