The Raven, in his sleek, black glory, is a prophetic symbol and the holder of all ancestral memories. He can never be silenced, not by man and not by the gods. If we have anything to learn from the great uncertainties of the past, the Raven can surely teach us. History’s stark truths are poignant and often terrifying, illuminating the undeniable shadows that live within us all. What has occurred before our time is real—it has power and influence—and the Raven delivers its harrowing message with fearless intention. What we choose to learn from it is up to us.

Although these stories are factual, they are also a work of literary nonfiction. They depict real people and real events, seen through the eyes of a dark romantic. As a movement, this 19th-century philosophy captured the delicious notion of romanticism but with a decidedly darker, more cynical tone. While the literary Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau were busy noting the idealistic and divine qualities of human existence, the Dark Romantics were working to illustrate the visible realities of decay, sorrow, and human imperfection. All the tenets of this movement are not only visible throughout history, but they are the fiber that binds them—and the Raven’s thematic mission.

Although both schools of thought viewed nature as a deeply spiritual force, capable of evoking pure rapture through its expression, the Dark Romantics focused more on the somber and mysterious elements of the deep woods, the roiling ocean, and the jagged mountain peaks—all of which revealed the terrifying, undeniable truth about the Earth’s power over human mortality. The Dark Romantics know, unlike most people alive then or now, that the human condition is innately flawed, marked by evil, and invariably destined for failure. And through this belief, the Raven alights upon shadowy moments in history to illustrate this undying certainty with painful clarity and an eye on redemption.

While these stories do not intentionally stray beyond historical parameters, some creative license has been taken with images and context. These articles are stories first and history lessons second. That said, these renderings strive for accuracy and a fair depiction of the events, people, and places being described. If you feel I have researched or recorded something in error, taken a noticeably limited perspective, or offered an inadequate representation of a historical element, please feel free to contact me with the specifics. I will certainly take your thoughts into consideration—it keeps me honest and helps me learn. Please remember, this blog is not an academic site, but rather a labor of love intended to promote the joy of learning, the Dark Romantic agenda, and the inherent value of history. Oh, and it’s damn entertaining too.

My sources vary from history books to fiction to blogs to scholarly essays. I am careful to cross reference everything once before committing it to writing. If you find fault with my research and feel compelled to question my sources, I urge you to dig around on your own and see what you find. I am not obligated to prove my worth as a historical writer. Given the amount of work I take on every, single day, it is not possible for me to hold your hand and walk you through my findings;  I simply don’t have the bandwidth for that degree of accountability—or frankly, the interest. The Raven does not take money from vendors or advertisers. I am the sole writer, editor, and financial supporter, often working late into the night with children nearby. So, if you see an error, a typo, a debatable choice in vocabulary, or a shortcoming of any kind, try not to be surprised… it happens, even to the greatest historians in the world.

This writing comes from a benevolent and curious place where suggestions are welcome but insults are not tolerated. History, with all of its significance, can be an emotionally-charged topic, especially because most interested people consider it to be theirs in some capacity and representative of what they were taught or have grown to believe. That, or they feel fiercely protective or defensive about a certain subject because of its religious implications. Such spiritual passions run deep, as we know. While these beliefs can bring up emotions like anger or confusion in readers who don’t agree with my erudite rendering, it’s important to remember history is both an academic and subjective discipline. It always demands some degree of individual perspective and interpretation. If you have greater expectations for the depiction of history, I suggest you start a blog of your own. And for those of you with no complaints, I like your style!

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