EUROPA RECONDITA

AN ITINERANT JOURNAL ABOUT HISTORY, CULTURE AND BEER

  • Kerry, or the problem with genocide

    Kerry, or the problem with genocide

    On 16 November 1846, John Browne was walking from Tralee in County Kerry, Ireland, to his home north of Dingle. In Tralee he had tried to gain admittance into the poor house, but the place was already full, and Browne had no choice but to walk the 30 miles back home. On the way, he…

  • Mols, or stupid, lazy, inbred peasants

    Mols, or stupid, lazy, inbred peasants

    In Denmark, there is a story about the villagers of Mols in Jutland. Fearing that war was about to break out in the country, they decided to hide their most treasured possession: the church bell. A handful of men set out to sea in a rowboat to sink the bell, where it could be retrieved…