He was seventeen years old and already wore the red. Cardinal Raffaele Sansoni Riario was the grand-nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. Although still studying canon law in Pisa, he had been invested by the Holy Father with the diplomatic powers of a Papal Legate. It was under the Pope’s authority that he was in Florence.... Continue Reading →
Niccolò Machiavelli’s the Prince Someone once told me that Machiavelli’s little treatise, the Prince, was “baby’s first political theory.” It was a lame attempt to convince me not to read it, in leu of what, I never found out. Ultimately, I’m glad I disregarded such ignorant advice. The Prince is probably one of the most... Continue Reading →
Sun Tzu’s Art of War Sometimes research can be overwhelming. If you’re a writer who finds themselves intimidated by ancient texts, made easily bored by history, or just simply aren’t interested in a specific research topic, you’re not alone. But the simple fact is, as writers, we have a responsibility to relay interesting worlds, ideas,... Continue Reading →
The Salon at Elfland 