Edward Costello was my great, great, great (plus more) Grandfather. He fought in the Napoleonic War in the 95th Rifles and would write a book about his experiences during it. He would later become a Yeoman at The Tower of London. If you’ve ever seen the television series Sharpe with Sean Bean, it’s a fictionalized account of a company within the 95th Rifles. If you’re interested, the book is available on Amazon.

Stalingrad. The deadliest example of urban warfare in human history. The siege of Stalingrad lasted 199 days. In that time an estimated 1.2 to 3 million individuals lost their lives. The battle of Stalingrad would alter the war in Europe entirely. When Russian forces met at Kalach on November 23, 1942, the fate of the Third Reich was sealed. From that point forward the Germans would primarily fight a rear guard action which would ultimately result in the Russians taking Berli

Long before the modern advent of long format television series, The Jewel In The Crown, Elizabeth R, The Duchess of Duke Street, and I Claudius were mass forerunners in that medium. The Jewel in the Crown stands out given its highly widespread and in-depth story. It is a highly interesting insight into Anglo-Indian life prior to independence. It’s an absolute must watch.

Slavery’s origins date back to before the existence of written human history. That says something about us as a species. There are numerous examples of the existence of slavery in what were deemed enlightening societies. For example, it’s difficult to read Cicero when 30% of Rome’s population were slaves which were the backbone of its economic power. Epictetus is obviously an exception given he was born a slave. Closer to home, slavery absolutely existed. The Haida also dealt