“The sisters were surrounded by a gaggle of doting admirers. Winnie Lee, the fiery, red-haired, hazel eyed beauty, was directly behind Fanny, sitting in an oversized chair between the fair-haired Betsy and the dark-haired Molly. There were nearly half a dozen men at their feet.” –Masque of Honor There are various accounts of just how […]
Monthly Archives: April 2020
American Romanticism: 19th Century Literature & Ideology
The 19th Century was an incredibly rich time in American history. In the wake of the American Revolution and the War of 1812, the United States was still at the early stages of forming its own identity and a culture of its own. This time period, historically remembered as the Romantic Era, greatly affected American […]
Living History: Coton Farm
When Thomas Lee (1690-1750) of Stratford Hall, first saw the land where the Potomac River and Goose Creek met, he made arrangements to have 800 acres of that land set aside for himself. Thomas Lee and his wife, Hannah Harrison Ludwell (1701-1750) had eleven children. Two of their sons, Francis Lightfoot Lee and Richard Henry […]
Big Lies in a Small Town Book Review
For this month’s book club, I selected Big Lies in a Small Town, by Diane Chamberlain. After the seriousness of last month’s pick, I wanted a lighter story for April. Why I chose this book? I was looking for a “gentle” read this month; a story that was easy to fall into and kept me engaged. […]
The Nickel Boys Book Review
For this month’s book club, I selected The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehouse. Why I chose this book? Released in 2019, The Nickel Boys was named by Time Magazine as one of the ten best books of the decade. Additionally, Colson Whitehead is a Pulitzer Prize winning author. Coming off the heels of Black History Month, I wanted to […]
Influenza Pandemics in the 19th Century
Throughout human history, epidemics have had enormous impact on the civilizations of the world. From great plaques to disfiguring disease, mankind has been at constant war with these invisible enemies. During the 18th century, there were thirteen severe epidemics throughout the world. In the 19th century, there were twelve. Historians and virologists estimate that eight […]