It is 1942 and Maria Alves is a microfilm expert currently working at the New York Public Library.  She learns of a plan, put together by President Roosevelt, to send librarians and microfilm experts to Europe to search through public records for information that might prove useful to war effort. Eager to be a part Continue reading

Eben Elliot, the associate curator at the Guggenheim Museum, is planning to bring a Hilma af Klint (not Klimt!) show to New York.  Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is recognized as the artist who first produced abstract paintings despite the recognition typically to men by art historians. In his research, Elliot discovers that Hilma was Continue reading

This is the story of one of the most famous Vikings, Harald Sigurdharson (aka Harald Sigurdsson, aka Harald Hardråde) who will become Norway’s King Harald III. We begin with teenage Harald, fighting alongside his brother, King Olaf II, known as Olaf the Stout. There is an uprising against King Olaf due to his devotion and Continue reading

I am always interested in fiction that relates to music so when I saw this book in a local used book store, I bought it. It’s been on my shelf for years, but while on an extended vacation, this was one of the books I decided to bring along. We are in Austria in the Continue reading

WARNING – POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD When Leonardo da Vinci was just past the apex of his career and Michelangelo Buonarroti was still just a young. upstarting sculptor looking to make a name for himself, the two both lived and worked in Florence, Italy at the same time. Michelangelo is still in awe of the famous master Continue reading

Dr. James Miranda Barry was born in 1789 in Cork, Ireland. Dr. James Miranda Barry was born female, and named Margaret. But Margaret was tutored by family friends and she had shown to have a brilliant mind. But what can a woman in 18th Century Ireland do? To pursue an education, Margaret begins to change Continue reading