From the category archives:

Uncategorized

A Cruel Exception

Thumbnail image for A Cruel Exception

By Dan Edelstein
The Capetian dynasty, which had ruled France since 987, was overthrown on the night of 9-10 August, 1792. The deposed king, Louis XVI, had escaped with his family to safety; with the monarchy gone, the French still had a monarch on their hands. There was little question that he should be tried for [...]

Read the full article →

Calling all UK Readers!

Thumbnail image for Calling all UK Readers!

The Wonders and Marvels Reader Review program is off to a fabulous start! So much so that we find ourselves receiving a lot of requests from many UK-based readers. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship books to the UK.
But fear not! Faithful readers across the ocean now have an alternative closer to home!
Our gracious friends [...]

Read the full article →

Babysitters, Bosses, and ‘Brats’

Thumbnail image for Babysitters, Bosses, and ‘Brats’

By Miriam Forman-Brunell
Babysitters are mischief-makers, home wreckers, husband stealers, and child abusers in American culture and conversation. Yet in girls’ less-often heard accounts that go back to the earliest days of babysitting, it is parents who have been impetuous, irresponsible, insensitive, and unappreciative employers.
Although many girls desperate for work entered the field of babysitting [...]

Read the full article →

Our Marvelous New Editorial Assistant

Please give a warm hello to Jennie S., our new Editorial Assistant for Wonders and Marvels. Jennie is finishing up a degree in Art History and will soon be headed off to Italy to sniff out the wonders for us there.
What drew you to art history?
I fell in love with art history when [...]

Read the full article →

Question of the Week

Thumbnail image for Question of the Week

We’re still trying to work out the kinks on the Question of the Week feature. By George, I think we’re close! So please indulge a duplicate post–and if you haven’t left YOUR two cents, then why not do it now?
If you could witness any historical event, which one would it be?

[Image: Jacques-Louis David, "Coronation of [...]

Read the full article →

Inquiring Minds

Wonders & Marvels has been around now for about 9 months and has developed a strong and devoted following of readers who have plenty to say.
Take a look at the “Question of the Week” feature over there on your left. This week’s question:
“If you could witness any historical event, what would it be?”
Just [...]

Read the full article →

Wit

Thumbnail image for Wit

By Holly Tucker
The seventeenth-century poet John Donne is perhaps best known for his extraordinary poem “Death Be Not Proud.”
To my mind, however, the most remarkable poem by Donne is “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.” The first stanza moves me, always, into a sublime place each time I read it. The imagery, the alchemy, the [...]

Read the full article →