The controversial film, based on Anthony Burgess’ book, starred Malcolm McDowell. It included much disturbing, dystopian imagery, employing scenes of violence and psychological drama, painting a non too positive portrait of a possible future Great Britain.
copyright Francis Barker 2019
Although Hannibal was to ultimately fail in defeating the Romans in the long term, he came very close to succeeding. The Punic Wars were all about who controlled the Mediterranean and beyond. In the early years the Carthaginians were masters of the region, with settlements in Sicily and Spain, as well as their burgeoning homeland in north Africa.
When Rome began to flex its muscles and seriously rival the Carthaginians during the third century BC, war was inevitable. Hannibal famously took the war to the Romans with an incredible invasion with a massive elephant led army through the Alps and into Italy, an audacious attempt to finish off the Romans once and for all. It nearly came off – but not quite.
Eventually, as the Romans later got the upper hand, they were to literally wipe Carthage off the map in one of the most heinous acts of revenge ever seen.
copyright Francis Barker 2019
The brothers Wright, namely Orville and Wilbur, were originally from Dayton, Ohio, naming their flying machine ‘Wright Flyer’. It was effectively the first powered flight of an aircraft, ushering in the aeronautic age which has completely transformed our culture.
The true genius of the Wright brothers was their practical invention of proper controls for a fixed wing aircraft, allowing it to take off, maneuver in the air and land safely for the first time, all of which came to full fruition with their ‘Wright Flyer III’ a couple of years later.
copyright Francis Barker 2019
Catherine married the heir to the English throne, Arthur Prince of Wales, in 1501. However, Arthur died soon afterwards. When Arthur’s brother, Henry ascended the throne on the death of his father in 1509, he quickly married his brother’s widow, forging an important alliance between England and Spain.
However, over the course of the next twenty years, Catherine failed to deliver Henry a living male heir, her only major ‘crime’. Following a long protracted dispute between Henry and Papal legates, during which the Pope refused to annul the marriage, Henry declared himself Head of the Church of England, allowing him to divorce Catherine and marry his mistress, Anne Boleyn in 1533.
Catherine died in January 1536 at Kimbolton Castle, and is buried in Peterborough Cathedral.
copyright Francis Barker 2019
The film, one of the most famous and iconic releases ever, was based on a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell, a fraught, romantic and ultimately tragic story of the American Civil War and its aftermath in the South.
The film also starred two of Hollywood’s greats, the beautiful British Actress, Vivien Leigh and the impossibly handsome Clark Gable.
copyright Francis Barker 2019
