How Does Couples Therapy Work?
Since the 1980s, more and more couples have sought therapy. Why is it so helpful to have that third person in the room?
The Disappointing Reality of Nineteenth-Century Courtship
For white, middle-class women in the nineteenth-century United States, courtship and marriage offered less emotional intimacy than their friendships with other women.
Why Covenant Marriage Failed to Take Off
Three states have legalized covenant marriage, which makes divorce difficult. Why didn't it stick among communities preoccupied with family values?
The Business of the Romance Novel
How romance novels—despite their decided lack of cultural clout—became big business for the publishing industry.
When Victorian Scientists Caught Ballomania
In a moment when scientists were working to fashion a credible identity for themselves, they had to decide how much showmanship was too much.
Germany’s Real-Life “Swing Kids”
Rebellious teenagers thumbed their noses at Hitler with jazz music, wild dancing, and the greeting “Swing Heil.” But how serious was their resistance?
How American Artists Have Portrayed Haiti
In the early 20th century, African American artists created work that expressed solidarity with Haiti--whether they had been there or not.
How “Pyrrhic Victory” Became a Go-To Metaphor
We call futile victories "pyrrhic," after an ancient Roman battle. But that battle may have been misinterpreted--or had a different conclusion altogether.
The Snow Day as Modern Festival
An unexpected day off work and school can take on the trappings of a religious ritual.