Mata Hari, full-time dancer and part-time spy, is executed by firing squad in Paris in 1917.


Today in 1839, Queen Victoria nervoudly proposed marriage to her 'beautiful' first cousin, Prince Albert. After a whirlwind courtship, they married in February 1840. (D'you reckon she was 'in the family way'? )


The first-evet major ballet was a five-hour spectacle, choreographed by Balthazar de Beaujoyeulx, for Catherine de Medici and an audience of 10,000 at her palace in Paris in 1581.


William Golding was disappointed when his classic novel Lord Of The Flies, published today in 1954, was chosen as an 'O'-level text. He thought it was tough enough for 'A'-level students! (I think he was a bit 'full of himself' )

DM

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The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind