Tag Archives: American Writers

[Alternative Muses] Writerly Style: Seven Reasons to Love Anita Loos’ Look

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“One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.”-Oscar Wilde

Seven Reasons to Love Anita Loos’ Look:

#1: She rocked one of the best hairstyles of the Roaring Twenties. The tousled bob with bangs was her thing, and she wore it with few variations for decades. With that hair, she could walk into any 2014 shindig and look more modern than anyone else.

Anita Loos rocking her famous locks

Anita Loos rocking her enviable locks. 

#2: She knew how to wear a scarf without looking like an idiot or an octogenarian. We all know how hard that is, right? For some reason, the thought of wearing a scarf as an accessory intimidates a lot of American women, myself included. Here’s Anita, proving that a scarf worn tied around the neck can be chic and fun: Continue reading →

Happy Birthday, Dearest Emily!

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Happy Birthday, dearest Emily!

Emily Dickinson

Birthday Girl Emily Dickinson (Born 10 December 1830).

FIVE EVERYDAY FACTS ABOUT EMILY DICKINSON:

EMILY ELIZABETH WAS A MIDDLE CHILD, SANDWICHED BETWEEN OLDER BROTHER (WILLIAM) AUSTIN AND YOUNGER SISTER LAVINIA (NORCROSS).

SHE WAS KNOWN FOR HER SIMPLE WARDROBE OF MOSTLY WHITE CLOTHING.

EMILY HAD A PET NEWFOUNDLAND DOG NAMED CARLO.

SHE WAS A GIFTED BAKER.

EMILY WAS A DEDICATED AND WELL-EDUCATED GARDENER.

“I am out with lanterns, looking for myself.”-Emily Dickinson

[Alternative Muses] Coming and Going: Willa Cather/Thornton Wilder Mashup

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“Let your fiction grow out of the land beneath your feet.”-Willa Cather (born on 12/7/1873)

Willa Cather, 1912

Willa Cather, 1912

“If you write to impress it will always be bad, but if you write to express it will be good.”-Thornton Wilder (died on 12/7/1975)

Thornton Wilder, Yale graduation photo, 1920

Thornton Wilder’s very serious looking Yale graduation photo, 1920

Voices from the Grave #19: Ernest Hemingway

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This week’s Voices from the Grave is a bit different: Hemingway isn’t reading anything. In fact, we don’t hear his voice at all. It’s :53 of stock footage of the American writer, with a voice-over by a nameless narrator. It is interesting in its own time-capsule-esque way.

The sportsman we have seen standing by the giant fish, the fallen lion.

A Year in Books/Day 112: Louise Bogan A Portrait

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  • Title: Louise Bogan A Portrait
  • Author: Elizabeth Frank
  • Year Published: 1985 (Alfred A. Knopf)
  • Year Purchased: 2000
  • Source: The Book Harbor, Westerville, Ohio
  • About: Louise Bogan was the fourth Poet Laureate of the United States. That’s probably news to all but the most passionate poetry fans. This needs to change*; although more than a quarter century old, this biography is a fine start for anyone wanting to learn more. This fascinating, meticulous study was my crash course on the life and work of the New England poet. Prior to that, she was merely a name and a footnote to the more famous greats of twentieth century literature. Whatever your approach to the subject-as a fan of poetry, literary or social culture, history, women’s studies-you will find much to admire in the sad yet triumphant voice and life of this too-neglected talent.
  • Motivation: At the time I bought this book, I was just beginning to write about one of my now-favourite subjects: female wordsmiths of the first half of the last century.
  • Times Read: 1
  • Random Excerpt/Page 5: “In 1884, when May was only nineteen, a son, Charles Joseph, was born. The years between his birth and Louise’s are a blank, except that in between there was a second boy, named Edward, born nobody knows what year, who died at the age of four or five months.”
  • Happiness Scale: 10
    Louise Bogan (1897–1970), US-american Poet

    Louise Bogan (1897–1970), US-american Poet (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    *Nameberry.com recently listed their choices for the best poet-based names for 2012 babies. First on the list? Bogan.