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Oh, I have so many... The Burning of Bridget Cleary, by Angela Bourke  It's an in-depth look at a "witch-burning" in rural Ireland that happened in 1894. The basic story is that a woman was burned for being a fairy by her husband and family, but the full story is a fascinating look at Irish culture and folklore, social mores, the relationships and dynamics between Bridget, her husband, and her family, the modernization of Ireland, its relationship with England, and Oscar Wilde's infamous trial, which happened as Bridget's family went to trial for her murder. The first chapter is a little hard to get through--it's very informative, and very dry. If you're interested at all in Irish history, I highly recommend it. Dava Sobel Hat Trick: Galileo's Daughter  If Galileo's oldest child had been a man instead of a woman, he would have been Galileo's assistant, equal, and eventual heir. Instead she became a nun, but supported her father from her cell, and even ran his household when he was away. The book also goes into detail about Galileo himself, and the politics that led to his trial. The Planets  Each chapter focuses on a single theme: the chapter about Saturn uses music as a framing device, and compares the rings of Saturn to musical resonance. Longitude  Latitude--going north and south--had been used by sailors all over the world for centuries, but there are no stars that can mark one's longitudinal position. While everyone was looking to the skies for an answer, a clockmaker in England sussed out a solution. Single Girl, by Betsy Israel  Of all the Irish girls who came to the US in the 1800's, 80% of them came alone in order to get jobs, send money home, and scout out opportunities for the whole family, which followed eventually. And the name "Baxter" is a feminine variation of "Baker," from the time when your last name was your occupation; working, unmarried women took on their own last names when it became pretty clear they weren't going to get married. This book is full of crazy little tidbits, and charts public perceptions of single women from the Middle Ages to today.
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Jan 6, 2012 00:28
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| # ¿ May 1, 2024 05:58 |
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