Joan of Arc, for Fascists and Feminists
As Catholics mark the centennial of her canonization, it’s clear that there is more than one Joan of Arc. How did that happen?
The Sinatra Movie Some Blamed for JFK’s Death
In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra starred in Suddenly, a movie that happens to depict a plot against the President.
Branding the Breast Cancer Narrative
Do those ubiquitous pink ribbons stand for women’s health concerns... or for normative concepts of beauty?
When Harriet Beecher Stowe and George Eliot Were Penpals
These 19th-century novelists might seem to have little in common. But for 11 years they wrote each other letters, forging an unusual literary friendship.
The Woman Behind James Tiptree, Jr.
James Tiptree, Jr., was a beloved sci-fi writer known for masculine prose and universal themes. Then her real identity was revealed: Alice Bradley Sheldon.
The New Sameness of Leslie Jamison’s Addiction Memoir
Leslie Jamison's The Recovering is self-aware about being the same old story, recalling the redemption narratives of Rousseau and St. Augustine.
Can We Build a Better Facebook?
Is it time to turn our back on Facebook? And if so, what social network could possibly replace it?
Branwell: The Other Brontë
It's the 200th anniversary of the birth of Branwell Brontë, who isn't nearly as famous as his three sisters but remains a key player in the family drama.
Secret Communities: Why We Confess Online
How can it be helpful to disclose secrets online? A look at sites like PostSecret, where users anonymously confess to things they've never told anyone.
When Virginia Woolf Wore Blackface
In February 1910, Virginia Woolf, her brother, and some and friends pulled a prank known to history as the Dreadnought Hoax.