In 1976, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich published an essay in American Quarterly about the lives of ordinary women in colonial New England. She remarked that “well behaved women seldom make history”, and from the pages of a scholarly journal, a pop culture slogan emerged. This new book examines the lives of three decidedly extraordinary women: the fifteenth-century writer […]
Bio & Memoir
Remembering Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007)
A moment, if you will, for a favorite writer. Considering that I’ve always gravitated toward realistic fiction, it’s unusual that I unhesitatingly name A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and Many Waters as absolute favorites. If memory serves, Meg Murry (L’Engle’s admitted alter ego) and her unusally gifted brother hatch a plan to save their […]
The Beautiful, Neglected Work of Cecelia Beaux
Cecilia Beaux (1855-1942) was quite well-known in her time as a brilliant, prize-winning painter. Yet, modern memory seems to favor her contemporary Mary Cassatt. This gorgeous collection of her work, published to accompany a traveling exhibit, will certainly spark interest. Beaux was born in Philadelphia and studied with several notable artists as a young adult. […]