Word: feudality
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...medieval romance; as history, it is miserably beset with errors. Recent researches suggest that the history of the Scottish war of independence must be considerably rewritten, and in this volume a Scottish professor has manfully attempted the task. He summarily deflates the theory that Bruce was merely an ambitious feudal magnate, effectively demonstrates that his movement was fundamentally powered by a patriotic passion for "the community of the realm of Scotland." At times the book is clotted with corrigenda, but it tells the ghastly and glorious old story with new vigor and delight...
Back in 1908, Barotseland had a problem. The tiny feudal monarchy in darkest Central Africa had become the favorite chomping ground of Zambezi River crocodiles, and finally the Litunga, Barotseland's proud king, was forced to ask the British government for help. Having boned up on modern weaponry, he requested a submarine to combat the river's savage saurians-and also to provide himself with a little sport. But Whitehall was not willing to proliferate dangerous weapons. The Litunga ended up with only a dress sword, a British admiral's uniform, and a vague feeling of frustration...
...BOLIVIA has come a long way since 1948, when a La Paz newspaper carried an advertisement: "For sale-200 hectares of land, 47 hogs, 83 Indians." Since the 1952 revolution that toppled the country's feudal tin barons, the Spanish criollos, who make up a mere 15% of the country's 4,000,000 people, no longer traffic in serfs, and most Indians have their own plot of land. Yet, on the 12,000-ft. Andean plateau, where 75% of Bolivians live, the peasants still sleep on dried llama fetuses to cure what ails them, still subsist mainly...
...convince itself and the people that the war continues because of aid from China or Russia, even when the facts clearly demonstrate that the aid is marginal. The true impetus of these wars stems from the fact that the Communists have identified themselves with the protests against the proto-feudal governments that still hold power in many backward countries. The Communists support the reform movements: they do not actually create them. On principle, the U.S. only opposes the Communists. In fact, the U.S. finds itself fighting reform because the Communists are urging it. Almost as necessarily, the State Department turns...
Splendor & Slime. David Stacton has been brilliant and exasperating before this. In a dozen earlier novels he has illuminated dark corners of everything from ancient Egypt to feudal Japan, from the gory Renaissance legend of the Duchess of Amalfi to the aftermath of the assassination of Lincoln. In each, over the violent pulse and slash of ancient action broods a satanic modern intelligence. He is unique for the wit and sinewy pertinence of his asides. And until now, his story lines have also been clearly muscled, if often knotty...