Author: J. A. Macfarlane • Page 1/1

J. A. Macfarlane is among other things a curmudgeonly scribe, a Shakespearean scholar, and a persnickety stylist with a particular penchant for alliterative prose. He ekes out a living as an editor and proofreader in both French and English, and is always willing to consider taking on new projects, particularly interesting ones.
Giuseppe Verdi drawn by Giuseppe Boldini (1886)
A Taste of Italy
In the mid-1800s, Italy was consumed by two parallel fights: one to rid itself of Austrian domination (a holdover fro... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 14 May 2021
Fifteen Years Forsaken
A true story of castaways on a lost and hostile scrap of land, all thanks to some meddlesome Frenchmen and terrible luck. Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 28 Apr 2021
The Comforts of the Throne
In the days when hunting was a more common pursuit than it is today, those involved in the job cultivated a taxonomy... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 18 Mar 2021
Haydn conducting a string quartet
Haydn and Seek
It can be tough to give the boss a hint, but it was even more difficult back in the days of domestic servitude when t... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 25 Jan 2021
Popeye with a can of spinach
Buzzing on the Green
Popeye the Sailor is well known for his penchant for spinach, and the popularity of the character led to generations... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 12 Jan 2021
Apparent Homicide
The self-castrating devotees of Inanna in ancient Mesopotamia are evidence enough that religious fanatics can demonst... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 19 Oct 2017
The Making of the Archetypal Englishman
Jonas Hanway (1712–1786) may be the most contradictory character ever involved in the formation of British culture. O... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 06 Jul 2017
Do Not Go Lulled Into That Good Night
While today’s vision of the conductor is that of the be-tuxedoed individual standing in front of an orchestra holding... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 17 Nov 2016
The Sack of Champagne
It is a cliché that Shakespeare ranks among the great inventors of the English language, a commonly-believed fallacy... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 01 Sep 2016
The Cantaloupe Peril
Serving your melon with a layer of prosciutto around it may simply seem like one of the many lovely contributions of... Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 01 Jul 2016
Cry Havoc, and Let Slip the Spuds of War
How a pharmacist tricked the French people into adopting the potato to forestall famine. Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 10 Apr 2014
Night Takes Rook
The rise and fall of a life-saving lighthouse built on a scrap of rock by a determined yet under-qualified builder. Written by J. A. Macfarlane • 04 Sep 2012