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    51 Results with the "Culture" genre


    • Chapter 21 – “Like Master Like Man.” Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 21 – "Like Master Like Man." begins with a wry commentary on the frustrations voiced by many housewives about the perceived decline in servant quality. These complaints often overlook the complexities of domestic service and focus instead on minor inconveniences or personality flaws. The irony lies in how much is expected of servants with so little reciprocated in understanding or regard. Unlike in earlier times when household staff were viewed almost as extended family, the modern arrangement,…
      Culture • Relationship • Society
    • Chapter 20 – “The Treadmill” Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 20 – "The Treadmill" begins with the weary voice of a woman crushed beneath the weight of her daily obligations. Her letter outlines a life dictated by endless engagements—sporting events, committee meetings, fundraising luncheons, music lessons, and obligatory dinners—all leaving no space for reflection, rest, or even a moment with a book. Her schedule, far from being leisurely or fulfilling, reads more like the itinerary of a public figure than that of a private individual. This exhausting…
    • Chapter 19 – The Grand Prix Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 19 – The Grand Prix captures Paris at its most theatrical, where society’s performance reaches its final act beneath the June sun. Held on the second Sunday of the month, the Grand Prix isn’t just a horse race—it’s a ceremonial finale to the Parisian spring season. Originating in 1862 through the collaboration of Napoleon III and prominent railway companies, the event was strategically designed to rival England’s Derby, offering substantial prizes to draw crowds and boost rail travel.…
    • Chapter 18 – A Rock Ahead Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 18 – A Rock Ahead focuses on the growing social gap between American husbands and their wives, particularly in how responsibility and daily concerns are divided. The narrator, while strolling near Twenty-third Street, sees a constant flow of women indulging in shopping, absorbed by displays and bargains. This pattern, he argues, illustrates a troubling disconnect—many women appear unaware of their household’s financial reality, treating shopping not as necessity but as recreation. Rather than…
      Culture • Relationship • Society • view
    • Chapter 17 – Royalty At Play Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 17 – Royalty At Play invites readers into the curious world of European monarchs vacationing along the sunlit Riviera, a stretch of coastline that offers both indulgence and escape. Royals, once bound tightly to the rituals and responsibilities of court, arrive here seeking refuge from public expectation. Drawn by the sea and the promise of anonymity, kings and queens mingle with high society in places like Cannes, Mentone, and Monte Carlo—not to renounce their thrones, but to shed their titles…
    • Chapter 16 – A Holy Land Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 16 – A Holy Land traces a heartfelt journey through a landscape once sacred to the author's childhood, now reshaped by the hands of progress. This region, near Grant’s tomb, affectionately called the “Holy Land,” wasn’t just a patch of ground but a canvas for youthful wonder and familial memory. It brimmed with stories—some imagined, others historical—that gave texture to long summer days. From a wooden house said to have hosted Washington to the sweeping view of the Hudson and…
      Culture • view
    • Chapter 15 – A False Start Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 15 – A False Start offers a critical examination of the imbalance in cultural refinement between American men and women, particularly within elite and international circles. While American women are praised for their grace, tact, and adaptability in cultured environments, the same cannot be said of their male counterparts. The author attributes this disparity to a national focus on material achievement at the expense of broader intellectual development. This skewed value system, cemented during…
      Culture • Society • view
    • Chapter 14 – The Small Summer Hotel Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 14 – The Small Summer Hotel explores an enduring American preference for modest seasonal lodgings, even among those with the means to choose greater comfort. The author marvels at how well-to-do individuals willingly trade personal space and luxury for barebones accommodations in small New England towns. These temporary residences, with their squeaky beds, mismatched furniture, and shared washrooms, offer little beyond simplicity and a vague promise of escape. The rooms, often lacking in both…
    • Chapter 13 – Our Elite and Public Life Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 13 – Our Elite and Public Life raises pressing concerns about the absence of capable and cultured individuals from American public service. Despite possessing the education, resources, and influence to guide national policy, many among the country’s social elite shy away from governmental roles. One central reason is geography—unlike England or France, where power, commerce, and culture converge in one city, the United States splits its centers. Washington, D.C., holds political authority,…
    • Chapter 12 – “Seven Ages” of Furniture Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 12 – "Seven Ages" of Furniture opens with a humorous but sharp observation of how American couples evolve in their tastes for home décor, often without knowing exactly why. At the beginning of their married life, most young couples furnish their homes with mismatched items—gifts from relatives or leftover pieces with no aesthetic cohesion. These early arrangements feel more functional than intentional, reflecting a stage of life defined by practicality rather than taste. There is little room…
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