So progressive! “After three centuries of Broets (I’m not sorry) hogging the big chair, Oxford University—arguably the world’s most venerable institution of higher education—has elected its first female Professor of Poetry in the form of Alice Oswald, a beloved and distinguished bard who has previously won the Ted Hughes prize, the Costa award, the Griffin prize, and the TS Eliot prize.” – LitHub
Blog
Something New From Greta Matassa
The singer’s first album since 2011 shows off the depth and layers of her career. – Doug Ramsey
The French Really Like Elton John
So much that President Macron just awarded him a Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest award for civilians. – BBC
Another Woman Accuses President Donald Trump Of Assault (And The NYT Puts That News In Its Book Section)
Though much of the online discussion featured some questions for how the paper decides what’s front-page news, it quickly shifted to the content, and, well, this became front-page news. – The New York Times
Here’s How Home Shows Get You Now: You’re Essentially Watching Unlimited-Budget Therapy
Yes, there’s even a new home redecoration show called “Unspouse My House.” What the … oh, there’s a reason for this. “If shows like The Bachelor provide a narratively satisfying, intentionally simplistic roadmap to finding true love, Unspouse My House does something similar for surviving heartbreak.” – HuffPost
St. George Gets Unrestored, And Everyone Breathes A Sigh Of Relief
The original “restoration” in a small town in Spain reminded many people of, well, Tintin. This is different, and better. – The New York Times
Amy Sherald Painted The First Lady’s Portrait, And She Also Captured This 19-Year-Old Girl In A Six-Story Mural
Sherald knew she had the mural space on a Target in Philadelphia, and she wanted to paint someone who, to her, represented the community. A young woman in an arts program provided the spark. The subject, Najee Spencer-Young: “My mom called me. She was like, guess what? … I was like, what, Mom? I’m in a job interview. I can’t be on the phone. She was just like, you up on a mural. I said, what?” – NPR
The Woman Behind A Lost Velasquez Was A Baroque-Era Feminist – And The Pope’s Lover
Now this is a worthy portrait subject: “Olimpia Maidalchini Pamphilj was the power behind the papal throne, and the reputed lover as well as sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X. Nicknamed Papessa – the lady pope – Donna Olimpia was an ardent feminist, championing Rome’s prostitutes and nuns alike.” – The Observer (UK)
Suzan Pitt, Wildly Inventive Filmmaker, Has Died At 75
Pitt “created phantasmagorical worlds in ingenious animated films that dealt with miracles, mortality, depression and women’s sexuality.” – The New York Times
Why Should We Read Beowulf In The Bathtub?
This is actually advice for parents: “We don’t read Ramona, or Junie B. Jones, or The Wild Robot in the bathtub. Those are bedtime books. Bath time is for epics, myths, and classics.” Clearly. – NPR