Power grabs and dictators

A post from 2017 but updated for 2024

The Death of Caesar, Vincenzo Camuccini, 1798 (public domain)

Updated text: It’s 2024 and today is the ides of March in the Roman calendar. It’s the day the Russian (read Soviet) leader seeks reelection, a travesty which will be the continuation of his initial power […]

Vive Roma Nova!

In October, I was interviewed by the regional press La Nouvelle République. As soon as I received the email from the reporter, I dashed into town to grab a paper copy.

Now I expected an eighth page at the bottom of the page. I’m an English author writing in English , even though I’ve lived […]

Mel and the Mediterranean

Avenue Foch, Montpellier (Photo: Jonaslange CC Commons Wikipedia)

(There is Roman stuff.)

Mel/Mélisende does a lot of travelling round in Double Pursuit, often on the TGV (train grande vitesse) the high speed train famous in France.

At a critical stage, she has to interview ‘a person of interest’ in Montpellier, a beautiful city, […]