Royal History

My current read is this book "Royal Panoply" about the lives of Britain's monarchs. Each chapter shares a brief overview of every ruler, from the circumstances of their rise to power, to their demise, while also showing why they are remembered. These quick snippets of history make me want to read a biography of each person!


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Utopia

Utopia - an ideal state or place; perfect government and society. This is how the dictionary defines the term. Sir Thomas More took the term to a whole new level when he wrote a work on how the word could be lived out. While many of ideas More had were far fetched and unrealistic, we catch a glimpse into the struggles More was facing in 16th century England. He was faced with a changeable sovereign, Henry the Eighth, who ruled based on what was convenient for him. The people of the kingdom never knew what to expect. More longed for a perfect society where everyone was treated with respect and dignity, was able to worship as they saw fit, and no one suffered. I was intrigued while reading how many ideologies have been carried through the centuries and how many of More's struggles are still talked about and discussed today. This is not an easy read - it took me about 4 months of occasional reading. My brain needed several days between readings to process everything! In spite of this, it is worth reading and considering today.