Famous People

Shakespeare’s Missing Years

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In 1585 Shakespeare was living in Stratford-upon-Avon, and in 1592 he was working as a writer in London. What happened in the seven years in between? No one knows. This period in Shakespeare’s life is known as the “lost years” or “missing Years.”

There are several ideas as to what Shakespeare may have been up to in that time. Some of those ideas are: Shakespeare worked as an apprentice glove maker for his father; Shakespeare studied law; Shakespeare was a teacher; Shakespeare joined the army; Shakespeare went on a voyage exploring the ocean; Shakespeare travelled, perhaps to Italy. We may never know for certain.

To find out more about William Shakespeare, see the websites about  him linked from our Kids Catalogue.

Take Me Back

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Ever wondered what it was like when Captain Cook was sailing around? Want to understand Ancient Greece? History is fascinating…… battles, glorious empires, revolting revolutions, monstrous monarchs and so much more….. Chart the progress of World War 2 from inside a bunker. You will love Take me back. Read this book and become a history pro!

The Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition

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Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t just a painter: he liked gadgets, and he drew incredible flying, war and nautical machines. You can see these incredible inventions come to life at the Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition, which is on at the New Zealand Gallery of Fine Art. Check out the website – it’s got photos of the exhibition, and they look really cool.

 

Ticket prices are $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children, but there are family passes too. It’s worth a look!

Elizabeth I – Red Rose of the House of Tudor

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Elizabeth IElizabeth was born on September 7th 1533. This Royal Diary covers the year 1544 when she was 11. Elizabeth’s father King Henry VIII has just married his sixth wife – Elizabeth’s fourth step-mother! Elizabeth’s mother was Anne Boleyn. Anne married Henry in 1533 and three years later he had  her head cut off! (He married his third wife just eleven days later. What a brute!) Elizabeth has been banished to the country for most of her life but her kind new stepmother has convinced the King to let her come to Court. My favourite bit is when Elizabeth describes her ‘quite, no, very fat’ father being winched onto his horse by four servants and a crane. He is too heavy to get on his horse by himself and has ‘terrible sores’ on his legs that make them swell up. Yuck! Princess Elizabeth thinks it’s nearly as much fun as watching tournaments.

Handmaiden of Queen Cleopatra!

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Book jacketCleopatra by Adele Geras is a very interesting book! It’s written in diary style by a young girl called Nefret who went to work for Queen Cleopatra when she was 10 years old. Nefret’s diary tells of the events that happened between the years we call 41-40BCE. It’s quite gripping and I’ve learnt heaps!

 

History is very fascinating! Have a read and let me know what you think. Imagine being a handmaiden in a palace for a queen. Have you heard of Queen Cleopatra before? Do you already know anything about her?

 

 

Napoleon

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book coverI’ve just finished reading a really cool book based on the true facts of the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte, a former and famous Emperor of France. Betsy and the Emperor by Staton Rabin is very well written and very interesting! It made me want to go and read the real story that Betsy has written herself. Betsy was about 13 when Napoleon was exiled to the Island of St. Helena in 1815. He came to her parents estate ‘Briars’ to live, and she got to know him very well. This is a good read!

A Most Famous New Zealander

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Sir Edmund Hillary died on the 11th of January at the age of 88. Together with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay he was the first person to reach the summit of Mt Everest in May 1953, the world’s highest mountain, but he wasn’t just a mountaineer and adventurer. Sir Edmund will perhaps be best remembered for his tireless humanitarian work. Visit the library catalogue to learn more about Edmund Hillary, a kiwi legend…

Guy Fawkes

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Did you go and see the fireworks display on the waterfront?  It was pretty spectacular, and lots of fun, but do you know why we even celebrate the 5th of November with fireworks and bonfires?

It’s a British tradition, dating back to 1605.  A man called Guy Fawkes and his friends didn’t like the English king, James I, so they tried to blow him up, along with the Parliament buildings. Their plan was called the Gunpowder Plot. They managed to sneak 30 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar of the Houses of Parliament, but before anything exploded, they got caught, and were eventually executed for treason (that means for not being loyal to the government).
You can find more information about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot here and here, or check out the links on Kids Cat.