The short answer: sexism, my friends! If you have very little patience or time, you can stop here. Otherwise, you may continue. The long, meandering answer starts momentarily. If you would like to use the restroom, you might want to do it now. I’ll wait. Take your time. Okay! Welcome back! As I’ve read more…
queens
Thursday Book Club: Jane Seymour
Thursday book club is back. Yes, I know it’s Friday! Give me a break, I had a bad day yesterday. Also making a return appearance: the six wives of Henry VIII, or Henry teh 8 as the Googlers like to say. The mnemonic device for Henry’s wives is “Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.” So…
All the News That’s Fit to Print
The New York Times has a nice story on my husband’s new project. Here are two paragraphs from the story. Paul E. Steiger, who was the top editor of The Wall Street Journal for 16 years, and a pair of wealthy Californians are assembling a group of investigative journalists who will give away their work…
Thursday Book Club: Isabella the She-Wolf
I’m going to interrupt my series of posts on the six wives of Henry VIII, or “King Henry teh 8” as he is known to Googlers. I must write about Queen Isabella, because the necklaces I named for her have just been finished. Isabella, a daughter of Philip the Fair of France, was born in…
Killer Comedy, Coat and Queen
Recently, I was lucky enough to catch part of 9 to 5 on TV. You must see this kick-ass feminist comedy about three assistants (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton) who take revenge on their chauvinist boss (Dabney Coleman). Dolly looks unbelievable in her clingy knit dresses and baby blue trench coat. I was…
Thursday Book Club: More Anne Boleyn
There are many, many Anne Boleyn books to read. I’ll give you a few more in this post. I’ve already posted my favorite ones here: Introduction to Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn, Continued First, some jewelry comments for those who haven’t read the other Anne Boleyn entries or who have questions about the Boleyn initial necklace…
Thursday Book Club: Anne Boleyn, Continued
My interpretation of Anne Boleyn’s famous initial pendant (Boleyn Necklace © Wendy Brandes 2007-2008) (Photo by John Muggenborg) I’m continuing last week’s post on Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, or “Henry teh 8” as I will now call him thanks to whoever hit my blog with that search term. In…
Thursday Book Club: Introduction to Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn Good lord! When I said I’d do a Thursday book post, I didn’t realize Thursdays were going to start coming at me so fast and furiously! When did every day become Thursday? I feel like I just did Katherine of Aragon a minute ago. Katherine was the first of the six wives of…
Thursday Book Club: Katherine of Aragon
Okay! Back to Henry VIII and his six wives. Let’s begin at the beginning with wife #1: Katherine of Aragon (sometimes spelled “Catherine”). Katherine of Aragon in her later years, via NPG London via TudorHistory.org Katherine was the youngest daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, and sister to Juana la Loca. She married England’s…
Feminism Reaches the Tower of London
Moira Cameron, a 38-year-old Scottish woman, became the first woman Beefeater today. Embed from Getty Images This makes me happy, not only because I love ground-breaking women, but also because the Yeoman Warders (“Beefeater” is a nickname for the Yeoman Warders) protect the crown jewels. And you know how I feel about jewels! As for…