Blog - SAXON HENRY

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Presidential Residences in France

Anyone who follows me here knows that an addiction to large, gorgeous coffee table books is alive and well, and I have a new favorite…

Cultural Explorations Literature Travel

The Utopia of Sir Thomas More

Saxon Henry April 21, 2022 Anne Boleyn Cardinal Woolsey England Hans Holbein the Younger Henry VIII House of Tudor Medieval Times Royal Courtiers Tudor Era

This essay exploring the physical utopia of Sir Thomas More is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in…

Architecture Books Historical Design

The Hotel de la Marine Restored

Saxon Henry February 25, 2022 architectural storytelling decorating history design narratives France French aristocracy House of Bourbon Louis XIV Louis XV Louis XVI Marie Antoinette monarchs Paris

In his foreword to The French Royal Wardrobe: The Hotel de la Marine Restored, Philippe Bélaval, the President of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, illustrates how painstaking…

Creative Writing Literature Travel

Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan

Saxon Henry February 10, 2022 books of letters cathedrals to explore Dante Alighieri famous writers Italy poetry Rome

This essay channeling Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan is included in my book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature similar literary…

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Seasons at Highclere

Saxon Henry January 7, 2022 England grand residences Great Britain historic castles nobility

Movie sets that have inflamed the imagination with fairy-tale encounters taking place during the great eras in which luxury ruled are plentiful. But most of…

Architecture Art Books Cultural Explorations Garden Design Historical Design Mythology

An Invitation to Vaux-le-Vicomte

Saxon Henry October 21, 2021 architectural storytelling Baroque Era France French aristocracy grand residences Greek deities House of Bourbon Louis XIV Madame de Sevigne monarchs nobility Royal Courtiers

In 1641, the 26-year old parliamentarian Nicolas Fouquet, who was then the Master of Requests at the Parlement of Paris, acquired the viscounty of Vaux…

Books Creative Writing Literature

Treasures According to Petrarch

Saxon Henry July 20, 2021 Beinecke Library Dante Alighieri famous writers libraries Medieval Times Petrarch philosophers poetry Renaissance

This essay defining what Petrarch saw as treasures is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature…

Books Cultural Explorations Travel

Bookstores

Saxon Henry May 9, 2021 American poets England Ernest Hemingway famous writers London Lost Generation New York City novelists Paris

I’ve had a long and passionate love affair with bookstores since I can remember. Some of my finest hours have been spent perusing shelves to…

Art Nature Writing Travel

Winslow Homer In Situ

Saxon Henry February 17, 2021 authenticity nonfiction writers painters

This essay examining the pragmatic attitudes of Winslow Homer is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book…

Books Cultural Explorations Travel

Tatty Wreckage in Buenos Aires

Saxon Henry December 15, 2020 American poets famous writers keeping diaries novelists

This essay about my frame of mind in Buenos Aires is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in…