A hilarious quote from a brilliant book "De Gaulle" by Julian Jackson that I simply have to share. It deals with the circumstances of Charles de Gaulle's escape to England in 1940 ( Read more... )

What was Beethoven's most successful piece? If I had to guess, I would probably say Symphony No. 9 and its "Ode to Joy," or one of the famous Piano Sonatas, "Moonlight" or "Pathétique", or perhaps the ubiquitous "Für Elise ( Read more... )

Franz II... not notably intelligent or curious, by nature conservative and fearful of change... took the [Holy Roman Empire] throne in 1792 opposed to democracy and fascinated by the potential of secret police and censorship to keep his subjects in line. When King Louis XVI was beheaded in Paris in January 1793 and the Terror rolled into motion, ( Read more... )