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Bram Stoker’s Inspiration for Count Dracula -Whitby in Yorkshire and Cruden Bay in Scotland
This article traces the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s character and plot creation for his Gothic novel Dracula, taking the reader on a visit to Whitby and Cruden Bay, two of Stoker's favoured holiday locations, on the North-East coast of the UK.
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Canada’s Mediterranean Micro-Climate. The Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan Valley area of B.C.,Canada enjoys a unique Mediterranean micro-climate. Orchards and vineyards thrive there in what was once semi-arid scrub land. Read a personal account of what the charming lakeside town of Osoyoos, close to the US border, offers to tourists and snowbirds.
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Visiting Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle, the British Royal Family's Favourite Holiday Retreat,in Scotland
The route from Aberdeen through Royal Deeside skirts the Cairngorms, passing through picturesque villages, small towns, and Glen Shee before ending in Perth.
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"Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning: Poetry Analysis
Robert Browning's "Meeting at Night" poem was published during his courtship of his future wife, Elizabeth Barrett. It is a sensual monologue depicting a secret love affair.
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Mothers Day in the UK, Celebrated With Simnel Cake
This article describes the modern customs associated with Mothers Day in the UK, which evolved from the medieval Christian Mothering Sunday church service.
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The Bizarre British Tradition of Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races (With Foolproof Recipe for English Pancakes)
Pancake Day races and tossing the pancake on Shrove Tuesday are ancient English customs that date back to the fourteenth century and are still observed today. Find out about the origins of Pancake Day races and how to make a foolproof English-style pancake in this article.
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Spicy Butternut Squash Tagine Recipe (Inexpensive Ingredients)
A Middle Eastern dish of complex flavours, combining health-promoting butternut squash with sweet apricots, honey, intense and piquant preserved lemon, tomatoes and fragrant spices. Quick and easy to prepare and keeps well in the fridge for up to four days. Serve with herby couscous or crusty bread.
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Poem Analysis: 'Silver' (1913) by Walter De La Mare
An analysis of ‘Silver’ (1913) by Walter de la Mare. Exquisite visual imagery sparks the senses of the reader by evoking the effect created by the phenomenon of a silver moon in a slumbering rural environment. Particularly noteworthy is the skillful use of alliteration and repetition.
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"Remember, Remember, the 5th of November". Bonfire Night: A British Tradition With an Horrific History
For over 400 years, the night skies in the British Isles have been lit by fireworks on November 5th, and the smell of bonfires has lingered in the air. Find out the history of the commemoration and how the date is celebrated in the 21st century.
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‘A Shropshire Lad’: A Contextual Review of the Anthology of Poems by A. E. Housman
'A Shropshire Lad', a cycle of 63 poems by A. E. Housman, was published in 1896 and became a bestseller. This article explores the context in which the poems were written by a deeply secretive poet.
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Bury St Edmunds: A Visitor's Guide to a Quaint Historic English Town
Explore Bury St Edmunds, a small market town close to Cambridge and a jewel in the crown of the rural county of Suffolk. Visitors make their way there to visit the magnificent cathedral, see the beautiful municipal gardens on the grounds of the ruined abbey, go shopping and much more.
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Famous Writers Inspired by the Landscape of England’s Lake District
Take a literary tour of the English Lake District, an area long admired for its beautiful landscape. The unspoiled beauty of this walkers' paradise has provided inspiration for some of England’s most loved writers and poets, including most famously, William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.
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Analysis of 'The Cold Earth Slept Below' by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)
'The Cold Earth Slept Below' is an example of Shelley's interest in both the sublime and the Gothic tradition in literature. The poem has parallels with a tragic event in his personal life.
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Fun Easter Activities, Traditions and Customs
Easter is both a fun-filled time for children and the most important festival in the Christian calendar. This article relates the pagan history of some Easter customs, how the focus on eggs at Easter started and continues, and describes some ancient Easter customs.
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"Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann (1927): Analysis of a Philosophical Prose Poem About Mindful Living
The advice in the calming poem Desiderata, written in 1927, is an excellent focus for the practice of mindful meditation. A paraphrase in this article of Max Ehrmann's didactic words, which were written for his daughter, is followed by an analysis of the poetic techniques within the lines.
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Analysis of "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe
"The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe is one of the most loved pastoral poems of all time. This article gives an explanation and contextual analysis of this 16th-century appeal to a sweetheart to join the speaker in a country idyll.
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"To My Valentine" by Ogden Nash: A Lighthearted Love Poem
"To My Valentine" by Ogden Nash is a charming, unconventional love poem that casts aside cliches in favor of unexpected comparisons.
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The Amazing Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore
This Buddhist temple in Chinatown, Singapore, purportedly contains one of the Buddha's teeth. Opened in 2007, it is high on the list of must-visit places in Singapore.
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Traditional Burns Night Celebrations: Rituals, Dress, Food and Drink
Robert Burns is Scotland's National Poet. On the 25th January, his birthday is celebrated by Scots around the world, often at formal dinners that follow a time-honoured format incorporating haggis, the skirl of bagpipes, the swish of kilts, poems, and a wee dram. Find out more in this article.
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A New Year’s Poem: Ring Out Wild Bells by Lord Tennyson
This article offers an analysis of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s 'Ring Out, Wild Bells,' a New Year's poem published in 1850. The sentiments of the poem are still relevant in the 21st century.
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Poem Analysis: 'Christmas' by John Betjeman
'Christmas' was written by one of Britain's most loved contemporary poets, John Betjeman. See a summary, explanation, and analysis of this wonderful poem.
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A Christmas Poem, 'Minstrels' by William Wordsworth
A Christmas poem by England's great nature poet, William Wordsworth. The poem 'Minstrels' is about an old musical Christmas Eve custom.
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Visiting Singapore's Chinatown & the Chinatown Heritage Centre
Step out of the MRT station in Singapore's Chinatown and enter a different world. The cosmopolitan city and the modern blocks filled with high-rise offices and apartments will feel a world away.
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The Poem "London Snow" by Robert Bridges (1890): An Analysis
Analysis of "London Snow" by Robert Bridges, a poem that creates an image of the magic of snowfall in London, which at the time the poem was created, was crowded and heavily polluted.
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A Halloween Treat - Soul Cakes Recipe and the History Behind Halloween Celebrations
Trick-or-treaters hoping for a gift of candy might be surprised to be given these soul cakes instead. Baking and giving them is inspired by a medieval Catholic tradition of payment to the poor to pray for the souls of the dead. Find out more in this article, including a recipe!
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'To Autumn' by John Keats: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. An Analysis
This article is an analysis of one of England's best-loved, evocative, lyric poems, 'To Autumn'. It was the last poem written by the English romantic poet Keats before he died at the early age of 26.
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'When You Are Old' Analysis: W. B. Yeats' Poem for Maud Gonne
'When You Are Old' by W. B. Yeats is a wistful poem about unrequited love. See an analysis of the poem's form and techniques and learn about Yeats' relationship with Maud Gonne.
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Analysis of 'A Dirge': A Poem About Loss and Grief
'A Dirge' by Christina Rossetti (1830-1994) is an intensely personal poem about grief and regret following the death of someone who has led a life too short. It compares the human life cycle with the cycle of the seasons.
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Biography of Lord George Byron (1788–1824), Britain’s Most Celebrated & Scandalous Romantic Poet
This article covers events and relationships that led to the short marriage and the scandalous separation of Lord Byron and his wife that resulted in Byron’s consequent self-imposed exile from England.
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Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) in Spicy Tomato Sauce: A Quick, Cheap and Healthy Supper Recipe
Chickpeas, commonly known as garbanzo beans, are a nutrient-dense, low-fat food—a healthy, budget-friendly substitute for expensive meat. This is a quick, cheap, and tasty recipe for chickpeas in a sauce made from onions, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, paprika, and a little (optional) meat.
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Basics of an English Cottage Style Garden & Ideas to Inspire You
Which plants are essential in a traditional English garden? Roses, hollyhocks, foxgloves, lupins, pinks, and more, with a sprinkling of fruits and vegetables.
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Visiting the Black Madonna in Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain
The Benedictine Cathedral at Montserrat, set high on the Catalonia mountain after which it is named, has a shrine dedicated to Santa Maria de Montserrat—the Black Virgin.
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Quartz Worktop Overlays: A Review of a Quick, Clean and Stress-Free Kitchen Counter Renovation
A shabby kitchen can be quickly updated on a limited budget with a super-fast, minimum-disruption installation of quartz worktop over. It is the ideal solution for a fast update. These worktops are hygienic, easy to clean, and durable—thin enough to install without damage to existing tiling.
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How to Visit Venice on a Low Budget
Venice is amazing, unique and wonderful, but can be very expensive. This article gives lots of tips about how to have a long weekend visit reasonably economically.
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Grantham Gingerbread: An Unusual Biscuit With Fascinating 18th-Century Origins
Grantham gingerbread arose in 1740 through a lucky mistake by William Eggleston, a baker in the English town of Grantham. The unique biscuit that he produced has never lost its local popularity. Read about the history and find a recipe in this article.
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Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra’ in Its Historical Context
Does the play 'Antony and Cleopatra' have a subtext that undermines James’s regime, offering a warning about the iniquity of state absolutism? If so, Shakespeare was treading dangerous ground.