“The decorative arms race finally caved in under the sheer absurdity of Augustus the Strong (1670–1733), the Elector of Saxony who, with money pouring in from his hideous porcelain factory and from defrauding the Poles (whose king through chicanery he… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image
“From the German point of view the military misery came from Louis being someone who, like many unattractive people, spends too much time staring… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image
“all of whom radiated level-headed competence, physical fitness and pride in appearance, and lived on a different planet from the one defined by general… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image
“It would be interesting to know, for example, at what point it became decisively clear to everyone concerned that unicorn horns were in fact… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image
“but I remained bouncy and immune throughout – by the early eighteenth century the Electors’ tombs are entirely out of control and indeed strongly… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image
“The bags full of Turkish noses sent by the Uskoks from Senj to Charles V in 1532 may have been one of those gifts… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image
“The decorative arms race finally caved in under the sheer absurdity of Augustus the Strong (1670–1733), the Elector of Saxony who, with money pouring… — Simon Winder Copy Share Image