#franz hoffman

[joandfriedrich]

What do you think happened between Minna Bhaer and Franz's and Emil's father? I often think about it.

I have a headcanon that they worked in a newspaper in Berlin. She followed him and they traveled to America, but he left her and then she became ill and Fritz found her and the boys from the poor house.

That is the puzzle of the ages, at least in the Little Women fandom. In order to answer this properly, I had to dig a little deeper into what was historically happening at the time when Minna would have met and went to America with her husband. Going by your timeline, which I trust completely, Franz was born in 1859 and Emil 1861, so his parents would have had to have met during the 1850s.

All that we know of Minna’s husband/Mr. Hoffmann is that he is American, and is not in the picture by the time Friedrich comes over to America. Things that I inferred from the text is that Mr. Hoffmann isn’t a sore spot for Friedrich or the boys (could be possible for the boys to not remember much of their father), but I personally think that the Hoffmann’s were just a simple family that had fallen on hard times and tragedy struck the parents down. I don’t believe that Friedrich, being the family man that he is, would allow his sister to go and marry some man that he hasn’t met or felt he could trust, given their history of their own father abandoning them. But before I go into that, let’s take a look at the history that was surrounding Germany and America at this time.

Germany during the 1850s had political issues, religious turmoil, and economic struggles, and according to the research I did, it was during this time that a huge number of Germans had travelled over to America, as mainly due to there was hardly any place that would welcome German immigrants. Between 1845-1855 alone, more than a million Germans came to America, and in 1854, it was recorded that 215,000 Germans came over. America took advantage of this influx of immigrants and hired them to work in some of the most labor-intensive jobs, like building canals and railroads.

You suggest that perhaps they were journalists in Berlin and possibly in America. For anyone that is wondering, there was indeed a German language magazine in New York City, known as “New Yorker Staats-Zeitung” founded in the 1830s. It was established by German-American business men, and it was incredibly popular and profitable all the way into the 1960s. While I think it is intriguing to think that they became journalists in America, there is something that throws doubt in my mind.

Friedrich was a highly thought of and brilliant professor in Germany, with qualifications that would be ideal for any university, and yet, he was unable to get that kind of job, and was stuck being a tutor in the Kirke boarding house. The sad reality of this time is that, regardless of what skills and education you may have had in your homeland, it was hardly appreciated in America. While Germans had established their own communities and were a respected immigrant group, they too faced prejudice in the work force, especially by the American born citizens who disliked immigrants taking jobs away from them. It took Friedrich years and the luck of his wife inheriting a large house turned school, to become a teacher, and in much later in life a president of a school, so I can’t imagine that finding a high profile and paying job like that would have come easy.

Also, I think it is highly unlikely that Minna would have been a journalist in Berlin, because during the 1850s, it was against the law for women to be a part of political events, or be associated with anything that deals with politics, and newspapers/magazines did such that. She wouldn’t have had the experience to be able to do that and transfer that knowledge to America, and women’s rights would have become common in Germany in the 1870s, long after she had moved to America and had passed away. As much as it is an interesting background, I don’t feel confident that she would have worked for a newspaper company.

There is something interesting to note about the name Hoffmann, something that could give a clue into Mr. Hoffmann’s background. It is of German origin, but it is also a common name for anyone of Jewish origin. During the 1850s, there were many German Jews living at this time, just as much as there were German Christians, and I wonder if there may be a possibility of Mr. Hoffmann being Jewish. We know the Bhaers are Christian, but as we see with Friedrich, are not prejudice towards them. This unlocks a new avenue of possibilities that could be explored and explain more about the mysterious Mr. Hoffmann.

If we do believe him to be of Jewish origin, it can answer a question that I had for the longest time. Why didn’t Minna ask any of Mr. Hoffmann’s family to raise her boys after she died if she was dedicated to having them raised in America? Most likely because they were unhappy at their son, a Jewish man, married to a Christian woman and disowned him. With no American in-laws to help, who else can Minna turned to, other than her only living relative and one she trusts utterly, her own brother.

Here is my personal headcanon of the mysterious Mr. Hoffmann and his relationship with Minna:

Mr. Hoffmann’s parents came to America to avoid the discriminatory and heavy laws that were put against Jews during that time in Germany. Along with some other Jewish families, the Hoffmann’s helped to establish a bank in New York City, allowing them to earn money to raise their family in a middle class setting. He was raised with care, went to good schools, wore fine clothes, and was given opportunities to have interests, one he deeply loved was music, but still faced prejudice due to his Jewish background. While his parents were progressive in thoughts of women’s rights, abolition, and sex education, they are old fashioned when it comes to one thing, religion; people ought to marry within their own religion, and after everything they had gone through, they had a great distrust in Christians.

Because they encouraged him to be interested in social and political matters, Mr. Hoffmann attends meetings and reads newspapers that not only express ideals he was brought up in, but helps to broaden his knowledge of things his parents wouldn’t normally talk about, and has friends from all different kinds of backgrounds. To him, America is the melting pot of cultures and the hope for a more unified world, which is something his parents disagree, thinking each culture ought to stay with their own, especially as an effort to preserve it. He got the best education he was afforded, and was expected to have a place in his father’s bank, but wanting to do something on his own merit, he used his money to buy a little music store and has managed it with great success. His parents see this as a hobby, which saddens him that they don’t seem to understand that he likes managing the store, but he lets it go for the time.

Once he became a young man, he decided to travel back to Germany to see what his parents’ homeland was like, wondering if things had changed then, and that was how he managed to meet Minna. He got lost and was trying to find his old home, when he asked a young lady to help him, and they hit it off wonderfully. Minna Bhaer is a kind and bright young woman, and shows him around the city, answering his questions, and when he commends her for how bright she is, she blushes and says that credit goes to her brother who is a great teacher. Inviting him to dinner, she introduces him to Friedrich, who was very welcoming to the young man, and they listened to the tales of America, just as they shared how Germany has become the country it is now since his parents left. They talk about music, philosophy, religion, and progressive ideas, which Mr. Hoffmann is grateful to meet like minded people as him.

Mr. Hoffmann had planned to stay only for at most a month, but he found that the warmth of the Bhaer home was too wonderful to leave so soon, especially of the company of the young Minna. One month turned to two, two to four, and it was very clear to Friedrich that a romance is blossoming between the two. While he has no objections against his religion or taking her to America, he does grill him in how Mr. Hoffmann will take care of his bride, not only financially, but emotionally. Minna had told Mr. Hoffmann about how their father walked out of the family, and while she was too young to remember him and care that much, she shares that Friedrich still carries that wound, and he understands Friedrich’s concern of a possibility of Minna being abandoned by both a father and husband.

Mr. Hoffmann knew that there was a good chance that they would not accept her, may even disown him, but he loved Minna very much and explained that he had a store of his own that was doing well and would provide for them both, and whatever children they will have. Friedrich, satisfied that Minna would be taken care of, gives his blessings to the pair, and they marry in a civil ceremony in Germany before travelling back to America.

When Mr. Hoffmann tells his parents of his marriage, they are enraged that he would marry a Christian, when it’s his duty to marry a good Jewish woman. Because Jews go by the lineage of their mothers, not their fathers, they are upset that their children will not be “real Jews”, no matter what Minna tries to say or do to make it the whole thing fair to everyone. They cut him off, explain that he is dead to them and he never hears from them again. While he is upset his parents aren’t accepting of his choice, he doesn’t regret loving Minna, and they work hard the next year to make their store a success, and find that they are expecting.

First came Franz in 1859, named after their favorite composer Franz Shubert, then in 1961 Emil, a name shared by both of their grandfathers. Mr. Hoffmann sent letters telling his parents of each son’s birth, but received no reply and expected no visit, which did hurt him though it wasn’t unexpected. Despite his parent’s rejection, and Friedrich being on a different continent (that doesn’t stop him from sending gifts to the boys on their birthdays), the Hoffmann family was happy and proved that their love was stronger than everyone’s prejudice. After discussing how to raise the boys, Mr. Hoffmann insisted that they were raised Christian, as he felt it would make their life easier, but Minna assured that she would not let the boys forget that their father was Jewish, and if that they are free to make the choice as they grow up which they would rather be.

The nation becomes divided until ultimately a civil war breaks out, and because he finds the idea of slavery abhorrent and unable to stand by and watch injustice happen before his eyes, he joins the Union army. While Minna is scared to death he’ll die, she knows she has to be strong and admires him for his conviction. He’ll serve in the war for three years before he is killed in battle, and the news devastates Minna, who is now all alone. If it wasn’t bad enough that she lost husband, she was unable to say goodbye to him as he was buried with the other fallen soldiers in a hurry, and, because of a stipulation in the deed, it means the store and their apartment above now belonged to his parents, which meant they turned Minna and her boys out in the cold without a second thought.

Minna takes her boys to a small and broken down apartment, which was all she could afford, finds a job that pays very little, just enough to take care of her boys, sacrificing her own wellbeing to make sure they stay healthy. This comes back to bit her as she feels greatly ill, making her write to Friedrich, telling him of everything that has happened and expresses her wish that should she die, her boys should be raised by him in America, like their father died. Friedrich hurried over to America, and is with her for a month trying to take care of her before she passes away. Now, with two young boys in his charge and new to America, Friedrich must do what he can to raise them well, and finds luck in the Kirke’s boarding house, where not only does he find lodging that is significantly better than where his sister was living at previously, but they offered him a job as a tutor to help take care of them.

I'll admit, I wasn't expecting this outcome, but the more of the deep dive I did of history, this backstory just came to me naturally. What do you guys think?

[filmkareleri]

American Buffalo (1996) // Michael Corrente

Based on a David Mamet play, American Buffalo is basically theatre on film.

It tells a small story on small people. It's very dialogue heavy. It also has a sparse set design and a three people cast. If you're not patient, this one may not be for you. Dustin Hoffman is terrific in American Buffalo. Watching him is like watching the working of a poison.

An interesting film with a strange intensity.

[llovelymoonn]

on hope

alice hoffman practical magic \\ anna badkhen to see beyond: a hoping in three pictures \\ lenelle moïse haiti glass: "the children of immigrants" \\ clementine von radics \\ denise levertov for the new year 1981 (via @petaltexturedskies) \\ franz wright earlier poems: "voice" (via @luthienne) \\ linda hogan ancient root

kofi

[mysterieuxclairdelune]

{Tumblr User: @poetryatmost (x)/ Charlotte Eriksson, Empty Roads & Broken Bottles: in search for The Great Perhaps/ Franz Kafka, from The Diaries of Franz Kafka, 1914-1923/ Anne Sexton, Live or Die; from 'Imitations of Drowning'/ Emily Dickinson, from "No crowd that has occurred" (Poem #515), Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson/Franz Kafka, from The Diaries of Franz Kafka, 1910-1913/ Tumblr User: @poetryatmost/ Listy Tamtego Lata, from Letters of Summer Past/ Carlie Hoffman, from "High Bridge Park," published in Gulf Stream/ Alex Dimitrov, from "Love," in Love and Other Poems}

[ravenkings]

OK I saw your post about fucked up media . I agree , now share your most loved fucked up media 🎤

okay, this is a VERY broad question, especially since "fucked up" can mean many different things!!!! i'll try to break it down but i am 100% going to miss some stuff. (also this list is based on media with what i consider to be high levels of "transgression", since most things i like would be considered a little fucked up by most people so i had to narrow it down somehow lmao)

movies

the silence of the lambs

eyes wide shut

titane

the night porter

the wolf house

the devils

quills

hellraiser

videodrome

the piano teacher

possession

the wicker man

phantom thread

oldboy

sympathy for lady vengeance

midsommar

blue velvet

gone girl

tv shows/anime (i need to watch more tv btw)

neon genesis evangelion (+ end of evangelion)

penny dreadful

hannibal (strictly season 1 though bc i have beef with the rest of it)

succession (bc imo it IS a fucked up horror story)

broadchurch

utopia (british series)

twin peaks

the young pope

paprika

books/graphic novels

lolita by vladimir nabokov

justine by the marquis de sade

philosophy in the bedroom by the marquis de sade

the piano teacher by elfriede jelinek

the driver's seat by muriel spark

uzumaki by junji ito

à rebours (against nature) by j.k. huysmans

the hellbound heart by clive barker

erotism: death and sensuality by georges bataille

exemplary departures by gabrielle wittkop

murder most serene by gabrielle wittkop

story of the eye by georges bataille

my year of rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh

no longer human by osamu dazai

songs of a dead dreamer and grimscribe by thomas ligotti

the infernal desire machines of doctor hoffman by angela carter

the bloody chamber by angela carter

we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson

wise children by angela carter

the trial by franz kafka

the idiot by fyodor dostoevsky

the brothers karamazov by fyodor dostoevsky

[iantimony]

oopsie, two missed tuesdays!

and i almost missed this one too!!!! i was moving apartments. ough. this is a random mishmash of everything i remember of the past .. three ?? ??? weeks.

listening: finished s1 of the silt verses! faulkner is my poor little meow meow etc. i am rotating it in my brain. will have more thoughts next week probably.

some fugazi because they were referenced in a mina le video on merch and i was intrigued. they're good!

fugazi waiting room

brat charli xcx on recommendation of beloved mutual png jpeg. i liked it, i don't normally go for her style but there's some good earworms in here. really good gym album. not sure which specific song to drop here because it was a Full Album experience imo.

in terms of relistening/older stuff, the dear hunter antimai, more franz ferdinand. finally listened to sound & fury by sturgill simpson all the way through, it's really good. boyf also got me to listen to die antwoord and ohhh i do like this. a lot.

i fink u freeky (die antwoord)

also more bionicle playlist. it's just a dose of early 00's-10's music delivered via iv directly into my bloodstream. sorry.

reading: this was from a few weeks ago actually but i forgot about it. we stopped over in pittsburgh for a night and briefly entertained the idea of going to a museum or something road-trip style and found this museum review. surprisingly she is not a lesbian.

and then related to the watching, wikipedia pages for victor ninov and darleane c hoffman!

watching: mina le: the merch industry has gone too far, WAGs, blokecore, and the “feminization” of sports

swell entertainment: the marketability of celebrity eras, how to destroy your audience's trust

started dangelo wallace's ozempic video. the fatphobia had me tapping out pretty quick tho. also watched about half of joy achill's "the george r r martin problem" about asoiaf stuff, gonna finish it tomorrow i think

watched "the man who tried to fake an element" with the boyf, really fascinating, i knew a little bit of it from one of my undergrad classes but this was a really good deep dive.

also watched two episodes of space dandy with the boyf. so much to unpack there.

playing: more dnd but otherwise fallow. made a little dungeon crawl type thing so that's pretty straightforward.

making: coasters mostly right now! the main ones are a Surprise so i will not be posting them yet. instead look at my worm

i've also started knitting a magic the gathering card sleeve as a semi-gag gift for a friend. it's really really stupid i love it so much. it is just ten rows of a rectangle in stockinette right now but i'm going to mock up a little texture work to get the swamp land symbol in the back.

eating: did a lot of takeout right after moving because, Yeah, but i finally started settling back in to home cooked meals. made my favorite orzo salad for a temple potluck, an ungodly amount of gyudon, and a garlic butter shrimp pasta thing.

misc: my new apartment is good!! the insulation isn't great, i know i'll have to shrinkwrap some windows this winter for Sure, but overall i'm settling in. i have a lot of organization and purging to do, especially of my House Clothes, craft supplies, and makeup/beauty shit, and i need to get one or two pieces of furniture still (like a couch......i have a funny little bachelor chair in front of the couch right now which is very funny). i got myself some fun plants from the farmers market as a housewarming gift to myself. i am finally the owner of a monstera, yippee, she Really needs a repot though. i also got a hoya lisa because i liked the name and it was cute and cat friendly and i got a vaguely labia-adjacent succulent. i have so many little household Needs and Tasks (mat for in front of the sink! blackout curtains because i have to sleep with an eye mask right now because the blinds dont do shit! etc!) and also every grocery bill i do is like $100 because of getting kitchen essentials that will not run out any time soon but that i do need (white vinegar. aluminum foil. flour.) so everything is so expensive. this is a big wall of text. at least the spare mattress is out of my weird haunted hallway now <3 i'm very excited to start hanging up my art.

[the-scandalorian]

tag game

thanks for the tag, @keldabe-kriff 💜

favorite painter: kenneth noland, franz marc, rothko, o'keeffe, a lil monet of course

favorite writer: roxane gay, rebecca solnit, alice hoffman

favorite band: wu-tang, florence and the machine, kings of leon, sofi tukker

favorite meal and drink: chilaquiles, a nice cheese board, patron on the rocks with two limes, lemonade if we're talking nonalcoholic

favorite outfit aesthetic: black crop top, high waisted jeans, heeled boots, bright lip color

favorite singer: hozier, beyoncé, bon iver, princess nokia

favorite item i own: my laptop because that's where i write and some of my friends live in there

favorite possession: my dogs?? not a possession but you get it

favorite perfume: not a perfume guy but i love the smell of lavender and jasmine and also moroccan oil

np tagging: @frannyzooey @pentechnics @flightlessangelwings @whataenginerd @quicksilvermad @nothoughtsjustmeds @lowlights @shirks-all-responsibilities @toomanystoriessolittletime

[german-enthusiast]

Hi :) I hope you are well.

I am learning German and was wondering if I could get some audio book recommendations on Spotify ? I enjoy historical fiction, the classics and weird surrealist literature. My favorite book in English is a tale for the time being by Ruth Ozeki I also liked that book called Perfume but I have forgotten the authors name. I would also like any tv or movie recommendations too if possible :)

Thank you !

Hi!!

I've only JUST reinstalled Tumblr and I'm so glad I saw your ask!

(I'll give short summaries of reccs and links in a list later in the post!)

Surrealist lit and classics? have i got the book for you!

Die Verwandlung von Franz Kafka (Eng: The Metamorphosis) professionally recorded on Spotify.

It might be a tough one, being classics and from 1915, but the text should be available online to read along!

Once you've finished that, I suggest reading (the english) Haruki Murakami's "Samsa in love," a short story based on Die Verwandlung!! (available online!)

Other surrealist classics could be "Der Steppenwolf" (Hermann Hesse) and "Der goldene Topf" (E.T.A. Hoffman) - both of which were works analyzed in the Abitur (german highschool graduation exams) and thus might be especially tough, but on the flip side there's thousands of German resources about the books online!

"Der Goldene Topf" is on Spotify, Steppenwolf doesn't seem to be...

However! As you progress (idk your level but classics tend to be difficult even for natives), you might come to appreciate Reclam (a german publisher) with a focus on classics (known for their small yellow books)) and, great news, they publish professional recording of German classics on Spotify!

In terms of classics, here's my favorite: Stefan Zweig, a german author especially famous for his short stories. One of them, Schachnovelle, is on Spotify by Reclam here!

To be honest, Schachnovelle is a favorite because they made it a movie a couple years ago and it is SO. FREAKING. GOOD. (bad news: incredibly different from the original story but in a way you get two great stories under one name so I'm not complaining!) on the OTHER hand, I just found out that there's an audiobook of the book of the movie on Spotify, so you can also listen to that and then watch the movie (or vice versa)

TV or Movie reccs: if you can, get Netflix and a VPN! with the vpn you should be able to make Netflix think you're in Germany and there is barely a show/movie on German Netflix that isn't dubbed (or at the very least subbed) - really, we dub everything (and it's not bad either most of the time!!)

Besides that, our "öffentlich rechtliche" (the publicly owned) channels have got "Mediatheken" (basically Netflix for their shows) and you can watch most that is published on those channels in TV here (ARD, ZDF,...) on there (often with subtitles! (i should make a post about this, damn!)

Here some german movie/TV reccs on Netflix: Fack you Göthe 1&2&3, (T)Raumschiffsurprise, Petterson and Findus, Mord mit Aussicht, der Tatortreiniger

(Reminder that most shows/movies you already know and love on Netflix will probably be dubbed in Germany! AND that in Netflix in a browser, one can browse by language!)

List of reccomendations & links:

Die Verwandlung (Franz Kafka) - man wakes up in body of a bug (link)

Der Steppenwolf (Herman Hesse) - man thinks two wolfes live inside him

Der goldene Topf (E.T.A. Hoffmann) - man falls in love with a snake who is the daughter of a magician who is a lizard or something? (link)

Die Schachnovelle (Stefan Zweig) (movie version) - austrian notary is arrested by the nazis because he has access to money of noble families, he's put in a hotelroom and deprived of mental stimulus to make him crack but he discovers chess to keep himself sane (link)

Reclam Spotify (link)

On Netflix:

Fack you Göthe - criminal poses as a teacher to get access to the basement of a school where his loot is hidden, teacher-student bonding, Eylas M'Barek (actor) national treasure

(T)Raumschiff Surprise - parody of Star Trek, really funny (maybe moreso to natives), at times a bit problematic because it's from 2004; Germans LOVE it

Petterson and Findus - old man with his cat. cute. nordic. cozy.

Mord mit Aussicht - policewoman from Cologne is relocated to a little rural town (she's a city person, yknow?), little town shenanigans, murder and cute bonding ensues (maybe quite german humor?)

Der Tatortreiniger - a man who cleans up crime scenes for a living. Each episode is him cleaning a different crime scene until a person comes around and starts talking to him (about their life, his job, ...) (similar to MmA, has got the same actor, similar humor)

ARD Mediathek: (link) https://www.ardmediathek.de/

recc: Sendung mit der Maus !!! (a show for kids with both little stories and explaining how the world works, a classic for all german kids, was aired sunday mornings and part of the sunday ritual for many!)

ZDF Mediathek (link) https://www.zdf.de/

I couldn't find non-classics on Spotify that fit your type but should I find some in the future I'll message you and maybe someone else has some reccs!!

Hope this helps!

And I really reccomend the Mediatheken!!!

[gesamkuns-twerk]

hi, this is about the Frozen Charlotte's drawing I'm doing- do you have any reference for what kind of Dame Darcy themed outfits one would wear? trying to search her resulted in a variety of clothes so I wasn't sure what to pick 😅

Hiii!!! I am SO excited that you’re doing this! Unfortunately I couldn’t find as many photos of her that I would like (as you probably have seen, her artwork is INSANE and amazing), but one look I had in mind was kind of like this: eclectic, decadent, glamorous but kind of messy

Lots of lace, fur, ribbons, and other luxurious materials as well as some funky old-timey accessories.

Have fun! I can’t wait to see!

Edit: I had another thought. Since Worthikids uses so many art/film/literary references, maybe Frozen Charlotte’s could use names from the tales of ETA Hoffman (early 1800s) “The Nutcracker” and “Coppelia” (which were originally horror stories.) There are some good names, like Marie, Clara, Olympia, Franz, and even an evil doctor, Coppelius. He uses themes about autonomy, AI, and dreams and usually there’s a creepy doll and an old man who shouldn’t be allowed around children.

I love the Dr. Caligari and “It” references so much, it would be like adding another branch of classic horror to the mythology.

[agendaculturaldelima]

#ElEscenarioDelMundo #SinMusicaNoExisto

🗣 Temporada Radial del The Metropolitan Opera ♬

🎼 Ópera: “LOS CUENTOS DE HOFFMAN [Les Contes d'Hoffmann]”🎭

✍️ Compositor:Jacques Offenbach (Francia-Alemania)

💥 Argumento: La acción del prólogo y el epílogo se desarrolla en una ciudad alemana anónima, en la “taberna de Lutero”. El ambiente de la taberna (así como la presencia acechante de un cliente diabólico) recuerda la leyenda de Fausto y crea una atmósfera de otro mundo en los episodios posteriores. Cada uno de estos flashbacks ocurre en escenarios evocadores que representan una muestra representativa de las culturas europeas: París (Acto I), Munich (Acto II) y Venecia (Acto III). En la producción de Bartlett Sher, el mundo de Franz Kafka y la época de los años 20 proporcionan un dramático punto de referencia.

👥 Elenco: Erin Morley, Pretty Yende, Clémentine Margaine, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Benjamin Bernheim, Aaron Blake y Christian Van Horn.

🗣🎻 Coro y Orquesta MET (Estados Unidos)

📢 Dirección: Marco Armiliato (Italia)

📅 Año: 2023

💫 Transmisión:

📆 Sábado 04 de Enero

🕐 1:00pm.

⌛️ Duración: 225 minutos

🎙️Conducción: Gonzalo Tello y Grete Arce

📻 Radio Filarmonia 102.7 FM

🌐 Web: bit.ly/filarmoniaradio

🙋 Acceso gratuito

[marianastrench-alltimelow]

dude 41 books is crazy!!! nice one. what are they?

Hello friend! I've been trying to get through what's on my bookshelf (and my 500+ long reading list lol), and it just so happened to coincide with me not working for a couple of months. For anyone who wants to know what I've read so far, I'll put the title under the "keep reading"! I'll also bold my top 10 so far because there are definitely some books that I would not recommend lmao

Also, I'm always down to talk about books or receive reading recommendations! I just recently started listening to audio books and am super excited about it

The Librarianist - Patrick deWitt

Elektra - Jennifer Saint

1984 - George Orwell

Annihilation - Jeff VanderMeer

An Abundance of Katherines- John Green

Giovanni's Room - James Baldwin

A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman

A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas

The Heir - Kiera Cass

A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J. Maas

The Crown - Kiera Cass

Identical - Ellen Hopkins

The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

A Court of Frost and Starlight - Sarah J. Maas

Shattering Culture - Mary-Jo DelVecchio Goode and others

The Magic Circle - Katherine Neville

A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas

What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape - Sohaila Abdulali

One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Toxic Schools - Bowen Paulle

Queer (In)Justice - Joey L. Mogul

The Dark Between the Trees - Fiona Barnett

Crier's War - Nina Varela

How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate - Andrew J. Hoffman

The Metamorphosis and Other Stories - Franz Kafka

Freya - Matthew Laurence

Mistaken Identity - Asad Haider

The Body is Not an Apology - Sonya Renee Taylor

Illuminae - Jay Kristoff & Annie Kaufman

The Eyes of the Dragon - Stephen King

Capitalist Realism - Mark Fisher

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

The Crucible - Arthur Miller

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

Even If We Break - Marieke Nijkamp

Poison - Ben Hubbard

Girl in Pieces - Kathleen Glasgow

The Future - Neil Hilborn

The Guest List - Lucy Foley

The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson

Flatland - Edwin A. Abbot

Transgender Marxism - Elle O'Rourke & Jules Joanne Gleeson

Currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Sexual Citizens by Jennifer S. Hirsch & Shamus Khan, and listening to Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo!

[cyclone-rachel]

books read in April and May 2024:

April-

The Occasionally Accurate Annals of Football by Dan Patrick and Joel H. Cohen

Space Invaders by Nona Fernandez

Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story by Nicole Maines and Rye Hickman

Butter by Erin Jade Lange

Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto

The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell

Work-Life Balance by Aisha Franz

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo

Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Right Now by Jaron Lanier

The Melancholy of Mechagirl by Catherynne M. Valente

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Slow Getting Up by Nate Jackson

We Only Find Them When They're Dead vol. 1 by Al Ewing

May-

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Tales From the Baltimore Ravens Sideline by Tom Matte

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks

Batman: Thrillkiller by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton

Corey Fah Does Social Mobility by Isabel Waidner

Anna by Mia Oberlander

Rethinking Fandom by Craig Calcaterra

City of Likes by Jenny Mollen

The Prospects by K.T. Hoffman

The Necessity of Stars by E. Catherine Tobler

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

[alexlacquemanne]

Décembre MMXXIII

Films

Chef (2014) de Jon Favreau avec Scarlett Johansson, Jon Favreau, Sofía Vergara, Emjay Anthony, John Leguizamo, Robert Downey Jr. et Dustin Hoffman

Y a-t-il un flic pour sauver Hollywood ? (The Naked gun 33⅓: The Final Insult) (1994) de Peter Segal avec Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, Fred Ward, O. J. Simpson, Anna Nicole Smith, Kathleen Freeman, Ellen Greene et Ed Williams

Quai des Orfèvres (1947) de Henri-Georges Clouzot avec Louis Jouvet, Simone Renant, Bernard Blier, Suzy Delair, Pierre Larquey, Claudine Dupuis, Henri Arius, Charles Blavette, René Blancard et Robert Dalban

Maintenant, on l'appelle Plata (…più forte ragazzi!) (1972) de Giuseppe Colizzi avec Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, Cyril Cusack, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Riccardo Pizzuti, Ferdinando Murolo et Marcello Verziera

Moi, Michel G., milliardaire, maître du monde (2011) de Stéphane Kazandjian avec François-Xavier Demaison, Laurent Lafitte, Laurence Arné, Xavier de Guillebon, Guy Bedos, Patrick Bouchitey e Alain Doutey

Noël blanc (White Christmas) (1954) de Michael Curtiz avec Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes et John Bascia

Rendez-vous avec la mort (Appointment with Death) (1988) de Michael Winner avec Peter Ustinov, Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher, John Gielgud, Piper Laurie, Hayley Mills, Jenny Seagrove et David Soul

Bridget Jones : L’Âge de raison (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) (2004) de Beeban Kidron avec Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Jacinda Barrett, Shirley Henderson et Sally Phillips

Les Trois Mousquetaires : Milady (2023) de Martin Bourboulon avec François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green, Lyna Khoudri et Louis Garrel

Y a-t-il un flic pour sauver le président ? (1991) (The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear) de David Zucker avec Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson, Robert Goulet, Richard Griffiths, Anthony James et Jacqueline Brookes

Wallace et Gromit : Le Mystère du lapin-garou (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) (2005) de Nick Park et Steve Box avec Jean-Loup Horwitz, Jeanne Savary, Philippe Catoire, Frédérique Cantrel, Patrick Messe et Mireille Delcroix

Rivière sans retour (River of No Return) (1954) de Otto Preminger avec Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe, Rory Calhoun, Tommy Rettig, Murvyn Vye et Douglas Spencer

L'Ange de Noël (Christmas Magic) (2011) de John Bradshaw avec Lindy Booth, Paul McGillion, Derek McGrath, Kiara Glasco, Teresa Pavlinek et Tricia Braun

Joyeux Noël (2005) de Christian Carion avec Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet, Diane Kruger, Gary Lewis, Daniel Brühl, Dany Boon, Lucas Belvaux, Bernard Le Coq et Alex Ferns

L'Assassinat du père Noël (1941) de Christian-Jaque avec Harry Baur, Raymond Rouleau, Renée Faure, Marie-Hélène Dasté, Robert Le Vigan, Fernand Ledoux et Jean Brochard

Danse avec les loups (Dances with Wolves) (1990) de et avec Kevin Costner ainsi que Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd Westerman, Jimmy Herman, Nathan Lee, Tantoo Cardinal et Wes Studi

Noël en trois actes (Christmas Encore) (2017) de Bradley Walsh avec Maggie Lawson, Brennan Elliott, Art Hindle, Tracey Hoyt, Mercedes de la Zerda, Mika Amonsen, Sherry Miller, Sabryn Rock, David Tompa et Erin Agostino

La Souffleuse de verre (Die Glasbläserin) (2016) de Christiane Balthasar avec Luise Heyer, Maria Ehrich, Franz Dinda, Dirk Borchardt, Robert Gwisdek, Max Hopp et Ute Willing

Le père Noël est une ordure (1982) de Jean-Marie Poiré avec Anémone, Thierry Lhermitte, Gérard Jugnot, Marie-Anne Chazel, Christian Clavier, Josiane Balasko et Bruno Moynot

Le Lion en hiver (The Lion in Winter) (1968) de Anthony Harvey avec Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Jane Merrow et Nigel Stock

Les Mystères de Paris (1962) d'André Hunebelle avec Jean Marais, Raymond Pellegrin, Jill Haworth, Dany Robin, Pierre Mondy, Georges Chamarat, Noël Roquevert et Jean Le Poulain

Derrick contre Superman (1992) de Michel Hazanavicius et Dominique Mézerette avec Patrick Burgel et Évelyne Grandjean

La Classe américaine : Le Grand Détournement (1993) de Michel Hazanavicius et Dominique Mézerette avec Christine Delaroche, Evelyne Grandjean, Marc Cassot, Patrick Guillemin, Raymond Loyer, Joël Martineau, Jean-Claude Montalban, Roger Rudel et Gérard Rouzier

La Grande Course autour du monde (The Great Race) (1965) de Blake Edwards avec Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, Arthur O'Connell, Vivian Vance et Dorothy Provine

Séries

Life on Mars Saison 1, 2

Bienvenue en 73 - La Loi selon mon boss - Le Pari - Corruption - Rouge un jour, rouge toujours - Compte à rebours - Cas de conscience - Mon père - Meurtrier en puissance - La Chasse aux ripoux - Peur sur la ville - Pièges pour jeunes femmes - Kidnapping - Héroïne - Recherche du coupable - La Promesse

Doctor Who

La Créature Stellaire - Wild Blue Yonder - Aux confins de l'univers - Le Fabricant de Jouets - The Snowmen - A Christmas Carol - The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe - The Return of Doctor Mysterio - The Church on Ruby Road - Eve of the Daleks

Les Enquêtes de Vera Saison 12

À contre-courant - Un homme d'honneur - Au nom de la loi - Une soirée funeste - Marée montante

Coffre à Catch

#144 : La Draft 2009 : Les bonnes affaires du mercato ! - #145 : La ECW débarque à Londres et l'Undertaker à Strasbourg! (avec Carole) - #146 : Christian enfin champion de la ECW ! - #147 : Un coffret à Noël, ça c'est une idée !

Kaamelott Livre III

Le Jour d’Alexandre - La Cassette II - La Ronde II - Mission - La Baliste - La Baraka - La Veillée - Le Tourment III - La Potion de fécondité II - L’Attaque nocturne - La Restriction II - Les Défis de Merlin II - Saponides et Détergents - Le Justicier - La Crypte maléfique - Arthur in Love II - La Grande Bataille - La Fête de l’hiver II - Sous les verrous II - Le Vulgarisateur - Witness - Le Tribut - Le Culte secret - Le Mangonneau - La Chevalerie - Le Mauvais Augure - Raison d’argent II - Les Auditeurs libres - Le Baiser romain - L’Espion - Alone in the Dark - Le Législateur - L’Insomniaque - L’Étudiant - Le Médiateur - Le Trophée - Hollow Man - La Dispute première partie - La Dispute deuxième partie

Affaires sensibles

Gérald Thomassin : l'étrange disparition d'un coupable idéal

Top Gear

Spécial Nativité

La Voie Jackson

Episode 1 - Episode 2 - Episode 3

Meurtres au paradis

L'étrange Noël de Debbie

Spectacles

Le Muguet de Noël (2021) de Sébastien Blanc et Nicolas Poiret avec Lionnel Astier, Frédéric Bouraly, Jean-Luc Porraz et Alexie Ribes

Sinatra (1969) avec Frank Sinatra, Don Costa & son Orchestre

Le Professeur Rollin a encore quelque chose à dire (2003) de François Rollin

Alain Souchon : J'veux du live au Casino de Paris (2002)

La Bonne Planque (1964) de Michel André avec Bourvil, Pierrette Bruno, Robert Rollis, Roland Bailly, Alix Mahieux, Albert Michel et Max Desrau

André Rieu : White Christmas (2023)

Michael Bublé: Home for Christmas (2011) avec Michael Bublé, Gary Barlow, Gino D'Acampo, Dawn French et Kelly Rowland

Michael Buble's Christmas in the City (2021) avec Michael Bublé, Leon Bridges, Camila Cabello, Jimmy Fallon, Kermit the Frog, Hannah Waddingham, Dallas Grant, Jarrett Johnson, Julianna Layne et Loren Smith

Michael Bublé's 3rd Annual Christmas Special (2013) avec Michael Bublé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Red Robinson, Jumaane Smith, Patrick Gilmore et Cookie Monster

Un fil à la patte (2005) de Georges Feydeau avec Thierry Beccaro, Marie-Ange Nardi, Valérie Maurice, Églantine Éméyé, Ève Ruggiéri, Tex, David Martin et Patrice Laffont

Vintage Getz (1983) The Stan Getz Quartet live at the Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa Valley, California avec Stan Getz, Victor Lewis, Marc Johnson et Jim McNeely

James Brown : Live at Montreux (1981)

Livres

Le seigneur des anneaux, Tome 3 : Le retour du roi de J.R.R. Tolkien

Détective Conan, Tome 18 de Gôshô Aoyama

Lucky Luke, Tome 27 : L'Alibi de Morris et Claude Guylouïs

Détective Conan, Tome 19 de Gôshô Aoyama

[clickyourradio]

🇩🇪 Macabre Demise - 🎶House by the Cemetery

Macabre Demise is pleased to announce the release of Grave(y)art Gallery, their fourth album. With the support of some guest musicians, including Franz Hoffman (ex. Extremely Rotten/ex. Carnal Disfigurement), Flo Musil (Theotoxin / Schirenc Plays Pungent Stench / Agrypnie), Tommi Kneer (Digest/Bitterness/Mental Phlegm), Alexander Petroczko (ex. Athiria ), Lukas Haidinger (Profanity/Distaste/Edonomos/Nervcell ...) and many more! The album was recorded in Deep Deep Pressure Studios with Lukas Haidinger. Listen to the new part, there's a lot of passion in it. let your ears be blown out. “Grave(y)art Gallery” will be out through RTM Productions.

[metalshockfinland]

MACABRE DEMISE Release New Lyric Video 'The Nerve'

Macabre Demise is pleased to announce the release of Grave(y)art Gallery, their fourth album. With the support of some guest musicians, including Franz Hoffman (ex. Extremely Rotten/ex. Carnal Disfigurement), Flo Musil (Theotoxin / Schirenc Plays Pungent Stench / Agrypnie), Tommi Kneer (Digest/Bitterness/Mental Phlegm), Alexander Petroczko (ex. Athiria ), Lukas Haidinger…

[tempi-dispari]

New Post has been published on https://www.tempi-dispari.it/2023/07/31/jacula-e-antonius-rex-dal-mito-la-leggenda/

Jacula e Antonius Rex, dal mito, la leggenda

Un evento dominò su tutti gli altri nel 1969 fu la strage di piazza Fontana. Un anno torbido e denso di presagi. Quello di piazza Fontana fu il primo atto in cui le bombe vennero usate per fini terroristici.

Nel 1969 si cominciò a parlare di uno sganciamento americano dalla tremenda trappola vietnamita. Gli americani erano ossessionati dall’Unione Sovietica e quest’ultima era ossessionata dagli americani. Ma in quell’anno l’Urss portò a termine alcune imprese spaziali formidabili: mandò una sonda verso Venere e poi scagliò in orbita prima una Soyuz e poi un’altra.

Ma stavolta gli americani non restarono più a guardare, stavolta gli americani sbarcarono l’uomo sulla Luna. L’uomo sulla Luna si chiamava Neil Armstrong. Il secondo uomo che scese sulla Luna si chiamava Buzz Eldrin e poi Michael Collins.

Spettacolare la reazione emotiva di Filippo d’Edimburgo, marito della regina Elisabetta il quale volle assolutamente un colloquio privato con gli astronauti americani invitati a Londra per strappare dalle loro memorie tutte le emozioni provate durante la loro impresa.

La Spagna era ancora un Paese sotto il tacco della dittatura franchista e il caudillo generalissimo Francisco Franco ritenne fosse arrivato il momento di tirar fuori dalla naftalina il giovane principe di Borbone Juan Carlos per investirlo del titolo di “futuro capo dello Stato” alla sua morte.

Al cinema si dava Easy Rider di Dennis Hopper con Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, una svolta libertaria on the bike, in motocicletta mentre Dustin Hoffman e Jon Voight, americani, si facevano dirigere dall’inglese John Schlesinger in Un uomo da marciapiede.

In Italia

In Italia l’estate fu torrida ma tutti temevano l’autunno che sarebbe stato certamente molto caldo, a causa della scadenza dei contratti dei lavoratori più organizzati e sindacalizzati, come i metalmeccanici. Ci furono scioperi e scontri per quello che era stato già battezzato come “l’Autunno caldo”. A Milano per la prima volta era morto un agente di polizia: Antonio Annarumma, mentre era impegnato nei tafferugli con i dimostranti del movimento studentesco. La manifestazione era stata indetta sia dal Pci che dal movimento studentesco.

Venerdì 12 dicembre 1969 scoppiò una bomba. I morti furono 13, con 87 feriti. Era insolito che la sede della banca dell’Agricoltura di piazza Fontana fosse ancora aperta alle 16,37 e si dirà in seguito che coloro che avevano deposto la bomba non avevano intenzione di uccidere ma solo di compiere un atto dimostrativo. Non ci fu solo quella bomba: un ordigno inesploso fu trovato nei locali della Commerciale in piazza della Scala e una terza a Roma a via Veneto nel sotterraneo che collegava due sedi della Bnl di via Veneto e di San Basilio.

Eravamo appena all’inizio di una delle pagine più buie della nostra storia che poi diventò ancora più buia con una serie di altri attentati terroristici e poi con l’altro tipo di terrorismo: quello ad personam delle Brigate rosse prima e poi dei Nar fascisti.

Intanto all’estero il festival di Woodstock, la formazione dei Blind Faith e la morte di Brian Jones. Gli Stones suonarono due giorni dopo in Hyde Park commemorandolo. Tra le copertine possiamo rimarcare quelle dedicate a : Elvis Presley ,Paul McCartney , Bob Dylan , Jim Morrison e ai Rolling Stones. Tra le hits possiamo ricordare : Get Back dei Beatles , Honky Tonk Women degli Stones e Aquarius della Fifth Dimension.

In questo contesto nacquero gli Jacula

A fine anni 60 a Cerreto, Marche, Antonio Bartoccetti (al secolo Antonius Rex) appassionato di natura, animali notturni, di luna piena, esoterismo e magia comincia ad appassionarsi alla musica. In quel periodo a Cerreto ci vive anche uno strano personaggio, Franz Parhenzy, conosciuto come “il Mago”, che vive su un monte e pratica strani riti.

Bartoccetti a 18 anni lo conosce, venendo introdotto nell’affascinante mondo dei riti esoterici, con cui nutre la propria sete di conoscenze oscure e inizia a prendere ispirazione e a scrivere pezzi che poi appariranno sul primo disco. Gli Jacula nacquero a Milano dal sodalizio tra il chitarrista Antonio Bartoccetti (già nella band di hard rock/psichedelico chiamata Dietro Noi Deserto) e il tastierista Charles Tiring (dal duo nacquero anche gli Invisible Force), ai quali si unirono la cantante Fiamma Dallo Spirito (nome d’arte di Vittoria Lo Turco) e il medium Franz Parthenzy.

Anche a causa di un continuo gioco mistificatorio e di ritrattazioni dello stesso Bartoccetti, l’anno preciso della nascita del progetto non è noto con certezza, ma è databile tra il 1969 e il 1971. Della band faranno parte anche Doris Norton, una ragazza dagli occhi di ghiaccio definita angelo nel cantare e demone nel suonare un vecchio armonium e il chitarrista Alvin Lee. Il genere suonato è un Prog Rock molto oscuro ed esoterico.

Antonius Rex: “La magia è stata un fulcro vitale che mi ha spinto a creare le mie esperienze artistiche, ad accrescerle di nuovi elementi, a maturarle progressivamente in una visione sempre più mistica e personale. La magia è sicuramente il ponte fra l’uomo e Dio e per arrivarci non c’è bisogno della fede in costante passività.. ci sono altre strade forse nere ma più veloci. La magia è il modo più veloce per giungere a una conoscenza sovrannaturale, cosa che nella dottrina cattolica avviene con la fede…ma io non ho mai avuto la forza di aspettare. Ho assistito anche a rituali “neri” e in questo caso la sacerdotessa era Wandessa Yelton moglie dell’organista Charles Tiring. La magia nera è una scienza troppo terrena basata sul potere dell’oro e del sesso…e quindi amata dalle persone che definisco comunque non grandi”.

GLI JACULA: PROBLEMI DI CENSURA E LA MUSICA UNDERGROUND

Rex si rende conto che il materiale deve finire nelle mani giuste, di persone che possano catturarne i messaggi criptici ed esoterici , e così il primo album (1969), intitolato ‘In Cauda Sempre Stat Venenum’ viene stampato in sole 300 copie (fatte girare fra i vari personaggi che ruotano attorno al chitarrista e sette religiose).

La copertina raffigura un rito negromantico. Troveremo canzoni oscure come ‘Triumphatus Sad’ e ‘Magister Dixit’ grazie all’organo liturgico, un Hammond, una Gibson e un basso ribassato e timpani orchestrali.

La sinistra litania dell’ organo da chiesa (Charles Tiring) e un piano magnificamente suonato da Doris Norton in Ritus indica chiaramente la matrice impressa al sound: misterioso, oscuro, introspettivo ed evocativo. Il brano successivo Magister Dixit, con cupe note di organo e un mistico suono di harmonium intervallato da lente percussioni è un’ esplorazione meditativa attraverso castelli abbandonati, cimiteri, foreste e nebbia.

La tensione è finalmente spezzata da una voce: la dissonanza della chitarra in Triumphatus Sad coniuga l’ inquietante presagio, sostenuto da sottofondi tastieristici apocalittici e sacrali. L’album verrà ristampato nel 2001.

Antonius Rex: “‘In Cauda’ è stato un lavoro spontaneo, ci è servito primariamente per soddisfare il proprio Io e secondariamente, forse, per comunicare un messaggio esoterico fuori dal tempo e dalle mode musicali dell’epoca. A distanza di più di 30 anni In Cauda, quasi come profeticamente, è di nuovo disponibile come LP e CD”

Il primo album ufficiale degli Jacula fu pubblicato nel 1972 dalla The Rogers e si intitolava Tardo pede in magiam versus. L’album venne ideato nel Castello Vitalini – Rocca d’Ajello di Camerino, per essere poi registrato negli studi Angelicum di Milano. Secondo parte della critica il disco anticipò i tempi, risultando così in un disastroso fiasco commerciale, tanto che anche il concerto inaugurale del tour presso il Teatro Arte di Milano vide non più di 45 paganti.

Al brano di apertura dell’album, intitolato U.F.D.E.M., sarebbe stata negata la trasmissione nel programma Per voi giovani della RAI perché troppo estremo nel suo testo di protesta. Solo successivamente il disco fu rivalutato.

Già dal 1973 il nome Jacula, a causa del legame con il fumetto gotico-erotico, non sembrava più congeniale alla formula che il gruppo volevano proporre e così nel 1974 il progetto venne rifondato con nuovi membri sotto il nuovo nome di Antonius Rex, che includeva anche la futura moglie di Bartoccetti, Doris Norton.

ANTONIUS REX, GLI OCCULTISTI E LA LETTERA DIABOLICA AL DEMONIO

Dopo pochissimi concerti la band si scioglie (unica data italiana sarà a Milano, di fronte a circa 45 spettatori), in realtà sarà solo Tirino a separarsi dagli altri, visto che il progetto musicale va avanti, ma cambiando nome sia del gruppo: Antonius Rex. ‘Neque Semper Tendit Rex’, vedrà quindi Tiring sostituito da Albert Goodman, personaggio che ospita il gruppo nella campagna londinese, in un castello denominato ‘A.Rex Covent dove nascono le nuove composizioni registrate in totale reclusione, intervallata da brevi pause alla ricerca di natura e luna piena.

A detta dell’autore, nonostante un accordo per realizzarlo con la Vertigo, l’etichetta considerò l’album troppo offensivo, per la copertina in bianco e nero che riproduceva una lettera “diabolica” del diciassettesimo secolo e per i testi troppo forti, specialmente quelli di ‘Devil’s Letter’. Sostanzialmente su tratta di una lettera diabolica del 1624 che pare possa, seguendo un certo rituale, fare apparire il Demonio. Secondo la band il demonologo Giulio Tasnad riuscì a far apparire una figura diabolica.

Antonius Rex: “La quarta volta che ci recammo in Romania, nel 1976, per i nostri studi su certe presenze della notte, il nostro maggiordomo, o se preferisci segretario, vendette a tre rumeni i nostri tre passaporti e per questo fummo costretti a restare in Romania per oltre tre mesi… lì comunque componemmo del buon materiale fra cui un brano ispirato alla immortale storia della ‘Mano di Gloria’ “.

RITI NEI CASTELLI

Successivamente Antonius va ad abitare in un castello che utilizzerà come covo per prendere ispirazione e registrare altra musica: così nasce nel 1972 ‘Tardo Pede In Magiam Versus’. Anche qui il lavoro è imperniato di atmosfere oscure e tastiere, oltre che da testi quasi recitati ed un violino. Il principale ingrediente dell’album sono come detto le lunghe e spettrali parti strumentali d’organo, e la suggestiva U.F.D.E.M. mette davvero i brividi. Le atmosfere cupe abbondano, ed alcuni brani, come ‘Long Black Magic Night’ con parti parlate in quietano non poco. Copertina medesima al precedente lavoro, ma stavolta a colori per un album stampato in 1000 copie ma che non raggiunge le 200 vendute.

L’AURA MALEDETTA

La band si contornò in pochi anni di un’aura maledetta, e non soltanto per la musica. Come detto la copertina è costellata di simboli magici, e di grafìe risalenti al 17° secolo e attribuite all’occultista Asmodeo. Pare che durante le registrazioni fossero stati organizzati dei riti magici e sia Goodman che il medium Giulio Tasnad, allora collaboratore della band, abbiano avuto un incontro con Satana.

Lo stesso Goodman morirà qualche anno dopo in circostanze mai chiarite, tanto da far pensare che tra le cause del decesso, vi furono anche quelle invocazioni sataniche. Anche il successivo ‘Zora’ avrà problemi di censure, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la copertina poi modificata nella successiva ristampa.

Il quarto LP a firma Antonius Rex sarebbe dovuto uscire nel ’79 per la RCA: Anno Demoni, concepito ed inciso nell’arco di dieci anni, viene però rifiutato per i testi pesantemente rivolti verso l’occulto. Bisognerà attendere il 1992 per poter ascoltare tale opera, quanto di più Dark ed esoterico Bartoccetti e la Norton abbiano mai prodotto.

La parabola del gruppo sembra venire archiviata dal rabbrividente Praeternatural (’80), disco maturo in certe sue rarefazioni Ambient. La band abbraccerà sempre più territorio elettronici e la carrirera proseguirà sino agli anni 2000, anche se lo stesso Antonius Rex rinnegherà alcuni primissimi lavori etichettati come peccati di gioventù.

Nel 2001 la Black Widow Records pubblicò In cauda semper stat venenum, album che, a detta dei suoi autori, sarebbe stato registrato a Londra nel 1969 dopo la concessione del nome da parte della casa editrice ErreGi, che pubblicava l’omonimo fumetto disegnato da Giorgio Cambiotti e quindi avrebbe consistito nel primo lavoro discografico del gruppo.

L’album, secondo alcune dichiarazioni di Bartoccetti, venne pubblicato dalla «misteriosa Gnome Records», che sembra l’abbia distribuito all’interno di «sette religiose di non meglio definita natura», il che lo avrebbe reso irreperibile. Il disco sarebbe stato poi rimaneggiato negli anni successivi in vista dell’edizione del 2001, definita ristampa. Molti sono i critici musicali e i cultori che vedono in questo racconto un’operazione mistificatoria e, tra questi, Valerio Mattioli in Superonda: Storia segreta della musica italiana sottolinea come tali dubbi siano rafforzati dal fatto che i testi del disco presenterebbero parola per parola alcuni di quelli di Pawn Hearts dei Van Der Graaf Generator due anni prima della sua pubblicazione.

Al di la della veridicità di tali vicende, l’edizione del 2001 ottenne il favore della critica e degli appassionati del genere, riportando ancor più l’interesse sulla band che aveva avuto una rinascita d’attenzione negli anni subito precedenti, anche grazie alle ristampe della Mellow Records.

Il ritorno nel periodo della riscoperta

Se sulla scia del neoprogressive italiano della seconda metà degli anni ’80, nel 1990 l’album Tardo pede in magiam versus fu ristampato, fu poi l’etichetta Mellow Records a risvegliare l’interesse sugli Jacula avviando un’operazione di ristampa di alcuni loro album e di quelli degli Antonius Rex. Nel 1992 ristampò così Tardo pede in magiam versus, per poi pubblicare a nome Jacula Anno Demoni, che raccoglieva registrazione di Antonius Rex databili tra il 1969 ed il 1979.

Con il passaggio alla Black Widow Records venne poi realizzata la (ri)stampa di In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum, di cui il brano Triumphatus Sad appare al settimo posto nella classifica di Guitar World delle 50 canzoni più heavy prima dei Black Sabbath.

Nel 2010 gli Jacula risorgono con una nuova formazione che vede, oltre al solito Antonio Bartoccetti alla chitarra, il figlio di quest’ultimo, Rexanthony, alle tastiere, Florian Gorman alla batteria e Monika Tasnad come medium. Nel 2011 sorprendentemente gli Jacula verranno riesumati e pubblicheranno Pre Viam (anagramma di Vampire). Della band fa parte anche la medium Monika Tasnad. Nel 2012 pubblicano così il concept album Pre viam (Black Widow Records) incentrato sulla possessione di Sandra B, descritto da Ondarock come caratterizzato da «divagazioni neo-classiche senza risultare boriosi» unite a sonorità datate e stereotipate.