In a hopeful turn, both printed books and bookstores are thriving—and are suprisingly, recession-proof.
A new site launched by The New School—Historia, on hidden histories of women (yes!).
A contest to begin deciphering scrolls from Herculaneum—a library saved in time. Cannot wait to see what treasures are uncovered.
Fun facts about women from the always winsome McSweeney’s…
An article on Trotula, a woman contributor on a treatise from the twelfth century on medical and obstetric advice. However, this is what happened (surprise—erasure is deliberate):
In the 1560s, however, male academics began to suggest that an actual woman named “Trotula” did not exist. Alternative theories emerged, crediting a hypothetical man named “Trottus” or proposing that the name came from the French verb 'trotter', to run about. Casper Wolf, who edited the Trotula texts in the sixteenth century, erased the name Trotula and credited them to "Eros" instead, inventing a male persona. He also edited the grammar from feminine to masculine to agree with the name change. The original Trota became a ghost story, erased from canonical history by her translators.
You can still read Trotula’s work in print.
Loved Jenny Odell’s How to do Nothing, and so looking forward to her new book Saving Time. An early read by a new mother is a telling take on what a tyrant the measurement of time can be.
And since Gimli apricating was so loved, a few more pics of him watching tv, begging for cashews, and just being a grumpy existential goof.
And felt the need and assurance of this poem this week:
Eagle Poem To pray you open your whole self To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon To one whole voice that is you. And know there is more That you can't see, can't hear; Can't know except in moments Steadily growing, and in languages That aren't always sound but other Circles of motion. Like eagle that Sunday morning Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky In wind, swept our hearts clean With sacred wings. We see you, see ourselves and know That we must take the utmost care And kindness in all things. Breathe in, knowing we are made of All this, and breathe, knowing We are truly blessed because we Were born, and die soon within a True circle of motion, Like eagle rounding out the morning Inside us. We pray that it will be done In beauty. In beauty. —Joy Harjo
I’m not even surprised about the erasure of Trotula. Threads of history suggest women’s work and ideas when it shaped a significant part of a field, have always been appropriated and represented as the genius of a man. And Gimli gently sitting there observing the world is my spring mood! I love this good boy!
Really liked this sentiment from Steve Parsons in the Guardian article on the Herculaneum Scrolls:
“I love to wonder what’s in there and I love to imagine the human beings who made these things,” Parsons said. “It’s an incredible moment to have been the person to unveil some of this text. Even if it’s only one or two characters, that’s something a human hand wrote nearly 2,000 years ago and went unseen until I saw it on my computer screen, sitting at my desk or on my couch. For me, that’s an unforgettable moment of connection across time.”
Also, it is impossible to post enough photos of Gimli. 😍