#tamara wwi

[bigmack2go]

I just realized i never posted or introduced the outsidors yet. So yeah. Technically smilla should be there too but fuck smilla. Smilla’s an asshole. I also didn’t include nia-luna bc i feel like she isn’t really one of them. Dgmw they always include her and she feels included and yes she livrs with them but she’s not part of their little group yk? Idk if clint counts bc they’re not sn outsidor anymore but used to be? And i just didnt have enough for Nilon, Amy, Paul, Jakob and Grant🤷

[loiladadiani]

Photographs: 1. A very elegant Tatiana with her two children, Taymuraz and Natasha; 2. Tatiana looking at pictures with her children; 3. Tatiana and her sister Vera Konstantinovna

Princess Tatiana Konstantinovna of Russia  (1890 – 1979)

Tatiana was the third child and oldest daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich and his wife, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mavrikievna. In 1911, she married the Georgian Prince Konstantine Bagration of Mukhrani.

Tatiana and Prince Konstantine Bagration had two children: Teymuraz Bagration (1912-1992) and Natasha Bagration (1914-1984). Unfortunately, Tatiana's husband died at the beginning of WWI. She went to live with her uncle, Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich, who was almost blind and needed help. She was very close to him.

While living with her uncle she fell in love with one of his aids de camp, Alexander Korochenzov (1877 – 1922.) Urged by her uncle, she left Russia with Korochenzov and her young children. They were fortunate enough to escape, as her uncle Dmitri Konstantinovich was executed in St. Petersburg in January 1919.

Tatiana Konstantinovna and Korochenzov at first fled to Romania and later to Switzerland. They married in Geneva. Three months later, however, Tatiana became a widow for the second time when Alexander died in Lausanne.

Tatiana raised her children alone, and after both were grown and married, she took the veil. She died as Mother Tamara, Abbess of the Mount of Olives Convent in Jerusalem in February 1979.

Photographs: 1. A very elegant Tatiana with her two children, Taymuraz and Natasha; 2. Tatiana looking at pictures with her children; 3. Tatiana and her sister Vera Konstantinovna

[wimbledon2008]

Oooh would you rec me an Alice or Olive novel?!

WOULD I EVER!!!!!

Box 1663 by Alex Sorel - features the Alice in question. Set during WWII, an army photographer and a British scientist meet on the way to work in Los Alamos, New Mexico for...well...you know :/

The Last Kiss by Sally Malcolm - features the Olive in question. Set after WWI, a soldier and his aide meet again outside the trenches but firmly within the confines of British class and social structures.

Memories by Ruby Moone - to say more of the ladies of this story would be to spoil several plot points. Set immediately after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, a steward is tasked with taking care of the man who cost him his job and his home when he's dumped unconscious and amnestic on his doorstep.

Seven Summer Nights by Harper Fox - a warm hug of a book featuring an amazing supporting cast of vital female characters. Set post-WWII, an archaeologist finds himself in rural Sussex investigating a mysterious ancient church, where he meets the local vicar.

Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen - I DEVOURED most of Tamara Allen's books in about a week, and every one of them has the best and most lovable cast of secondary characters I've ever found in fiction. Set in post-WWI New York City, the disgraced son of a railroad mogul, who is also a pianist, and the owner of a curiosities emporium, who is broke and traumatized, start a radio show. I'm finding this one a bit hard to describe succinctly because there's a lot going on, but it all works so well. Probably my favorite book I've read this year.

Also cannot recommend Allen's Downtime and Invitation to the Dance highly enough.

ENJOY!!!!!

[lark-in-ink]

My brain demands fiction about gay WWI veterans during the interwar period. Does anyone have recommendations or am I just gonna sit here endlessly re-reading Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen alternated with the Good Omens Human!AU mystery novel fanfic Blood of the Lamb(and other sacrifices) by @penig.

[macaronis-telegraph]

Queer WWI Literature

This is a very niche and limited category, so I’ve been trying to throw together a list of what I can find out there for anyone else who might also be interested. What follows are all books that contain LGBTQ+ rep of any kind, that also involve the First World War as a central theme.

Titles with an asterisk* are the ones I have personally read, and would be more than happy to talk about/answer any questions about their content/rep!

Written in the 20th Century

Alf, by Bruno Vogel (1929)

Despised and Rejected, by Rose Allatini (pseud. A.T. Fitzroy) (1918)*

Lads: Love Poetry of the Trenches, edited by Martin Taylor (1989)

The Memorial, by Christopher Isherwood (1932)

My Father and Myself, by J.R. Ackerley (1968)

The Prisoners of War: A Play in Three Acts, by J.R. Ackerley (1925)*

The Regeneration Trilogy (Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, The Ghost Road), by Pat Barker (1991, 1993, 1995)*

A Scarlet Pansy, by Robert Scully (1932)*

Strange Meeting, by Susan Hill (1976)

Written in the 21st Century

The Absolutist, by John Boyne (2011)

Across Your Dreams, by Jay Lewis Taylor (2016)

Alec, by William di Canzio (2021)

Ashthorne, by April Yates (2022)

Awfully Glad, by Charlie Cochrane (2014)

Bonds of Earth, by G.N. Chevalier (2012)*

The Boy I Love, by Marion Husband (2005)*

The Daughters of Mars, Thomas Keneally (2012)

Eleventh Hour, by Elin Gregory (2016)

The Fallen Snow, by John J. Kelley (2012)

Fighting Proud: The Untold Story of the Gay Men Who Served in Two World Wars, by Stephen Bourne (2017) – (I know I said fiction, but I’m going to leave this one here anyhow)

Flower of Iowa, by Lance Ringel (2014)*

The Great Swindle, by Pierre Lemaitre (2013)*

The Indian Clerk, by David Leavitt (2007)

The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing, by Mary Paulson-Ellis (2019) *

In Memoriam, by Alice Winn (2023)

The Lie, by Helen Dunmore (2014)

The Paying Guests, by Sarah Waters (2014)

A Pride of Poppies, short story collection published by Manifold Press (2015)

Promises Made Under Fire, by Charlie Cochrane (2013)

The Shell House, by Linda Newbery (2002)*

Spectred Isle, by K.J. Charles (2017)

The Stranger’s Child, by Alan Hollinghurst (2011)

The Warm Hands of Ghosts, by Katherine Arden (2024)

Whistling in the Dark, by Tamara Allen (2008)*

Wild with All Regrets, by Emma Deards (2023)

The World and All that it Holds, by Aleksandar Hemon (2023)

This is a dynamic list, which I will continue to update whenever I find something new. If you know of anything that isn’t on this list and needs to be, please let me know!

[sweetfirebird]

orbisonblue replied to your post

Have you read Tamara Allen? One of hers, Downtime, is set in post WWI New York and is AMAZING. Another, a short called If It Ain't Love, is set during the Great Depression and is so sweet

I have not, but noted. :)

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

Deb! Do you have a list of your top fav m/m romances???

Ok, so I have had this ask in my box forever, and I think I finally have an almost complete list…Happy Reading!! @posh-boy-clever-boy

Single Titles

Downtime by Tamara Allen (A sleuth and a librarian in a time travel investigation.)

The Reluctant Berserker by Alex Beecroft (Read this one for Beecroft’s amazing use of language to paint a picture, and a new take on the roles of warriors and bards.)

Think of England by KJ Charles (Portuguese Jewish MC and the sleuthing former soldier that aids him in this wonderful case investigation.)

Merrick & William (sequel) by Claire Cray (1799 NY; one of the most unusual romances I’ve read, it does have an elemental of the paranormal, but it’s woven in gently and the scenes are full of great tension)

A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan (MC with PTSD from childhood trauma and vision issues, and MC with speech and addiction issues; not an easy read, but so sweet)

The Gentleman and the Lamplighter by Summer Devon (A widower and the man he keeps encountering at night, when he cannot sleep. Novella length.)

The Pillar by Kim Fielding (This one has a beautiful story of two men healing one another, and includes a lot of unique details not often found in historicals; features a lot of botan.)

Briarley by Astor Glenn Gray (WWI, May/December retelling of Beauty and the Beast)

The Replacement Husband by Eliot Grayson (Sweet May/December romance in an alt Regency era)

The Bibliophile by Drew Marvin Fraye (1880′s frontier May/December romances)

Stoker & Bash by Selina Kray (Two novels so far, and some great, witty interactions in this one.)

A Margin of Promise by Emma Lanner (Younger MC in love with an older man he’s basically idolized since youth; this one will keep you guessing to the end, because it’s a bit of a triangle. One of the sweetest romances I’ve ever read, and I wish the author had written more.)

The Forgotten Man by Ryan Loveless (1930′s Chanukah romance between a widower with a child, and a fellow returning soldier.)

Behind Closed Doors: Indecent Proposals Book One by Jude Lucens (Demisexual MC, Biracial MC from prequel novella, several poly relationships, WOC/biracial/poly author)

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (Biracial MC with a physical disability and the reprobate best friend that loves him. Romance, adventure, healing, and a kick ass dose of assistance from one MC’s ace sister.)

We Met in Dreams by Rowan McAllister (May/December cusp between a younger man with mental health issues, and the apparition that comes to care for him. Plot twist on this one.)

The Blue Ribbon by Katherine Marlowe (A grumpy chemistry professor must return to his family inn, and ends up running across a wily highwayman. Includes a nice case solving spree.)

The Butler and the Groom by Katherine Marlowe (MC of color that is trying to work his way up in the household, and the stable groom that wants to teach him there is more to life than work; the ending on this one is a delight.)

A Wager Of Love by Katherine Marlowe (Poetry, philosophy, friends-to-lovers, and just an all around sweet romance between two young man that make a wager on whether love is real.)

A Scot’s Surrender by Lily Maxton (The Townsends Book Three) (One very guarded MC, and one that is always trying to protect his family-because they cause a lot of mayhem. Funny and also a bit heartbreaking in places.)

The Black Sheep and the Rotten Apple by KA Merikan (A highwayman that is an absolute cinnamon roll, and the rapscallion young man he kidnaps for ransom. Slightly dubcon in one scene, but Julian is also a tease.)

The Art of Pleasure by KA Merikan (One young man that worries about losing his essence, and how he learns the ins and outs of pleasure with other men.)

The Wrong Kind of Angel by Ruby Moone (One of the first published m/m romances I read, and still a favorite. A soldier determined to live a quiet life where he can’t get into trouble, and the escaped rent boy that brings life back into his world.)

The Mistletoe Kiss by Ruby Moone (May/December romance between an older man with a physical disability and the young returned soldier that he hires to work in his bookshop. Christmas novel, but so sweet, I’ve read it probably 15 times.)

Memories by Ruby Moone (Two soldiers cross paths in an enemies-to-lovers scenario that isn’t at all what it seems. Strong elements of PTSD, but a great novel on healing all sorts of wounds.)

The Moth and Moon by Glenn Quigley (Alt reality 1700′s England, with larger MCS in their 40s and 50s)

A Complicated Affair by Kian Rhodes (Ignore the cover, because it’s nothing like the novel. Read this May/December romance for the wonderful ending that makes of research on law and medicine.)

Madcap Masquerade by Persephone Roth (May/December romance between the older MC that has the money to save the estate of the younger, and the young MC that poses as his own sister so she can marry someone else.)

Earthly Pleasure by Sara Trevor (Alt Regency era; this one is great for the alt theological angle and the outcome)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Deanna Wadsworth (Retelling with Ichabod and Brom in an enemies-to-lovers trope, part of a series of “twisted” retellings, the ending keeps it from being strictly erotica)

A Little Sin by Sionnach Wintergreen (1920′s rural Texas; WWI vet and veterinarian w/PTSD MC and a widowed sheriff; extra points for intelligent and plot-moving WOC)

Series…

All the series books by KJ Charles

The Duke & The Dandy series by Zakarrie Clarke

Surrey SFS series by Nicola Davidson

All the series books by Jordan L Hawk

SciFi Regency series by JL Langley

All the series books by Cat Sebastian

Dark is the Night series by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

[khalilhumam]

Former Yugoslavia's brutalist architecture shines in new Star Wars fan film

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New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/former-yugoslavias-brutalist-architecture-shines-in-new-star-wars-fan-film/

Former Yugoslavia's brutalist architecture shines in new Star Wars fan film

The Monument to the Unknown Hero atop Mount Avala became a Jedi shrine

Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story. Scene shot in the catacombs under Tašmajdan park in Belgrade. Photo by Tamara Antonović. Used with permission.

At the end of last year, a Star Wars fan film with a difference enjoyed its online premier. Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story is a 25-minute short movie made by a volunteer crew composed of around fifty professional filmmakers, film students and members of Serbia's Star Wars fan community. It is written and directed by the award-winning Serbian filmmaker Stevan Filipović. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ThsXKVbO90] The film was shot on locations near the Serbian capital Belgrade. The futuristic Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the Kosmaj Partisan Detachment from World War II atop Mount Kosmaj and the Monument to the Unknown Hero of World War I atop Mount Avala were both successfully transformed into Jedi landmarks. The apocryphal story is set before the real Star Wars movie The Force Awakens and depicts the demise of the Jedi order perpetrated by Kylo Ren. Global Voices got in touch with Filipović to talk about the movie. Global Voices (GV): Your movie received very positive media reviews, and was lauded by local StarWars fans. Fan fiction rarely sees this level of production. How did you manage it? 

Stefan Filipović (SF): I think one can easily underestimate how much Star Wars means to people around the globe. It's a crucial part of our identities, much more than some local cultural phenomena, at least for a lot of people of my generation. I think we could never do something like this — get a completely professional film crew, and such amazing actors, for a non-profit fan film — if we all didn't share a lot of love and respect for this fictional universe George Lucas has created.

Left to right: Darko Ivić, Stefan Filipović and Slaven Došlo on the set of Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story. Photo by Tamara Antonović. Used with permission.

But, the other key was the story. I didn't set out to make a fan film, I wanted to make this really personal story, that happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. I think people reacted to that, saw the raw emotions and the potential of it, very early on. Darko Ivić, who plays Nol in the film, was there with me from the very start when I started dreaming about this film.  And then Slaven Došlo went to Disneyland, and brought me a gift — Yoda's lightsaber, and I knew I wanted him to portray the younger brother, Kess. He has this mix of naïveté and pain that I thought was integral to the character. Jana was selected through casting, but the moment she walked in, we thought — that's Mala. The rest of the crew was something of a filmmaker's dream. We had great support from Hypnopolis, the company that has produced all of my films. Basically, everybody who volunteered to help was listed as a co-producer, since we didn't have a budget. In the end, with almost no resources, with shared love for Star Wars, and connections from my previous three feature films, we got quite literally the top Serbian film crews in all fields: from stunts to world-class visual effects, professional color grading, award-winning sound designer, through amazing creatures and prosthetic make-up effects, insane music (available on our YouTube channel), and — of course — great help from the students of the Academy of Arts, where I teach.

A scene from Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story. Photo by Tamara Antonović. Used with permission.

GV: Artists from the Balkans, like Zoran Cardula from North Macedonia, have in the past explored visual similarities between Star Wars iconography and the brutalist architecture of former Yugoslavia. Your film has brought this connection to a whole new level and through a completely new medium. How did you decide on those particular monuments?

SF: There is something very deeply ‘Star-Wars-esque’ in the stories and legends of former Yugoslavia, or, rather – vice versa. The epic exodus and rebirth of WWI, and then — chaos, civil war, Tito's rebel partisans from all nations who overcame their differences to fight a great evil (the Nazis), their victory, peace, the creation of this New Republic, which leads to another rise in nationalism and the fall of the Republic… It's hard to separate our actual history from a synopsis of the entire Skywalker saga!

Jedi Temple in Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story, photo by Tamara Antonović. Used with permission.

So, these relics from our past were perfect to create the atmosphere of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy — built after the wars, on the ruins of the bygone era — they represent the history which Nol and Dust never had a chance to learn from, yet which shaped their destinies. So, Ivan Meštrović's masterpiece, the Mount Avala Monument to the Unknown Hero became a Jedi shrine, and the Mount Kosmaj WWII monument became ancient Jedi ruins. From a filmmaker's perspective, the Brutalist ex-Yugoslavia architecture was very modern, created in an age where we were looking to the stars, to the future, for inspiration. That makes it stand out today. Both of these locations had mystery and majesty, and I really feel they add something unique to the film. We were very fortunate to get permissions to film there.

GV: The main characters of Breaking Point are commoners. In the official Star Wars movies, members of two ‘genetically superior royal families’ (to paraphrase David Brin) and their entourages tend to run the show. Rogue One (2016) is perhaps an exception. Do you consider your short a part of a trend anticipating ‘democratization’ of that universe, with stories that explore wider social issues through the experiences of people from all social classes?

SF: Yes, well, there's that famous quote from Clerks, about all the workers who built the Death Star and their untold stories. But, seriously, I think Star Wars mythology is now so rich and detailed that it can be compared to many of the existing, historical, myths around the globe, at least in scope and sheer level of detail. The place of the pop-culture in our modern societies is yet to be analyzed by historians and social anthropologists, but, I think it's safe to say that these modern pop-cultural myths occupy a very important place in our lives. In that respect, I feel Star Wars is now more than just another franchise, it's an integral part of global cultural heritage. So, it was interesting to me to try to find a local angle, to try to add to this mythology from our own point of view. We could never make something like The Crown here, but that doesn't mean we don't have amazing stories of our own to tell, and we sure as hell can make films like Dirty Dozen or Rogue One. And class is an important part of that. So we made the entire backstory of Breaking Point about class, in a way. It was interesting for me to imagine — could a poor kid, with no education, and no family, who grew up in the mean streets of Serbia in the 90s become a Jedi Knight, this zen warrior-monk? Or do the wounds that we all have, from the wars, the politics, crime, make us emotionally unstable, unfit? How can we escape that?

Jana Milosavljević as Mala in Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story. Photo by Tamara Antonović. Used with permission.

The protagonists of our film had really tough childhoods. They were separated, the older one became a drug dealer to survive. The younger one was sold to slavery to the same Dickensian crime boss who once owned Han Solo – Lady Proxima. Mala, the Twi'lek girl, was a sex worker from her early teens. They were then rescued by Luke Skywalker, and now they are training to be Jedi, but they have these gaping wounds in their hearts, all of them. These wounds are the weaknesses that the Dark Side exploits through Ben Solo, the future Kylo Ren. But, it's not Ben Solo who turns them against each other — it's their own fears and weaknesses and old wounds that make the brothers go for each other's throats. In short, they represent the history of the conflicts that led to the breakup of former Yugoslavia. Brothers, killing each other, over past wounds and revived nationalism. That rise of toxic nationalism in the former Yugoslav countries has a striking resemblance to the revival of the Empire that Ben Solo was rooting for, and that is a major political point in the sequel trilogy. I'm sorry they didn't elaborate on this backstory as seriously as George Lucas did when he was creating Star Wars films. Especially in the contemporary world, where we see the reemergence of politics that we all thought defeated so many years ago, and that have caused so much pain and suffering.

Final scenes of Breaking Point: A Star Wars Story. Photo by Tamara Antonović. Used with permission.

GV: Critiques of Breaking Point focused on length of the film. They wanted more. Do you plan any sequels?

SF: The ending was supposed to be mysterious, poetic, kind of elusive, like a dream. Kess dies, finding his faith again, because of the only pure thing in his life — his love for Mala. So, it's a completed story for us, and we don't plan to make a sequel. But making a prequel would be really interesting — Nol, Kess and Mala living on Corellia, before Luke Skywalker rescued them. On the other hand, perhaps it would be too dark for Star Wars. I don't know… We'll see. Difficult to see, the future, as Yoda once said.

GV: Science fiction and fantasy had been integral parts of mainstream culture in former Yugoslavia, currently very few authors from the region work in these genres. As a feature film director, you have been an outlier in this sense, with the successful fantasy film Shaitan's Warrior in 2006. In Next to Me (2015), you tackled the intersection between new technologies and society. Do you see potential for more sci-fi production in Serbia, or the wider the Balkans region?

SF: I don't care much about “genre” or “sci-fi” or other labels. I think the obsession with “genre vs. arthouse” is a very weird European phenomenon (much like the formulaic obsession with genres is a weird American phenomenon), and it kinda makes us lose focus on what really matters — telling good stories, writing from the heart, creating compelling characters that matter to the audiences. I think we have here the potential to dream about anything we want, but we often choose not to dream, and rather to create films made to fit European financing strategies and schemes. This results in movies that feel more like a product than your average Hollywood fare, minus the virtue of being watchable. And this is the reason people are more inspired by quality TV and games than movies these days. So, in short, yes — I think we can do pretty much whatever we want, but we need to fight for a different financing system to enable it and different standards to realise the potential of thinking “outside the box”.

< p class='gv-rss-footer'>Written by Filip Stojanovski · comments (0) Donate · Share this: twitter facebook reddit

[esprit-de-corps-magazine]

The Navy League Celebrates 125 Years of Canadian Support

By Tamara Condie, The Navy League of Canada

A whopping 125 year ago, the British-founded Navy League established a Branch in Toronto, which marked the official inauguration of the Navy League of Canada. Although the organization’s objectives have evolved throughout time and space, the Navy League of Canada has remained loyal to its ontological roots, which embody the betterment and promotion of youth programs and maritime security throughout Canada. Today, the Navy League of Canada cordially commences a celebration of the exceptional volunteers, community members, and staff that have contributed to maintaining the organization’s success throughout the years. 

Originally, the Navy League was conceived by the British Empire as a response to the increasing aggression of the German Empire in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The organization’s native objective was to ensure adequate naval defence for the British empire, and nearing the end of the 19th century, Branches of the Navy League began to populate abroad at an exponential rate. This resulted in the incorporation of a Navy League Branch in Toronto, whose warrant dated back to 16 December 1895 and now resides in the National Office in Ottawa, Ontario.

The political turmoil that prevailed globally in 1895 ensued the need for a Naval Reserve training program in Canada; as a result, the Toronto Navy League Branch prepared a submission to the Canadian government for this program in order to maintain a robust maritime defence portfolio. The Navy League of Canada’s devoted efforts in support of independent naval defence helped the government when it was forming Canada’s naval policy and establishing the Canadian Naval Service in 1910, which was the predecessor of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). In these early years, Canadian Branches informally supported a youth training program catered towards encouraging young men to enter a seafaring career. It provided fundamental training in citizenship and seamanship.

During WWII, the Canadian Government depended heavily on the support of the Navy League of Canada: the organization provided support through the recruitment of Naval and Merchant Navy personnel, operation of hostels for seafaring personnel, welfare services to the dependents of seamen and, in the final stages, the rehabilitation services for Naval Veterans. When the War ended, the Navy League continued its unwavering dedication  providing support for the Canadian maritime affairs portfolio and maintained shore hostel facilities for the benefit of seafaring personnel. Training was formalized under the name Boys’ Naval Brigades across the country, which was later modified to the Navy League Sea Cadets to allow the infusion of funds from the Department of the Militia.

During the outbreak of WWII, the Navy League of Canada assumed similar responsibilities that took on in WWI; the organization profoundly expanded its role as a “nursery of Seamen” through the deliverance of 24 hostels in various port areas and the provision of amenities for visiting seamen, including those of the RCN and Canadian Merchant Navy. As the War approached its end, the objectives of the Navy League of Canada deviated slightly from what they had been for the latter half of the 20th century. 

Later on in the 1940s, the organization made a conscious effort to revamp its support of youth training and promoting the knowledge of maritime affairs throughout Canada. The entry age for the Sea Cadet program had been set at 14 years, which was limiting to youth that wanted to develop indispensable skills to becoming an upstanding citizen and succeeding in future endeavours. Hence, the Navy League established The Navy League Cadet Corps for younger boys in 1948. Shortly after, the Navy League Wrenette Corps for young ladies was established in 1950, which has since become integrated with Sea Cadet and Navy League Cadet Corps.

Today, there are 8,000 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in 261 Corps across Canada, and 3,200 Navy League Cadets in 110 Corps across the country. In its 125th year of service throughout the nation, the Navy League of Canada astutely recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its members, current and past, and is grateful to them for their selfless support of its objectives.

[ftnbooks-blog]

Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980)

Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980)

Two aspects of her art life spring to mind. First and foremost a great Art Deco painter and one of the frist female artists being recognized by the greater public as a great artist and secondly …she depicted the “beau monde” in the Interbellum. The period between WWI and WWII.

Although she was born in Poloand she spent her working life in France and the United States. She is best known for her…

[macaronis-telegraph]

My favourite books I read in 2020! (in no particular order)

Follows are goodreads links and maybe some thoughts on them? But I don't think I'm particularly capable of formulating coherent thoughts right now so it won't be much. Just trust that I love these books with my whole self.

Look Down in Mercy by Walter Baxter - first published in 1951, we explore the destruction of Captain Tony Kent, as he spirals and falls through illness, injury, alcoholism, and his fear of his love for his batman, Anson. Set in WWII Burma, it's gruesome and gutwrenching, and Kent is a character you could continue to analyze and unpack for years, morally gray and unstable, as you watch him fall towards the inevitable. If you read a vintage copy, I recommend a UK edition (an alternate ending was written for the US release, and I personally don't think it's fitting. The Valancourt edition contains both endings).

Despised and Rejected by A. T. Fitzroy - first published in 1918, and then promptly banned, seized, and destroyed due to its pacifist messages and positive portrayals of homosexuality. At its heart is a strained relationship between Dennis and Antoinette - Antoinette who struggles with loving a man who goes against societal norms, and being able to love him for exactly who he is. The amount of respect and acceptance with which the author treats her characters, no matter what makes up their identity, just warmed my heart and blew me away, especially regarding the time period in which it was written.

The Charioteer by Mary Renault - this easily takes the spot of my favorite book of all time. It's like a warm hug and a cup of tea, a wonderful comfort I know I will return to over and over as I continue to fall in love with the characters again and again. In this book, first released in 1953, we follow Laurie "Spuddy" Odell, as he recovers from a severe injury after Dunkirk in WWII. In his time in hospital, his sexuality is brought to the front of his attention, and we get to live inside of Laurie's mind as he finds love in Andrew, a young medical orderly, and Ralph, a troubled man who emerges from Laurie's past (okay I'll admit it to you and myself, Ralph Lanyon has to be one of my favourite characters from anything anywhere).

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown - a surprisingly environmental read, it’s impossible not to be immersed in the settings described in this book. A steady balance of both explorations of this incredible team and historical background, it’s keeps you gripped and shocked even when you already know how it’s all going to turn out.

The Story of the Titanic as told by its survivors edited by Jack Winocour - okay I’m really not sure how to sell this book to anyone outside of the fact that this book has to be the one that has been on my mind more than any other. I’ve just found it utterly incredible and fascinating to see these heart wrenching accounts from four different survivors of the tragedy, most of which were written within a year of the event, the emotions still recent and intense, without being tainted by the myths and misconceptions that I find plague many recent writings on the topic. I think about this book and the stories told in it almost daily (but then again I seem to have rather a hyperfixation on the RMS Titanic so...).

Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen - a very cute and cozy read that transports you to New York, 1919, as our two main characters, recently home from fighting in WWI, work to take back a hold of their lives, and maybe fall in love along the way. Quite the feel-good read, with many moments to look back and smile or laugh upon, but it’s also not without its heavy moments, building fully fleshed out and loveable characters.