My basic research tools

I just updated my "Research Tools" page (see tab above). Let me know what you think.

Historical search engine in the works: research heaven!

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This BBC article on a search engine that's being created for historians is very interesting. Even as the Net is now, my feeling is that historical research has experienced one of the most significant benefits. A search engine that links resources would be amazing.

As I read the article, I feared learning that the project would be limited to those in the academic communities, so I was delighted to read:

Once complete ... the search system will make it much easier for anyone, be they academics, amateur genealogists or curious citizens, to get at all relevant sources. 

Bravo! 

Adventures in Pdf land

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I continue to be astonished by the research that's possible on the Net. I've been reading, on computer, a pdf of a rare book, Racine et Voisin, that I was able to download from the Internet Archive. 

The author quotes an entry in Registre de La Grange. La Grange worked for Molière's troupe, and dutifully recorded daily tallies (and much else). The date given for the entry in Racine et Voisin seemed wrong according to my notes. A short Net search revealed that La Grange's notes were available on Open Library — a searchable version, no less, and I was quickly able to verify my suspicions.  

There is a wealth of information in La Grange's notes. With respect to this particular event, Molière's troupe had invested a considerable amount in producing the young and aspiring playwright Jean Racine's tragedy, Alexander, and were thus — according to La Grange's note — rather surprised to discover that the same play was also being performed by a rival theatrical troupe ... and that this had been Racine's doing.  

Jean Racine (see image above) was a genius, a writer of great power, but he was also, to be blunt, a rat. 

To see Registre de La Grange, go to: http://bit.ly/LaGrangeRegister (You may have to join Open Library, first.)

To see Racine et Voisin by Marc de Monifaud, go to: http://bit.ly/Racine_et_Voisin

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