Eggplant.place

352d

"If the fifteenth century discovered America to the Old World, the nineteenth is discovering woman to herself."
"Woman's Political Future" Speech

American writer Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born #OTD in 1825.

She was an abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, public speaker, and writer, one of the first African American women to be published in the United States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Ellen_Watkins_Harper

Books by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/345

#books #literature #poetry

Portrait of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

In: Women of distinction : remarkable in works and invincible in character
Year: 1893
https://archive.org/details/womenofdistincti00scru/page/n40/mode/1up?view=theater

Harper is dressed in modest, formal clothing, typical of the period. Her attire reflects her professional status and her role as a speaker and activist. She is shown in a high-necked dress with simple accessories, emphasizing her seriousness and professionalism.

Harper is often portrayed with a straight, upright posture, which adds to her aura of authority and poise.

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354d

English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday was born #OTD in 1791.

Faraday discovered that a changing magnetic field could induce an electric current in a wire, laying the foundation for the concept of the electromagnetic field. He formulated the fundamental laws of electrolysis; he was the inventor of the Faraday cage and he discovered the Faraday effect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Faraday

Books about or by Michael Faraday at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Michael+Faraday&submit_search=Search

#books #science #physics #chemistry

Faraday holding a type of glass bar he used in 1845 to show magnetism affects light in dielectric material.

Michael Faraday. Photographed in the 1850s by Maull and Polyblank as part of their 'Living Celebrities' series. The Faraday volume was published in October 1857.

In this photograph, Faraday is captured with a formal yet dignified demeanor, dressed in traditional Victorian attire—a dark suit with a high-collared white shirt and cravat, reflecting the fashion of the mid-19th century. His face bears a thoughtful expression, with slightly furrowed brows, suggesting the intensity and curiosity of his intellectual life. Faraday's hair is carefully styled, typical of the period, with his receding hairline and sideburns prominently visible. His expression is calm, but his eyes convey sharp intelligence and deep concentration.

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351d

"My hidden agenda in the book club is to get people excited about reading stories about members of the #LGBTQ+ community who are different than them."

I'm pleased to share my first story for The Advocate, about the joy of #queer folks reading together: https://www.advocate.com/news/lgbtq-book-clubs

#books #bookstodon #Austin #Texas #LGBTQIA+ #culture #Richmond #Virginia @bookstodon

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362d

#OTD in 1922.

Sinclair Lewis's satirical novel Babbitt is published by Harcourt, Brace & Company.

It is a satirical novel about American culture and society that critiques the vacuity of middle class life and the social pressure toward conformity. The controversy provoked by Babbitt was influential in the decision to award the Nobel Prize in Literature to Lewis in 1930.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(novel)

Babbitt at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/1156

#books #literature

First edition cover of the novel Babbitt (1922), by Sinclair Lewis

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362d

Italian poet, writer, and philosopher Dante Alighieri died #OTD in 1321.

Dante is known for establishing the use of the vernacular in literature at a time when most poetry was written in Latin, which was accessible only to educated readers. His use of the Florentine dialect for works such as The New Life and Divine Comedy helped establish the modern-day standardized Italian language.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri

Books by Dante Alighieri at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/507

#books #literature #poetry

Andrea del Castagno, Dante Alighieri, ne Ciclo degli uomini e donne illustri, affresco, tra il 1448 e il 1451, Galleria degli Uffizi, Firenze

The painting of Dante Alighieri by Andrea del Castagno, part of the Ciclo degli uomini e donne illustri (Cycle of Famous Men and Women), is a fresco created between 1448 and 1451. It is housed in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence. The portrait honors Dante as one of the most prominent literary figures in Italian history.

In this fresco, Dante is depicted as a tall, solemn figure, wearing a traditional red robe with a matching cap (a zucchetto), which was associated with scholars and intellectuals. The red color symbolizes Dante's prominence and the honor bestowed upon him in Florence's cultural history.

Dante’s face is dignified and contemplative, reflecting his status as a thinker and poet. His face is slightly turned to the side, emphasizing his prominent nose and thoughtful gaze.

He is shown standing in a stately posture, holding a book in his hand, most likely representing The Divine Comedy. The book signifies his contribution to literature and his intellectual achievements.

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352d

American novelist, essayist, and short story writer F. Scott Fitzgerald was born #OTD in 1896.

He is most famous for his novels that capture the Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties, a time of economic prosperity, cultural change, and excess following World War I. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s, Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Scott_Fitzgerald

Books by F. Scott Fitzgerald at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/420

#books #literature

Fitzgerald in 1929

Nickolas Muray - Variations of this photo, both black-and-white and colorized, were published in a variety of newspapers and magazines throughout the year 1929. This scan is sourced via ElectricLiterature.com.

Portrait of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald used in a year-long print advertising campaign for the Woodbury Soap Company, in which Fitzgerald featured as one of three judges—the two others being actor John Barrymore and newspaperman Cornelius Vanderbilt IV—who were purportedly selecting the winners of monthly beauty contests.

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350d

#OTD in 1905.

Albert Einstein publishes the third of his Annus Mirabilis papers, introducing the special theory of relativity, which used the universal constant speed of light c to derive the Lorentz transformations.

There are some controversies on the question of the extent to which Mileva Marić contributed to the insights of Einstein's annus mirabilis publications

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annus_mirabilis_papers#

On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66944

#books #science #physics

Einstein, Albert (30 June 1905). "Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper" [On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies] (PDF). Annalen der Physik (in German). 17 (10): 891–921.

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353d

"The mind is an iceberg—it floats with only one-seventh of its bulk above water."

Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Sigmund Freud died #OTD in 1939.

He was the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for evaluating and treating pathologies seen as originating from conflicts in the psyche, through dialogue between patient and psychoanalyst, and the distinctive theory of mind and human agency derived from it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud#

Sigmund Freud at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/391

#books

Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud, signed by the sitter ("Prof. Sigmund Freud")
Max Halberstadt - https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=6116407

The photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud, taken by Max Halberstadt around 1921, is an iconic representation of the founder of psychoanalysis. The half-length image captures Freud holding a cigar, a frequent motif in images of him. This particular photograph is unique due to Freud's personal inscription, which reads in English, "Prof. Sigm. Freud with kind regards 1921." This use of English and the title "Professor" is notable since most of Freud's correspondences and inscriptions were in German.

The photo is a gelatin silver print, measuring 225 x 165 mm, mounted on a card. It was part of the Wesley Marans Collection and was later auctioned at Christie's.

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353d

#OTD in 1846.

Astronomers Urbain Le Verrier, John Couch Adams and Johann Gottfried Galle collaborate on the discovery of Neptune.

There is evidence that Neptune was seen and recorded by Galileo Galilei in 1613, Jérôme Lalande in 1795, and John Herschel in 1830, but none are known to have recognized it as a planet at the time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_of_Neptune

Neptune at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=neptune&submit_search=Search

#science #astronomy #books #literature

New Berlin Observatory at Linden Street, where Neptune was discovered observationally.

Carl Daniel Freydanck - Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam

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350d

English poet, playwright, critic, Nobel Prize laureate T. S. Eliot was born #OTD in 1888.

Eliot first attracted widespread attention for his poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" from 1914 to 1915, which, at the time of its publication, was considered outlandish. It was followed by The Waste Land, "The Hollow Men", "Ash Wednesday", and Four Quartets. He was awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Books by T. S. Eliot at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/599

#books #literature #poetry

T. S. Eliot, photographed one Sunday afternoon in 1923 by Lady Ottoline Morrell.

Eliot is captured with a contemplative, somewhat somber expression. His face appears serious and introspective, a mood reflective of his complex, often dark literary themes.

Eliot is dressed formally in a suit, typical of the style of an educated, professional man of the 1920s.

The photograph is relatively straightforward, with Eliot seated in a relaxed but poised manner. The simplicity of the composition focuses attention on Eliot’s face and presence, allowing his personality to take center stage. Lady Morrell's photographic style often emphasized the character of her subjects, and this portrait reflects that approach.

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353d

English author, screenwriter, and producer Elinor Glyn died #OTD in 1943.

She was specialised in romantic fiction, which was considered scandalous for its time, although her works are relatively tame by modern standards. She popularized the concept of the it-girl, and had tremendous influence on early 20th-century popular culture and, possibly, on the careers of Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson and, especially, Clara Bow.

Books by Elinor Glyn at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1762

#books #literature

English novelist and scriptwriter Elinor Glyn (1864-1943).

Glyn is typically seen in fashionable, often elegant attire, befitting her status as a trendsetter and icon of glamour in the early 20th century. Her clothing often includes luxurious fabrics, lace, and intricate details, reflecting the high-society circles in which she moved.

Glyn's expressions often convey a sense of confidence and poise, with a subtle smile or a gaze that indicates self-assurance and intelligence.

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350d

Spanish philosopher, novelist, and poet George Santayana died #OTD in 1952.

The Sense of Beauty (1896), with a foreword by Arthur Danto, was his first book on aesthetics written in the United States. The Life of Reason recounts the “imaginative” path by which cultures and societies have been shaped. The great philosophical work in which he expounds his ontology and epistemology is The Realms of Being, which establishes four “regions” or domains of reality.

#books #literature #philosophy

George Santayana, a Spanish American philosopher and writer.
Artist: Samuel Johnson Woolf (1880-1948). Time magazine.

Santayana’s expression in this portrait is composed and reflective, highlighting his philosophical demeanor. His face is slightly aged, with fine lines that add to the sense of wisdom and contemplation, emphasizing his long career in both philosophy and literature.

Santayana is dressed in formal, yet simple attire, often a suit, which was typical for intellectuals of his era.

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361d

#OTD in 1915.

P. G. Wodehouse's story "Extricating Young Gussie" is published in The Saturday Evening Post (U.S.). It introduces as characters Jeeves and Bertie.

It was published in the United Kingdom in the January 1916 edition of The Strand Magazine. It was included in the collection The Man with Two Left Feet (1917).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extricating_Young_Gussie

Extricating Young Gussie at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7471

#books #literature

Illustration by Alfred Leete for "Extricating Young Gussie", a short story by P. G. Wodehouse, published in the Strand Magazine in 1916.

The illustration likely features the key characters of the story, including Bertie Wooster and his formidable Aunt Agatha. In typical Leete style, the characters are depicted with exaggerated expressions and body language, conveying the comedic tone of the story.

Bertie Wooster, known for his bemused expressions and leisurely demeanor, is probably illustrated in his usual aristocratic attire, such as a suit or evening wear, which contrasts with his relaxed, carefree nature.

Aunt Agatha, who is always commanding and strict, might be depicted with a stern expression, furrowed brow, and upright posture, illustrating her dominant and intimidating personality.

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361d

"Nothing is given so profusely as advice."
Maxim 110.

French author François de La Rochefoucauld was born #OTD in 1613.

He was a French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs which portrays the callous nature of human conduct, with a cynical attitude towards putative virtue and avowals of affection, friendship, love, and loyalty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_La_Rochefoucauld_(writer)

Books by François de La Rochefoucauld at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/5749

#books #literature

Portrait of François de La Rochefoucauld
By Théodore Chassériau — Numérisation personnelle Catalogue Joconde : entrée 000PE007029 www.photo.rmn.fr

In the portrait, François de La Rochefoucauld is depicted with a calm and contemplative expression, his face showing a blend of nobility, intelligence, and introspection. His features are finely rendered, with a prominent nose, sharp cheekbones, and expressive eyes that seem to convey the sharp wit and wisdom for which he is known. His long, flowing hair frames his face, cascading over his shoulders in a style typical of the 17th-century French aristocracy.

La Rochefoucauld is dressed in elegant clothing, befitting his noble status. He wears a dark, richly textured coat, possibly made of velvet, with a large white lace collar or cravat that adds a touch of formality and refinement.

La Rochefoucauld’s posture is upright yet relaxed, suggesting both dignity and ease. His gaze is direct, but not confrontational, as though he is deep in thought, reflecting the introspective nature of his writings.

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361d

"I have not told half of what I saw."

Italian merchant and explorer Marco Polo was born #OTD in 1254.

He is best known for his extensive travels through Asia, particularly for his time spent at the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler and founder of the Yuan dynasty in China. His journeys were recorded in the book The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo

Marco Polo at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/3613

#books

16th-century portrait of Marco Polo.

In the portrait, Marco Polo is depicted as a dignified, bearded man, embodying the image of a seasoned traveler and scholar. His facial expression is serious and thoughtful, hinting at the vast knowledge he gained from his travels.

Polo is shown wearing clothing that signifies both wealth and travel. He is often dressed in a long, flowing robe or tunic, typical of Renaissance depictions of learned men or nobles, though it might also reflect the influence of the exotic lands he visited.

Marco Polo is portrayed in a dignified pose, either standing or sitting and the furrowed brow and focused eyes indicate thoughtfulness, as if he is contemplating the vast knowledge he gained during his travels across Asia.

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345d

New Digital Library: Prado Museum Offers Free Online Access to More Than 11,500 Publications From the Late 15th to Early 20th Centuries

The Prado Museum’s new Digital Library, developed with funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), offers free access to 5600 issues of magazines and 6000 books specialized in artistic literature and published between the late 15th and early 20th centuries.

by Gary Price @infodocket

https://www.infodocket.com/2024/09/20/new-digital-library-prado-museum-offers-free-online-access-to-more-than-11500-publications-from-the-late-15th-to-early-20th-centuries/

#books #libraries

La Biblioteca Digital es la puerta de acceso al fondo antiguo especializado en literatura artística que conserva la Biblioteca del Museo del Prado. Contiene los objetos digitales de unos 5600 números de revistas y 6000 libros publicados entre finales del siglo XV y principios del siglo XX.

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351d

British artist, writer, poet, playwright, novelist, painter, designer of lamps, and bohemian Mina Loy died #OTD in 1966.

Loy's poetry is known for its non-traditional structure, free verse, and exploration of the female experience, such as Lunar Baedecker (1923). In 1914, while living in an expatriate community in Florence, Italy, Loy wrote her Feminist Manifesto. Loy was also a visual artist, working in painting, sculpture, and design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mina_Loy#

#books #literature #poetry

Photograph of Mina Loy

Anonymous - Becoming Modern: The Life of Mina Loy (Introduction), carolynburke.com

Loy is typically depicted with a thoughtful, almost enigmatic expression, emphasizing her intellectual and artistic depth. Her gaze often appears direct and intense, conveying her confidence and unconventional spirit.

Loy’s attire tends to reflect her modernist aesthetics—simple yet avant-garde, blending elegance with a rejection of traditional norms.

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344d

In October 1819.

In Britain, Richard Carlile is convicted of blasphemy and sent to prison for publishing Common Sense, The Rights of Man and the Age of Reason by Thomas Paine (which criticised the Church of England).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Carlile

Books by Richard Carlile at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/39431

Books by Thomas Paine at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/91

#books #literature

A George Cruikshank cartoon attacking Paine; The caption reads: "The Age of Reason; or, the World turned Topsy-turvy exemplified in Tom Paine's Works!"

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344d

In October 1843.

Anna Atkins begins publishing Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, a collection of contact printed cyanotype photograms of algae, "by placing the unmounted dried-algae original directly on the cyanotype paper" to form the first book illustrated with photographs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Atkins

New York Public Library provides scans of 285 pages of its copy online:
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/photographs-of-british-algae-cyanotype-impressions#/?tab=navigation&scroll=3

#books #botany #photography #womeninSTEM

A cyanotype photogram made by Atkins which was part of her 1843 book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions

A photogram of Algae, made by Anna Atkins as part of her 1843 book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, the first book composed entirely of photographic images. At http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?419608

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Cyanotype photogram of Wood Horsetail from the 1853 book Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Ferns by Atkins and Dixon

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347d

"...beneath the rule of men entirely great, the pen is mightier than the sword..."

#OTD in 1856.

English actor Henry Irving makes his stage début at Sunderland as Gaston, Duke of Orleans, in Bulwer Lytton's play Richelieu.

The play has become best known for its line "The pen is mightier than the sword", spoken by the Cardinal in Act II, Scene II.

Books by Edward Bulwer Lytton at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/761

#books #literature #theatre

Published by Saunders and Otley - https://archive.org/details/richelieuorconsp00lyttiala

Richelieu by Lytton, 1st edition title page

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347d

#OTD in 1914.

Arthur Machen's short story "The Bowmen" is published in The Evening News (London).

In this story, written and published during World War I, the ghosts of archers from the battle of Agincourt, led by Saint George, come to the aid of British troops. This is cited as the origin of the Angels of Mons legend.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Machen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_of_Mons

The Angels of Mons: The Bowmen and Other Legends of the War at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14044

#books #literature

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347d

#OTD in 1909.

Franz Kafka's short story "The Aeroplanes at Brescia (Die Aeroplane in Brescia)", based on a real event, is published in the Prague newspaper Bohemia, as the first description of airplanes in German literature.

It describes an airshow near the Italian city of Brescia, which Kafka saw with two of his friends (Max and his brother Otto Brod) during their journey to Italy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aeroplanes_at_Brescia

Full transcription here:
https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Die_Aeroplane_in_Brescia

#books #literature

Part of its publication in Bohemia, 29 September 1909.

Franz Kafka - Bohemia, 29. September 1909, Morgen-Ausgabe. 82. Jahrgang, 269. Ausgabe

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349d

#OTD in 1962.

Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is published, inspiring an environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The book documented the environmental harm caused by the indiscriminate use of DDT, a pesticide used by soldiers during WW2. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting the industry's marketing claims unquestioningly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Spring

#books #environment #nature

Cover of the first edition of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, published in September 23, 1962.

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358d

#OTD in 1886.

The "Symbolist Manifesto" is placed in the French newspaper Le Figaro by a Greek-born poet Jean Moréas, who calls Symbolism hostile to "plain meanings, declamations, false sentimentality and matter-of-fact description," and intended to "clothe the Ideal in a perceptible form" whose "goal was not in itself, but whose sole purpose was to express the Ideal."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolist_Manifesto

Symbolism at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Symbolism&submit_search=Search

#books #literature

Henri Fantin-Latour, By the Table, 1872, depicting: Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, Léon Valade, Ernest d'Hervilly and Camille Pelletan (seated); Pierre Elzéar, Emile Blémont, and Jean Aicard (standing)

Un coin de table, painting by Henri Fantin-Latour, 1872, musée d'Orsay.

The painting shows a group of men seated around a small, round table in a quiet, somber interior, with little decoration in the background. The scene appears intimate and contemplative, focusing on the figures rather than the environment. The table is partially set with a few items, hinting at a casual, intellectual gathering.

The group consists of eight men, including Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, and Émile Blémont, representing the vibrant literary culture of the time.

Verlaine, positioned near the center, appears contemplative, while the young Rimbaud, seated at the far end, gazes intensely, his presence adding a layer of intrigue to the scene.

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358d

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful."
The History of Rasselas

British author, linguist & lexicographer Samuel Johnson was born #OTD in 1709.

Johnson’s most famous achievement is his Dictionary, which was the first major comprehensive dictionary of English. It became the standard reference work for decades and influenced the way dictionaries were compiled.

Samuel Johnson at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/297

#books #literature

Johnson (1775) showing his intense concentration and the weakness of his eyes; he did not want to be depicted as "Blinking Sam". This unique portrait showing his nearsightedness is in the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.

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