stuff is cool

Have you ever been interested in so many things at once that you don’t know what to do with yourself? I’d like to research the identity of the “Man in the Iron Mask.” I’d like to finish reading John Keel’s Our Haunted Planet. I’d like to finish reading Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norell. I’d like to read Antonia Fraser’s book on Charles II. I can’t read so many things at once.

I am intrigued by the theory that The Man in the Iron Mask (which was actually a velvet mask) was the Duke of Monmouth, Charles II’s illegitimate son who led a rebellion against James II in 1685. The theory is that James II couldn’t have his own nephew killed, and so sent him to prison in France, but he had to be hidden for fear of being recognized. It doesn’t seem likely but since I was already curious about the man’s identity, now I am even moreso. Monmouth is a romanticized character in my personal view of history.

Ah, this is actually my kind of night: reading, reading, reading. Too bad it’s Friday and I feel like we should be out. Whatever, this is very enjoyable.