History is My Thing

History
Mosaic by Frederick Dielman. Located in House Members Room,
Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.
Source

The figure of History, in the mosaic's center, holds a pen and book. On both sides of her, there are tablets mounted in a marble wall with benches on either side of the tablets. The tablets contain the names of great historians. One tablet contains the names of the ancient historians Herodotus and Thucydides in brighter gold, followed by Polybius, Livy, Tacitus, Bæda, Comines. The other tablet contains the name of the modern historians Hume and Gibbon in brighter gold, along with Niebuhr, Guizot, Ranke, and the Americans Bancroft and Motley. At the foot of one of the tablets is a laurel wreath symbolizing peace, and at the foot of the second tablet is an oak wreath symbolizing war. A palm branch designating success rests against the wreaths and tablets.

The female figure on one side of History is Mythology. As the symbol of the theories of the universe, she holds a globe of the earth in her left hand. The Greeks' female sphinx to her right represents the eternally insoluble Riddle of the World. Tradition, the aged woman seated on the other side of History, represents medieval legend and folk tales. She is shown in the midst of relating her old wives' tales to the young boy seated before her. The distaff in her lap, the youth with a harp in his hand (a reference to the wandering minstrel of the Middle Ages), and the shield are reminders of a past age. The mosaic includes ancient buildings from the three nations of antiquity with highly developed histories: an Egyptian pyramid, a Greek temple, and a Roman amphitheater.

Along with the mosaic panel representing Law above the north fireplace, this mosaic was prepared in Venice, Italy and sent to the Jefferson Building to be put into place. Both mosaics were made of pieces, or tesserae, which were fitted together to provide subtle gradations in color. (Ibid)

While it is tempting to continue on immediately with the series I began with the Battle of Towton, it requires more research before I can continue. The Wars of the Roses were long and ever-so-complicated. Spanning thirty years (1455 to 1487, Towton falling near the beginning in 1461), the next big battle after Towton wasn't until 1471. Oh sure, there were lots of other things going on in that span of time, but here's the thing, I haven't done enough research to write on that time period. Without the research, the writing would be hollow.

For what it's worth, I think we'll catch up with Graham of Masongill in the future, he didn't die of his wounds, but they did leave him horribly scarred. The two commoners, Rufus and Thomas, will also return, I'm just not sure when. There is much on my plate at the moment.

Anyhoo ...

Why do I write so much about historical events (some admittedly fictitious but set in a framework of what actually was going on at the time)?

I don't recall when exactly I was bitten by the history bug, but I do know that it was early in elementary school. I knew something of history in 1st Grade because when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered "fighter pilot." At some point I had seen a picture book of World War I aircraft and the pilots that made them famous. It stuck in my mind.

So I fell in love with history, specifically military history, at a very young age. Though I never became a fighter pilot (weak eyes) my love of history never faded.

But why military history?

Another topic which caught my interest in elementary school was World War II. Our little school library had a series of books regarding that war, mostly from the American perspective, simply written, with lots of pictures.

Having three uncles (technically one was a great-uncle) who had fought in World War II made a personal connection for me. And no, none of them ever talked about the war. That fact came in handy later in life when I learned that those who would talk about it, weren't there.

At any rate, from there I "graduated" to the Napoleonic Wars. Again, it was a book, this time I think it was in junior high, on the Battle of Waterloo (which launched a lifelong fascination with that battle).

Military history has lots of drama, lots of very big personalities, lots of action. I suppose that's what attracted me as a young lad. It's only later, growing up, that I learned the cost of all that.

War is mud, blood, piss, shit, horrible pain, and the loss of life on a scale which beggars the imagination. It's filthy and perhaps the furthest thing from glory there is. Yet ...

It is also heroism, sacrifice, the willingness to die so that others might live. There must be some sort of glory in war, otherwise why do we keep doing it?

Robert E. Lee said ...

It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.

There's a fellow who knew a thing or two about war.

So there we have it, why I do this. There will be more historical fiction coming down the pike, just not right away. Some of the things I write take a lot out of me, so it takes a few days to want to do it again.

But I will.

It's who I am.