Every Sunday for almost a century John Cann's family ran the famous snake show in a pit at La Perouse - an area once alive with tiger, brown and black snakes. After growing up with over 300 'pet' snakes in their backyard, John and his brother George took over the snake show from their parents in 1965. By the time John retired in 2010, he'd survived five venomous snake bites.Many of those familiar with John and his shows wouldn't know that he was also an Olympic athlete, a top state...

During World War II, Portugal played its cards uncommonly well as a neutral and subsequently became a member of NATO. This membership resulted in a modernizing of its navy and its integration into the Atlantic Alliance. By 1960, when other colonial powers were abandoning their empires, Portugal made the decision to cling to its possessions, as they had been Portuguese for over 400 years. Without them Portugal saw itself as only a small European country, whereas with them, it would be a gre...

Portuguese paratroopers or “paras” began as a stepchild of the army and found a home in the Portuguese Air Force in 1955. Initially, the post-World War Two Portuguese Army seemed to have had mixed emotions about the need for elite, special-purpose forces that operated in small units with the attendant flexibility and elevated lethality. Shock troops have been traditionally controversial, and even the vaunted military theorist Baron Karl von Clausewitz saw little point in them. The history ...

Portugal was the first colonial power to arrive in Africa and the last to leave. As other European states were granting independence to their African possessions, Portugal chose to stay and fight despite the small odds of success. That it did so successfully for thirteen years across the three fronts of Angola, Guiné and Mozambique remains a remarkable achievement, particularly for a nation of such modest means. The Portugese approach to the conflict was distinct in that it sought to combi...

In 1961, Portugal found itself fighting a war to retain its colonial possessions and preserve the remnants of its empire. It was almost completely unprepared to do so, and this was particularly evident in its ability to project power and to control the vast colonial spaces in Africa. Following the uprisings of March of 1961 in the north of Angola, Portugal poured troops into the colony as fast as its creaking logistic system would allow; however, these new arrivals were not competent and d...

Between 1961 and 1974 Portugal fought a war to retain its African colonies of Angola, Guinea-Bissau, and Mozambique. Collectively known as the Campaigns for Africa, the origin of the conflict stems from the post-World War II atmosphere of nationalism and anti-colonial fervor. The Angolan insurgency began in 1961, followed by unrest in Guinea-Bissau in 1963 and Mozambique in 1964.Portugal’s initial actions in Angola were based on foot-slogging by infantry, considered the best method...

In "Milton," John Cann Bailey delves into the intricate tapestry of John Milton's life and works, presenting a thorough analysis of the poet's profound influence on English literature and thought. The book is characterized by its erudite style, blending critical literary analysis with rich biographical context, allowing readers to grasp the complexities of Milton's themes, such as free will, divine justice, and the tension between personal and political liberty. Bailey's exploration situat...

In 1961, Portugal found itself fighting a war to retain its colonial possessions and preserve the remnants of its Empire. It was almost completely unprepared to do so, and this was particularly evident in its ability to project power and to control the vast colonial spaces of Africa. Following the uprisings of March 1961 in the north of Angola, Portugal poured troops into the colony as fast as its creaking logistic system would allow; however, these new arrivals were not competent and did ...

Following the 1952 reorganization of the Portuguese Air Force from the army and naval air arms, Portugal now had an entity dedicated solely to aviation that would bring it into line with its new NATO commitment. As it proceeded to develop a competence in modern multiengine and jet fighter aircraft for its NATO role and train a professional corps of pilots, it was suddenly confronted in 1961 with fighting insurgencies in all three of its African possessions. This development forced it to ac...

"Dr. Johnson and His Circle" by John Cann Bailey delves into the life and times of Samuel Johnson, a pivotal figure in 18th-century English literature. The book explores Johnson's relationships with his contemporaries, including writers, poets, and intellectuals who shaped the literary landscape of the period. Through detailed biographical sketches and insightful analysis, Bailey paints a vivid picture of Johnson's influence and the vibrant social milieu that surrounded him, highlighting t...

JOHNSON AS A NATIONAL INSTITUTION The name of Samuel Johnson is, of course, not the greatest in English prose, but even to-day, when he has been dead more than a century and a quarter, it is still the most familiar. We live in an age of newspapers. Where all can read, the newspaper press, taken as a whole, will be a fairly accurate reflection of what is in the mind of a people. Nothing will be mentioned frequently in newspapers which is not of some interest to a large number of readers; an...

In "Milton," John Cann Bailey presents a profound exploration of the life and works of John Milton, engaging deeply with both the historical context and literary ramifications of Milton's contributions to English literature. Through a meticulous analysis of his poetry, particularly "Paradise Lost," Bailey employs a rich, analytical prose style that balances scholarly rigor with accessibility, illuminating Milton'Äôs theological themes, innovative use of blank verse, and complex characteriz...