'Disappearances' by Elizabeth Gaskell and the Detective Police Controversy

Submitted by Erin Letourneau on

'Disappearances' was a short essay first published by Elizabeth Gaskell in the June 1851 publication of Charles Dicken's journal, Household Words. The essay explored the disappearances of 6 men throughout the nineteenth century and how their stories could have played out differently if the London Detective Police was formed earlier. While Gaskell acknowledges the skills of the new Detective Police, she coherently addresses the concerns she has over the type of change they will constitute in the political sphere, as well as in literature.

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat is an ancient volcano and is the main peak of a group of hills that form Holyrood Park.  It is located to the east of Edinburgh. It is mentioned in legends surrounding King Arthur like Y Gododdin. 

It is mentioned in Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland by Dorothy Wordsworth when she says, "We set out upon our walk, and went through many streets to Holyrood House, and thence to the hill called Arthur’s Seat, a high hill, very rocky at the top, and below covered with smooth turf, on which sheep were feeding." 

Appropriation of Kohinoor Diamond & Timur Ruby

Submitted by Zahra Kanji on

Thousands of years ago, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond was found sifted from India’s Alluvial mines. It means “Mountain of Light” in the Persian language. Not much is known about where the Timur Ruby was found but it is actually a spinel. It is associated with Timur, the founder of the Timurid empire. Like the Koh-i-Noor diamond, it exchanged hands multiple times. It isn’t definite where the diamond or ruby came from, but for both, the first written record comes from 1628, when Mughal Ruler Shah Jahan commissioned a magnificent throne to be created.

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