Of Ye Olde Tymes And Men In Tights

There's nothing like losing yourself in a good historical romp.  One with sword fights and men in tights acting all manly and swoony.

Or maybe that's just me.

Either way there's something about getting lost in the past, whether through a book or a TV show that is immensely addictive.   Even better with the TV shows you get even more swoonish appeal with the likes of  Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston and Henry Cavill to name just a few.

And if you want to know more about some of these real-life people and the times they lived in there is also a ton of non-fiction for you to wade into.  True stories of scandals and mysteries and love affairs and deaths that will make you realise that the past was definitely not an era of the staid and strait laced.

It almost seems fitting then that there are 2 events coming up in Auckland that celebrate this - The Pop-Up Globe Theatre which will be showcasing a series of Shakespearean productions and The James Plays, which is screening as part of the Auckland Festival.  So why not check them out.

After all you can never have too much of a man with a sword...

Sneak Peak: Poldark:Or Brooding Men In Tight Breeches

Tall, dark and brooding .  It's a thing.  A very valid thing.

And if it's your kind of thing then the new version of Poldark is just what you've been waiting for.

There are men in tight breeches giving manly stares and women, who act all damoselling (it's a word, at least in my world it is) and wear dresses where breathing is most likely a problem.  There's also love lost and love found and treachery and hard times and of course the beautiful Cornish scenery which is swoon worthy all on its on.

And then there is Aidan Turner, he of Being Human and Hobbit fame, who is most definitely swoon worthy if tall, dark and brooding is your thing.  Throw in a couple of shirtless scenes (and yes there are some) and I'm sold.

And if you find that waiting week by week is just a bit too long to go for your fix then you'll be very pleased to know that there is a whole series of books about the Poldark family and their friends starting with Ross Poldark by Winston Graham.  And even better there is the original series, Poldark,which we have at the library on DVD.

Swoony feels all round.