Learning Japanese at Fort Snelling during World War II

One of the first things we saw when we got to Fort Snelling was a row of storyboards posted along the sidewalk leading to the visitors’ center. One of them showed a photo of three young Asian-American women in uniform, with a quotation above them: “I was born in the states, in Nebraska, and I’m…

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Fearless: A Q & A with Cathy Curtis

I am delighted to have biographer Cathy Curtis back  on the Margins to discuss her new book, Fearless, the first comprehensive biography of Irish writer Edna O’Brien (1930-2024).  Pull up a chair and enjoy the conversation! What drew you to Edna O’Brien’s story? I had been a longtime fan of Edna O’Brien’s novels and short…

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Lady Duff Gordon, aka Lucile

I honestly thought I had written my last post on changes in ladies’ lingerie.  Then Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon (1863-1935) floated across my path in one of the romantic and subtly sexy gowns with which she wowed the fashionable world at the turn of the twentieth century. I was already familiar with Lucile’s trademark tea gowns…

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