It has become obvious in last few decades that society has developed a bit of an obsession with historical fiction/romance novels, many of which have been turned into block buster period dramas for tv and the big screen. However, for me this particular genre has always been one of my favorites and I recently added a great book to my collection, The Queen’s Almoner by Tonya Ulynn Brown. For those who have a slight (or huge) obsession with European royalty, or have a serious love of Mary Queen of Scots, read on to find out my thoughts on this well constructed novel.
We are introduced to Thomas Broune, who is a childhood friend of the Scotland’s estranged queen, Mary Stuart. Despite the fact that she was sent away to France and there were many miles between them, the two still kept in touch. Upon Mary’s return to Scottish soil to claim her crown, the friendship the two share grows stronger. Things do eventually get more complicated when Mary becomes queen, and Thomas’ affection for her begins to grow beyond the boundaries of friendship.
Mary’s rule as queen of the Scots is filled with religious, political, and personal conflicts, but the one person who stays by her side is Thomas. Though Mary is a beautiful and intriguing woman, she has a tendency to let her heart get the best of her. While he is ever devoted to his friend and queen, this devotion does come at a cost, and even then, there is only so much he can do protect her from the Scottish court.
The relationship between Mary and Thomas is one that some of the best historical fictions are made of. Excellent character development, with each exhibiting characteristics that make us adore them, and even one or two that make them more human and flawed. I love Tonya’s use of descriptive language, as it literally transports you to a different place and time. In my opinion, this novel does a great job of combining just the right amount of the historical with the fictional.
If you want to find out more about my friend and author Tonya Ulynn Brown, check her out here.
Family dynamics are often quite complicated, and this is even more true if you happen to be part of a famous family, and especially if you’re royal. While history is full of family conflicts that resulted in everything from kidnapping to starting wars, there are a few out there with particularly epic outcomes. One of those was the Babington Plot.
Elizabeth I (Wikimedia Commons)
Elizabeth I ruled England during the 16th century, and she did so without a husband which was pretty impressive for the time. As strong of a queen as she was, she had a target on her back from the moment she took the crown. During her time as a monarch, there were multiple plots to try and remove her from power. One of the most commonly known is the Babington Plot. This particular plan to overthrow the queen was unique was that her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots was a part of it.
Anthony Babington (Wikipedia)
Like most secret plans to commit treason, the Babington Plot involved a good amount of people and could be pretty complex if you try to go into all the details. The simple version involves a couple of guys, Anthony Babington and John Ballard. As staunch Catholics their goal was to assassinate the Protestant Elizabeth, and replace her with a true Catholic ruler. The person they wanted to replace her with was her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. Problem was that Mary was currently one of Elizabeth’s prisoners. This fact didn’t stop these two men from conspiring to get a Catholic monarch back on the throne of England.
Francis Walsingham (Wikipedia)
Unfortunately for Babington and Ballard, Elizabeth’s right hand man, Francis Walsingham was already keeping a close eye on the situations with the Catholics. The shrewd man that he was, his goal was to eliminate Mary as a potential threat to his queen. As such, he sort of entrapped Mary by installing his own spies into this plan that was concocted by Babington and Ballard. So while letters were being exchanged between Mary and her conspirators, Walsingham was intercepting them all. He knew that Elizabeth was not going to execute her cousin without undeniable proof of treason, because he had already tried to convince her to do so before. Walsingham waited patiently for proof against Mary, when he finally got it.
Mary, Queen of Scots (Wikipedia)
In 1586, Walsingham and his spies intercepted a letter that would eventually seal Mary’s fate. The letter from Babington outlined the plan to rescue Mary, and also asked for permission to kill Elizabeth. Mary reportedly signed off on the plan for her rescue, but didn’t fully acquiesce to the assassination of Elizabeth. However, she did not outright condemn the plan to murder the queen either. Due to this fact, on August 21st 1586, she was arrested, and in October she was tried under the Act of Association.
Her trial proceeded despite the questionable legality of the whole thing. Following her trial, Parliament found her guilty in the Babington Plot and as such ordered her execution. Elizabeth seemed to hesitate and put off signing her cousin’s death warrant but she could only delay the inevitable so long. Mary, Queen of Scots was executed on February 8, 1587. Though Elizabeth did eliminate her cousin as her rival, her throne ironically went Mary’s son, James, following her death in 1603.
Throughout history, women have been largely oppressed. This unfortunately is especially true for women of color. Unless they manage to reach some level of legendary status, the contributions made to society by women of color are often overlooked. Due to recent events, more of a spotlight has been shone on these amazing women lately, so here are 5 women who everyone should know a bit more about.
*LKF- Lesser Known Facts
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Bessie Coleman-First Woman of Color to Hold a Pilot’s License
Born the daughter of sharecroppers in small-town Texas, Bessie Coleman had her work cut out for her from the start. While she worked the cotton fields with her family, she still managed to get a bit of an education from the segregated school in her community.
She developed a love of flying early on, but there were zero opportunities in the US for women or people of color to learn how. Instead of quitting, Bessie moved to France to attend flight school. In 1921, She became the first woman of both African- American and Native American descent to earn an international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
Bessie returned to the United States and began her career as a high flying aviatrix who became famous for the dangerous stunts she performed. As much as she loved her career, her ultimate goal was to open a flight school for young black aviators and provide more opportunities to those in her community. Unfortunately, her dream was never realized as Bessie Coleman was killed in a plane crash on April 30, 1926, at 34 years old.
In the years since her death, Bessie has been honored in various ways with schools, streets, and libraries named for her. It was not until 2001 that she was inducted into The National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2014 she was also inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
*LKF-Bessie Coleman walked away from a movie deal that could have potentially financed her flight school, due to the way they wanted to portray her in the opening scene of the film.
Photo Courtesy of History.com
Henrietta Lacks-Her Cells Helped Revolutionize Modern Medicine
Henrietta Lacks was actually born Loretta Pleasant on August 1, 1920, in Roanoke, Virginia. The reason behind her name change is not completely clear, but following the death of her mother in 1924, she was taken in by her grandfather, Tommy Lacks. It was there she went into the family business of tobacco farming.
Henrietta had 2 children before marrying David Day Lacks in 1941. After the couple moved to Maryland she gave birth to 3 more children, the last of which was born in November of 1950. This is significant because less than 5 months later, she would be diagnosed with cervical cancer.
In January of 1951, Henrietta went to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the only hospital in the area that treated black patients, complaining of a “knot” in her womb. After testing negative for syphilis, the hospital performed a biopsy that came back positive for cancer. The hospital provided her with radium tube inserts as her initial treatment and told her to return for follow up. Though she returned for follow up treatments, Henrietta, unfortunately, passed away on October 4, 1951.
In 1975, some information came to light that at some point during Henrietta’s treatments, 2 separate tissue samples were taken from her without her knowledge or consent. Those samples would be used in medical research and would become known as the HeLa cell line. This group of cells unexpectedly revolutionized modern medicine and led to the production of new tests, treatments, and vaccines. The fact that medical research was conducted on her cells for decades without permission or compensation to the family, eventually leads to changes in privacy and consent laws.
*LKF- In 2018, Johns Hopkins University announced its plans for a new research building to be named in honor of Henrietta Lacks.
Photo Courtesy of History.com
Mary Fields- Badass Legend of The Wild West
Mary Fields was always a force to be reckoned with. Born a slave sometime in 1832, she was obviously not a stranger to hard work. Though the earlier parts of her life were somewhat shrouded in mystery, she was freed after the Civil War and that is where more of her story becomes known.
Like many newly emancipated slaves, Mary headed north and eventually ended up in Montana. She used her acquired skill set to secure a job at St. Peter’s Mission. She did a lot of the physical labor around the property such as cooking, gardening, and ordering supplies for the mission. Though she did mostly good work around the mission, her habits outside of that became a source of concern for the parishioners. Mary was notorious for her no-nonsense attitude as well as her other hobbies which included shooting, drinking, and smoking. Eventually, Mary lost her position at the mission when she and another worker pulled their guns on each other.
Following her dismissal from St. Peter’s, Mary applied for a star route contract to carry mail across the unsettled lands of Montana. She was the first African-American woman to be awarded one of these contracts and she took this job very seriously. Stagecoach Mary earned her moniker for always being recognizable because of her large stature, her guns, and you guessed it, her stagecoach.
Mary protected and carried the mail to rural communities across Montana for 8 years before retiring. During her tenure as an unofficial postal worker, Mary’s reputation in the community grew to legendary status. Though she was not one to be trifled with, the strong, hardcore woman also became well-loved for her giving nature and compassion for children. When she died on December 5,1914, the community that she called home held a massive funeral in her honor.
*LKF- Mary was so loved by her community in Cascade, Montana, that they even named the town baseball team after her. If you want to know more details about Stagecoach Mary, check out my other article HERE.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Esther Jones- The “ Real” Betty Boop
Did you know that one of the most recognizable cartoons ever created was at least partially inspired by a black child star of the 1920s? Esther Lee Jones is believed to have been born sometime in 1919, though her exact date of birth is unknown. From a young age, she was trained to be a performer and by the time she was 9 years old, she was performing in night clubs across Chicago.
Baby Esther, aka Little Esther, was a very talented child. Her parents and managers trained this little girl in singing, dancing, and acrobatics and by the late 1920s people had fallen in love with her. One of her performances was witnessed by an actress named Helen Kane who took a real liking to Esther’s “baby” voice and style of singing known as scatting. She liked it so much in fact, that she basically stole it and began to use it in her performances without Esther’s knowledge or permission.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Esther’s international career took off. She performed all over Europe and in South America. Upon returning to the United States, she did shows until about 1934 when she faded from the spotlight as she was getting older. While she drifted into oblivion, Helen Kane was busy making a bigger name for herself as an inspiration for the cartoon character, Betty Boop.
Betty Boop became a hit in 1932, and her creators supposedly used the likeness and singing of multiple women to create the character. Helen Kane then sued them for “exploiting her image” and essentially stealing her trademark phrase “boop-oop-a doop.” The joke turned out to be on her when Betty Boop’s creators called her out for taking her “scatting” style from a darling little girl she watched one night in 1928- Baby Esther. Upon recorded evidence being submitted in the trial that was proof of Baby Esther’s signature voice and scatting ability, Helen Kane lost her case. With this new information coming to light, the true inspiration for the iconic Betty Boop became known.
*LKF– No one is really sure what happened to Esther Jones after 1934. Her life after that point is shrouded in mystery.
Photo Courtesy of FeminEM
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler-First Black Female Doctor of Medicine
During a time when no one wanted to see people of color succeed at anything, Rebecca Lee Crumpler did the impossible. Born Rebecca Davis in 1831, she developed a love of caring for people from a young age. While under her aunt’s care in Pennsylvania, Rebecca observed her aunt caring for the ill and infirm in their community. It is there that it is believed she decided to study medicine.
From 1855 to 1864 Rebecca worked as a nurse and during this time she was accepted into the New England Female Medical College. The fact that she not only was accepted into school but won a scholarship to have it paid for was nearly unheard of at this time. Colleges were not overly accepting of black applicants, and this was especially true for medical school. Ironically enough it was the increased need for medical professionals during the Civil War that opened up more opportunities for those like Rebecca to get an education.
Rebecca graduated in 1864 and her college declared her a “Doctor of Medicine.” She was the only African-American in her class and the first African -American woman to become a formally trained doctor. Following her graduation she began practicing in Boston, mostly caring for poor African- Americans in her community. After the end of the Civil War, she moved to Richmond, Virginia, and began practicing there.
While in Virginia, Rebeca worked for the Freedmen’s Bureau, providing medical care to the newly freed slaves who were being denied care by white doctors. Even while working for the Freedmen’s Bureau she experienced discrimination because of her sex and even had trouble getting prescriptions filled for her patience. Nevertheless, she continued her work and treated countless people who would not have received care otherwise. Rebecca died on March 9, 1895, and is buried next to her husband in Fairview Cemetery.
*LKF– Rebecca wrote and published A Book of Medical Disclosures in 1883. So not only was she a female doctor, she was a published author in a time when women were neither.
As one of the most popular and widely consumed drinks on the planet, tea is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide in 2020. From the ancient trade routes of Asia to manufactured shipping across continents, the tea leaf has had quite a transformation over the years. It has gone from being the drink of lower society to ending up on the tables of royalty, and even leading to the birth of a new nation. Whether you drink it hot or cold, with sugar, lemon, or even milk, there is a long yet fascinating history behind this ancient drink.
Ancient Chinese Tea Ceremony – TeaGuardian.com
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
So for starters, tea is old; and when I say old, I mean ancient. Though the exact date of the first use of tea has been lost to the centuries, legend says it was discovered completely by accident in 2737 BC by Emperor Shen Nong. Now there is no way to fully verify this, but his first cup of tea was made when tea leaves from a wild tea tree accidentally landed in his pot of boiling water. Turns out he liked the taste so much that he did further research on it and discovered the potential medicinal benefits as well. Despite whatever the actual truth may be, this humble leaf managed to make its way from the tea tree in ancient China to your afternoon teacup.
Pixabay.com
EVERYDAY USES
The original purpose of tea is believed to have been centered around medicine and the art of healing. Over time it also developed some ceremonial and mystical significance, especially in the Eastern world in places such as China and Japan. These days the tea leaf is used for many other things as well. Though it is often used as simply another alternative to drinking water, it has also been used for things like encouraging weight loss, but mostly it is often used as a way for people to get their caffeine fix during their busy day. By and large though, this ancient drink hasn’t strayed too far from its original purpose. It is often used for medicinal purposes and is often the go-to for easing symptoms of the common cold or a sore throat.
Types Of Tea- Pixabay.com
TYPES OF TEA
There are over 3,000 varieties of tea, even though they all essentially come from the same type of plant. These varieties are split up into categories by which they are more commonly known including black, dark, yellow, green, oolong, and white teas. The way that the teas are categorized is influenced by a number of factors, including the differences in the geographic location in which they are grown, the growing conditions, and the processing of the leaves themselves. Typically the black and dark teas are more robust and intense in flavor, while the white teas are more delicate and subtle. There is also a separate classification of tea that is extremely popular these days which is herbal teas. They often are a blend of one of the other categories of tea and some sort of herbal combination.
Peach Iced Tea -LoveAndOliveOil.com
TEA TODAY
Tea is a multi-billion dollar worldwide industry with many different companies that dominate the economic market, including Twinings, Lipton, Bigelow, and Yogi. As previously mentioned, blended and herbal teas have made their way into the market and are extremely popular these days as well. Some might argue that they are not actual “teas” since some do not come from the original type of tea plant (camellia sinensis), but are made by infusing different herbs or spices into the water instead. There are arguably now hundreds of different flavors of tea anywhere from plain black tea, to green tea, to herbal blends and even detox teas.
Tea has clearly been an integral part of the world economy and social customs for centuries. It has transformed and adapted over time to meet the needs and desires of whatever society it entered. Whether you are trying to kick that cold, or just need an afternoon pick me up, you now appear to have almost unlimited options to meet your heart’s desire. From accidental and humble beginnings to one of the most widely consumed beverages of all time, nothing quite hits the spot like a great cup of tea.
The 1920s is arguably one of the most significant decades in the timeline of published literature. During this time some of the world’s most popular and recognizable books were written and presented to the world. These 6 novels are some of the most endearing, educational, and entertaining books produced during the 20s. Now, one hundred years later and these works are still being read and experienced by the current generation.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)
There is pretty much no way that this book could not be on this list. Over the last century, The Great Gatsby has become synonymous with the roaring 20s. The tale of millionaire Jay Gatsby and his unrequited love obsession with Daisy Buchanan paints a vivid picture of the opulent side of life during that time. F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the themes of gender relations, hedonistic impulses, and the concept of the “American Dream” in the pages of this classic novel. With its rise in popularity over the last 70 years, the book has been adapted into multiple movies, radio and theater productions, and even television series and video games. If you are looking for a near perfect example of 1920’s literature, The Great Gatsby should make the top of your list.
*LKF -It was not until after Fitsgerald died in 1940 that the book was re-released and sent to soldiers overseas during WWII that the book increased in popularity.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)
A combination of two short stories by Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway introduces us to the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a member of London high society. The book follows her as she plans a party that is to involve people from her present and her past. She thinks about her husband and daughter, as well as the life she could have had with her former love interest, Peter Welsh. Throughout her book, the author explores various themes including mental illness, feminism, and even bisexuality. This story addresses subject matter that was a bit controversial for the time, but none the less this book rose in popularity. Mrs. Dalloway is still revered one of the great novels written in the 20th century.
*LKF- In 2005, TIME Magazine included Mrs. Dalloway on its list of 100 Best English Language Novels written since TIME was established in 1923.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Age Of Innocence by Edith Wharton (1920)
This book is the twelfth book published by revered author Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence is a fictional tale of a lawyer and a love triangle of sorts. Newland Archer is looking to marry, and is soon engaged to May Welland. All is well until Newland meets Ellen Olenska, who is May’s super exotic and gorgeous cousin. Archer falls in love with Ellen, who is in the middle of a tumultuous marriage herself. Of course, that is when all of the shenanigans ensue and the drama begins. This book was met with much enthusiasm and even won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921.
*LKF- Edith Wharton was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Story Of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (1920)
One of the world’s most beloved children’s stories is that of Dr. Dolittle. The story of physician and bachelor John Dolittle and his transformation into veterinarian and animal communicator is one that has thrilled kids for decades. He becomes famous among his animal clients which leads him on an adventurous trip to Africa. John embarks on a journey that is full of ups and downs and many animal friends before he returns home. The Story of Dr. Dolittle has been adapted into multiple tv and theater productions as well as many successful movies. The newest version of Dr. Dolittle starring Robert Downey Jr. was released in early 2020.
*LKF- The Story of Dr. Dolittle is actually the first in a series of 15 books.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929)
A Farewell To Arms is arguably Ernest Hemingway’s most famous novel. The love story set during the first World War describes an affair between an American military man Frederic Henry and an English nurse Catherine Barkley. The two spend a summer together which is soon brought to an end when Frederic is sent back to the front. Luckily that is not the end of their story but their love affair is further complicated by alcohol, war, and a pregnancy. Spread out over a series of “books”, the tale follows the two lovers on their journey to be together. Hemingway’s novel is still hailed as a piece of wartime literature.
*LKF- Hemingway’s premier novel was banned in some countries until after the end of WWII.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie (1921)
Agatha Christie is hailed as one of the greatest mystery writers of all time. The novel that started it all was The Mysterious Affair At Styles. In her first book, Agatha introduces us to Hercule Poirot and his friend Arthur Hastings who set out to solve the murder of a woman whom Arthur was staying with. There are a handful of suspects and Poirot uses his deduction skills to answer the question of ‘ Who did it’. Full of twists and turns this novel keeps you guessing. Upon initial publication, the novel was well recieved by the public. It was this book and the character of Poirot that officially launched Agatha Christie’s iconic writing career.
*LKF- Christie and her husband named their house ‘Styles’ after her first book.
The History Honey 