Link to Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-history-a-dynasty-to-die-for/id1641568639?i=1000584587895
Dan Jones begins this podcast in the year 1152. Eleanor of Aquitaine is on the run. The introduction caught my attention. After reeling me in and having me wondering why Eleanor is on the run, Jones goes back in time to outline the events that led up to her decision to run.
The podcast is relatively short, so there isn’t much time for a deep dive into all of the events covered in the podcast. It does provide an entertaining listen. While listening I would liked to have had one sentence added at some point in the story to outline what would have happened to Eleanor if she hadn’t run away. Would she have been sent to a convent, murdered, locked away in prison? I would also be curious to know how long after the marriage ended Eleanor decided to run or were they still married when she made her ride to freedom?
The episode ends on a cliffhanger making me want to continue listening to the next episode, which I will probably do right after I write this. After listening to this podcast my biggest complaint is that I wish it was about 5 minutes longer. Overall this is an entertaining podcast that I have added to my library.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Sydney Carton is intelligent, capable, compassionate, self-destructive, and deeply dissatisfied with his life.
His potential is evident, but his accomplishments are limited. His habits are troubling, but his character contains admirable qualities. His reputation is unfavorable, but Lucie recognizes something in him that others have overlooked.
Perhaps the greatest mistake we can make when judging another person is to assume that who they are today represents everything they are capable of becoming. Yet there is an equally dangerous mistake: assuming that possessing the potential for greatness is equivalent to achieving it. Potential without action remains unrealized. Character without conviction may fail when tested. Reputation without substance is little more than appearance.
The challenge is not simply to possess admirable qualities or to be regarded favorably by others. It is to develop the discipline, courage, and integrity necessary to become the person we are capable of being. When ...
