Tag: History

Travel

Visit the Land of the Cathars | Carcassonne, France | Art of Saudade

Today, I am taking you to a French medieval town whose castles and walls hide a medieval secret. Inspired by this town’s stunning architecture and history, I decided to share with you the tragic story of the Cathars, the mysterious people who lived here in the 12th century.  The term Cathar Country (fr. Pays Cathare) is used to highlight the Cathar heritage and history of … Continue reading Visit the Land of the Cathars | Carcassonne, France | Art of Saudade

Unknown's avatarAndriana3 Comments
Literature, Philosophy, Poetry, Quotes

Rumi and Shams: a love story

Why should I seek? I am the same as He. His essence speaks through me. I have been looking for myself! In the heart of 13th-century Konya, Turkey, the meeting of two luminaries—Rumi, the celebrated Persian poet, and Shams, the enigmatic mystic from Tabriz—marked the beginning of a profound spiritual journey that continues to inspire seekers of truth and enlightenment to this day.Shams means sun … Continue reading Rumi and Shams: a love story

Unknown's avatarAndriana4 Comments
Culture, Education, Literature, Poetry

Portuguese literature: #1 The Lusiads by Camoes

The Lusiads by Luís Vaz de Camões is one of the most important and most representative literary works ever written in Portuguese.  If English is the language of Shakespeare, French the language of Molière and Italian the language of Dante, Portuguese is the language of Camões. More than thousand verses compose what literary critics call “the Portuguese Iliad”. What makes this epic poem so special?  … Continue reading Portuguese literature: #1 The Lusiads by Camoes

Unknown's avatarAndriana2 Comments
Culture, Latin America, Literature

Latin American authors you absolutely need to discover

Latin American literature is best known for its magical realism, its beautiful poems and tales. I recently read a collection named “América Latina cuenta”, a series of Latin American short stories called “Leer es fiesta” (Reading is fun). Since everything is fiesta in Latin America, I thought why reading (and writing) wouldn’t be, so I thought of discovering how true it is. The result? I … Continue reading Latin American authors you absolutely need to discover

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Education, Literature, Philosophy

French literature #1: Candide by Voltaire – the master of irony

18th century France: the socio-economic injustice becomes so unbearable that there are only two solutions. A revolution takes place in 1789 when an aggressive mob attacks the Bastille, and a literary revolution – the one that seems silent and pacific, yet is more powerful than a guillotine. Voltaire was one of the authors who dared to criticize every rotten detail of the French society, starting … Continue reading French literature #1: Candide by Voltaire – the master of irony

Unknown's avatarAndriana3 Comments