Hotties from History

HFH writer Georgia as Mercedes d’Acosta

Joan of Arc

Our very own Nikola Tesla

Charlotte Corday

Antoinin Artaud - Hotties from History dinner party edition.

Hotty from History #32 - Évariste Galois

Young, short and tragic lives are irresistible to any hotty historian, especially if the person in question was French, incredibly handsome and in possession of amazing intellect.

Évariste was born in a small village outside Paris, 22 years after the French revolution, and was brought up during a time of massive upheaval. His father, a strong liberalist and mayor of his hometown influenced Galois’ strong republican views- Galois was said to be seen in the village reading out his witty rhymes scrutinising the Monarchists.

Galois rebelled at school after rumours spread that it was to be handed back to the Jesuits (a powerful and scheming Catholic society). The battle between the Republicans and the Monarchists was still raging at this time, and any influence from the Priests and Jesuits would shift emphasis towards the restoration of the monarchy again, and many pupils were expelled after refusing to comply to the new power within the school. Galois, however was not expelled, yet seeing the expulsion of many of his peers would have reinforced his strong Republican views.

Galois mathematical ability soon outstripped that of his tutors, and he turned to educate himself from books written by the the most accomplished mathematicians of the day, and at the age of 17 he published his first paper in the respected journal Annales de Gergonne.However this would see a departure from a potentially bright mathematical career into a life of dissolution after his father’s tragic suicide following a smear campaign by Jesuits to dishonour his name, writing libelous letters to members of his constitution, and signing them as his father.

Following the death of his father at the hands of those loyal to the monarchy, and teamed with Galois possession of rashness and a quick temper, the following years were spent in anti-monarchist riots, and in jail.

Galois had a fatal affair with Stéphanie-Félicie Poterine du Motel, who was engaged to one of the finest shots in France Pscheux d’Herbinville, when d’Herbinvelle found out about the affair, he challenged Galois to a duel.

On the evening before the confrontation, which Galois believed to be his last, he wrote all his mathematical theories and thoughts onto paper in a desperate attempt to pass on his knowledge which he had accumulated, to be given to all the greatest mathematicians in Europe. The paper, which can be found today, is flooded with desperate remarks and references to a ‘woman’.

On Wednesday 30 May 1832, they fought, and d’Herbinville shot Galois in the stomach and left Galois to die, he was found later by his brother and taken to a hospital, however he died a day later.

Galois’ life was tragic, short and very turbulent, however, throughout this Galois was consistently a hotty. This is a moral for all our readers; you can still fight against the machine; you can avenge your father’s death; you can be a mathematical genius and you can enter an ill-advised affair with the fiancée of one of the best shots in Paris - but, you can still be a hotty.

Tom x

Hotty from History #31 - George Villiers

It is really hard to write a post about George Villiers, as each time I researched into him, I was confused as to whether he should be a gay icon or whether he was a scheming schemer who used his good looks in exchange for unlimited power. However, the underlying factor of Villiers was that he was extremely handsome and had an awesome moustache.

George Villiers was King James’ favourite, and it was for this reason that Villiers is considered the most rewarded courtiers in European history, as James bestowed numerous Lordships and titles upon him, much to the envy of the Jacobean court. It is for this reason why it is speculated that George was cunning in his consolidation of power in James’ court, however the relationship shared between Villiers and King James, (however is is deemed controversial, yet by no means ambiguous) was sweet, and little messages exchanged between George and James have survived to this day, showing the couples deep affection for each other, “Christ had John, and I have my George.”, responded by Villiers’ “I desire only to live in the world for your sake”. The thought of these two men sweetly doting on each other is a very pleasing thought.

So, not only did George Villiers have an amazing beard, he was also one of the most attractive men of the Jacobean age. And also very affectionate. Hotty.

Tom x

Hotty from History #31 Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud (20 October 1854 – 10 November 1891)

• Poor little Rimbaud was abandonded by his daddy and bought up by his mother, a strict Catholic. It does seem to be a hallmark of hotties from history: somewhere down the line they will be betrayed and abandoned.
• One of his teachers said about him: He has eyes and a smile which I do not like. He will come to a bad end. In any case, nothing banal will germinate in that head. He will be the genius for good or evil!” Damn, I wish teachers still did school reports as cool as this! Also, his stuffy school teacher Mr Perette might not have liked them, and his lover Verlaine might have discribed them as “disturbing pale blue”, but they are so striking they seem to be a beautiful god given reflection of his artistic brilliance. Like a little divine warning sign: ‘This man has incredible eyes. He is a genius and therefore probably a fuckwit’.
• Rimbaud did a lot of running away. He ran away to Paris, Belgium and Brussels. One time he tried to get to Paris without paying the full price and got sent to prison. Oh, to have been the lucky chap who shared his cell! I bet he had supremely interesting conversation. Not to mention, an aesthetically agreeable exterior.
• After the Commune broke out in Paris, Rimbaud went a little wild and decided to give in to the ‘disorder of the senses’. Good chap. Apparently he was rude and untidy. It shouldn’t be attractive, but I can imagine seeing him sprawled out drunkenly in some dingy smoke filled Parisian bar, and it is an image I enjoy.
• He had an affair with another great French poet, Paul Verlaine. They had a tumultuous relationship, what with Verlaine being married with a child, but I bet they had splendidly interesting conversations. At the height of their relationship, they spent some time living in Soho, London. He later became a bit of an adventurist and did a lot of travelling, but I like to think that our very own Soho was his top spot to be…maybe.
• He was shot in the wrist by Verlaine who was in a jealous rage. Our hotties do tend to have particularly dramatic love lives…poets and artists today are probably quite fortunate that pistols and revolvers are not so readily available as they were back then!
• He died before the age of fourty…still spendidly handsome, quite isolated, and not particularly well loved. Many, many years later, he was depicted in a film by Leonardo di Caprio. Not my personal idea of a hotty, but, still, pretty impressive.
• So there you have it. French, “very handsome of a rustic and wily beauty with an indolently daring attitude”, and not forgetting of course, a very good poet.

-Georgia