The Tangled Language of Jargon
What our emotional reaction to jargon reveals about the evolution of the English language, and how the use of specialized terms can manipulate meaning.
The Medieval Castle That Pranked Its Visitors
At Hesdin, in France, the idyllic beauty of the grounds met the sadistic slapstick of the castle’s “engines of amusement.”
The French King Who Believed He Was Made of Glass
King Charles VI of France was the most exalted representative of a rash of "Glass Men," who appeared throughout Europe between the 15th and 17th centuries.
A Novel Defense of the Internet
Novel reading was once regarded as an idle occupation, just as Internet use is now.
Cisgender Actors in Transgender Roles: The Theatrical Roots of The Danish Girl
If Eddie Redmayne wins an Oscar for The Danish Girl, he will be the most recent in a string of cisgender actors lauded for portraying a transgender figure.