51 Results with the "Culture" genre


    • Curiosities of Parish Registers Cover
      by LovelyMay Curiosities of Parish Registers explores the fascinating history and quirks of English parish records, which serve as invaluable documents tracing centuries of social, religious, and cultural evolution. Initially established through Cardinal Ximenes’ initiative in 1497, parish registers became a formal requirement in England under King Henry VIII in 1538. These registers, which document baptisms, marriages, and burials, have been critical in preserving historical data, offering crucial insights for…
    • Chapter 24 — Changing Paris Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 24 – Changing Paris presents a city caught in a moment of transition, where its physical and social structures are being reshaped ahead of the 1900 Exhibition. Iconic landmarks like the Palais de l’Industrie, once a stage for elegant gatherings and major exhibitions, are being torn down. In its place, a grand avenue will stretch from the Champs Elysées to the Esplanade des Invalides, drawing a visual line to Napoleon’s tomb—a deliberate nod to legacy amid change. Yet this act of honoring…
    • Chapter 3 — Contrasted Travelling Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 3 – Contrasted Travelling contrasts the meaningful and immersive travel experiences of the past with the superficial nature of modern travel. Fifty years ago, a trip abroad was a rare, significant event that required careful planning and preparation. Travelers would seek advice from experts, read extensively, and even make wills before embarking on their journey. Upon reaching their destinations, they would write long letters home, sharing the details of their adventures with friends and family,…
    • Chapter 35 — Living on your Friends Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 35 – Living on Your Friends begins by examining the timeless concept of enjoying a luxurious life without actually possessing the wealth to fund it. Drawing inspiration from Vanity Fair, it reflects on how, even in modern society, there are those who thrive through the generosity of others, skillfully positioning themselves in the lives of the wealthy. These individuals may not own a single estate or fortune of their own, yet their days are filled with opulence, thanks to well-connected…
    • 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…
    • Some Japanese Bogie-Books Cover
      by LovelyMay Some Japanese Bogie-Books stand as eerie relics in the shadowy world of collectors, with their origins deeply entwined with supernatural lore. These mysterious volumes are not simply books; they are believed to harbor dark spirits and curses, passed down from ancient folklore. In the bustling streets of Tokyo, where antique bookshops abound, there exists a niche community of collectors drawn to the allure of these haunted manuscripts. They seek not just rare editions or beautifully bound volumes, but books…
    • Chapter 25 — Contentment Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 25 – Contentment explores a fundamental tension in American identity: the belief that anyone can rise to greatness, paired with the restlessness this belief creates. From the earliest days of the republic, the ideal that a farm boy could become president has inspired generations. Yet this dream, while empowering, also plants a quiet dissatisfaction in the hearts of many who believe that their current position, however stable or honorable, is somehow insufficient. This cultural wiring encourages…
    • Chapter 4 — The Outer and the Inner Woman Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 4 – The Outer and the Inner Woman examines the growing trend of shoplifting among well-educated and seemingly refined women, attributing it to a cultural fixation on outward appearances rather than inner substance. The author suggests that this behavior is a result of rapid and immature prosperity, where the desire for luxury and social display overtakes the pursuit of genuine quality or comfort. In societies where wealth is often equated with value, fashion becomes a central focus, with women…
      Culture • Society • view
    • Chapter 36 — American Society in Italy Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 36 – American Society in Italy explores the myth and eventual unraveling of a unified American social circle in Italy, particularly in cultural hubs like Rome and Florence. Once imagined as a thriving expatriate community, it is instead revealed as fragmented, fluid, and more aspirational than substantial. The author recalls a distant past—roughly forty to fifty years earlier—when Rome harbored a quiet colony of American creatives and intellectuals, people who sought inspiration in the ruins…
    • 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
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