Researching America in 1914   I enjoy history generally, but especially obscure history, the story of the underdog and the forgotten. So it was very exciting […]

The Julia Child fascination   Julia Child Rules is the fourth and final installment in what has been dubbed my “Kick Ass Women” series — a […]

In Memory of Maya Angelou (1928-2014)   Maya Angelou, whose landmark 1969 book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings — an unsparing account of growing […]

Paris Before Haussmann   I decided to write How Paris Became Paris for two reasons. In the first place, I wanted to set the record straight.  […]