Becoming a Father Again
Exciting news + a last call!
Hey all,
Evan here. I want to give you a heads up that this week, James and I are taking a break from INVICTUS — but for the best possible reason.
Yesterday, James and his wife welcomed their third child into the world, a beautiful baby girl! So in celebration of this new blessing (and to give James a bit more time to sleep) we’re taking this week off.
We’ll be back next week with a tale of fire and fury from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompei. It’s a great way to ramp back up, so keep an eye on your inbox next Tuesday!
In the meantime, if you want to leave a word of congratulations to James, you can do so either by commenting here on Substack, or by replying to this email — either way, I’ll make sure your messages get to him.
Last Call for Summer Retreats 🚨
We’re getting close to the cutoff for our retreats in Rome and Bergamo this summer, so if you haven’t yet submitted your application, be sure to do so now.
The details for each retreat and how to apply are below. Check them out and apply today if you’re interested — we can’t wait for you to join us in Italy this summer!
Leisure: The Basis of Culture
June 9 - 13, 2025
“Leisure, it must be remembered, is not a Sunday afternoon idyll, but the preserve of freedom, of education and culture, and of that undiminished humanity which views the world as a whole.”
The first of our Italian retreats is an in-person walk through philosopher Josef Pieper’s seminal work, Leisure: The Basis of Culture. For one week, O.W. Root of Necktie Salvage and I will take you to the hidden gems of Northern Italy so you can experience firsthand what it means for leisure to be the basis of culture.
You’ll get to explore everything from philosophy and fine dining to the art of cocktails, conversation, and classical music. Each day we’ll study part of Pieper’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture so that by the end of your trip, you’ll have learned how to properly unwind, enjoy the finer things in life, and embrace the adage “less is more.”
Leisure is a form of that stillness that is necessary preparation for accepting reality; only the person who is still can hear, and whoever is not still, cannot hear.
Such stillness is not mere soundlessness or a dead muteness; it means, rather, that the soul’s power, as real, of responding to the real — a co-respondence, eternally established in nature — has not yet descended into words.
Leisure is the disposition of perceptive understanding, of contemplative beholding, and immersion — in the real.
-Josef Pieper
The majority of the retreat will take place in Bergamo (watch this video to check it out), but we will also visit Milan and Lake Garda (pictured above). To apply to join us, click the button at the end of this email.
The History of Rome as Told by its Heroes
June 23 - 27, 2025
“Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her.”
Our second Italian retreat — and the first official INVICTUS expedition — tells the story of Rome through the lives of the men who built her.
Each day, James a.ka. Western Exile (Roman historian and resident of ten years; co-author of INVICTUS) and I walk you through each of the city’s five main ages — the ancient, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and post-revolutionary periods.
Along the way, you’ll learn from the lives of men like Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, Constantine, Pope Gregory the Great, Raphael, Michelangelo, the “Warrior Pope”, Bernini, Caravaggio, and many more.
But importantly, you won’t just absorb the history of the Eternal City — you’ll get to experience firsthand the work, art, and architecture of the men who built her.
“Only in Rome is it possible to understand Rome”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Italian Journey
On top of all this, you get the absolute best culinary experience imaginable. While most would be content to give you the food that “impresses Americans, but not locals”, James will leverage his decade of experience in Rome to make sure you eat and drink like a true romano.
There’s no other retreat that gives you this all-encompassing of a dive into the history of Rome and the men who made her great. To apply to join us, click the button at the end of this email.
Pricing & How to Apply
(Members of our Praetorian Guard get 5% off on retreats, and priority selection for attendance!)
Pricing for each retreat will vary based on both overall demand and your personal rooming preferences — UPDATED: $4,250 is the average so far.
This price covers lodging, activities, and all meals (including house wine 😉), and excludes transport to and from the retreat. Where many cut costs by skimping on quality, we promise to give you only the best — the best local food, drink, and experiences that Rome and Bergamo have to offer!
To join us, click the button below to apply now. To ensure we only review serious applications, you will be asked to make a 100% refundable deposit of $50 upon application:
I hope you can join us for one of our 2025 summer retreats! Feel free to reply to this email if you have any questions about the tours or your application.
See you in Italy,
-Evan
Congratulations!
Congratulations James!