Harriet Taylor Mill: A Fighter of Women's Rights

Day of Birth:         October 1807

Place of Birth:       Walworth, south London

Day of Death:        3 November 1858

Place of Death:      Avignon, France

            Taylor was an English philosopher and early advocate for women's rights, who is often overshadowed by her husband, the philosopher John Stuart Mill.

            Harriet Hardy was the daughter of a surgeon. Educated at home, she enjoyed writing poetry. In 1826, she married John Taylor, a prosperous merchant and together they had three children. The Taylors became active in the Unitarian Church and in 1830 a Unitarian minister introduced Harriet to the philosopher John Stuart Mill. Harriet and John met for the first time in 1830. Their meeting was arranged by the leader of Harriet's Unitarian congregation, the Reverend W. J. Fox. There is no way to know whether Fox anticipated that passionate feelings would spring up between John and Harriet, but whatever his intention, the two young people did very quickly fall in love. Their conduct during the long period in which Harriet was married to John Taylor would be scandalous by contemporary standards, let alone Victorian ones. Their affair was to last for more than 20 years, and was generally tolerated by Harriet's husband. From 1833, the couple largely lived apart, enabling Harriet to see Mill more easily. Their behavior scandalized society and as a couple they were socially isolated. But they inspired each other intellectually and often worked together.

            Mills' 'The Principles of Political Economy' (1848) has a chapter attributed to Harriet called 'On the Probable Future of the Labouring Classes' in which she argues for the importance of education for all in the future of the nation, both economically and socially. Her essay, 'The Enfranchisement of Women' (1851), considered one of her most important works, was published under Mills's name. The essay strongly advocated that women be given access to the same jobs as men, and that they should not have to live in 'separate spheres' - views more radical than those of Mills himself. “The Enfranchisement of Women,” published in The Westminster Review in 1851, is the best candidate for a significant philosophical work authored primarily or even solely by Harriet (H. T. Mill 1998, 51ff). Occasioned by a series of feminist conventions in the United States, it makes a case not merely for giving women the ballot but for “equality in all rights, political, civil, and social, with the male citizens of the community” (H. T. Mill 1998, 51). This essay contains many of the same lines of argument as The Subjection of Women, written by John and published in 1869, although it expresses a somewhat more radical view of gender roles than the later essay (see Rossi 1970, 41ff). It maintains that the denial of political rights to women tends to restrict their interests to matters that directly impact the family with the result that the influence of wives on their husbands tends to diminish the latter's willingness to act from public-spirited motives. Further, it contends that when women do not enjoy equal educational rights with men then wives will impede rather than encourage their husbands' moral and intellectual development. And it insists that competition for jobs will prevent most of the problems that admitting women into the workforce would putatively cause from materializing. All of these points are common to “The Enfranchisement” and The Subjection. The major point of difference between the two is that while the Subjection rather notoriously suggests that the best arrangement for most married couples will be for the wife to concentrate on the care of the house and the children, a position that John also takes in an early essay on marriage written for Harriet (J. S. Mill 1984b, 43), the “Enfranchisement” instead argues for the desirability of married women's working outside the home.

            Harriet's husband died in 1849 and in 1851 she and Mill were finally married. In the autumn of 1858, the couple travelled to France where the climate was better for Harriet's tuberculosis. She died of respiratory failure in Avignon on 3 November 1858. John Stuart Mills' most famous work 'On Liberty', which they had written together, was published in 1859 and was dedicated to Harriet.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My thoughts: you know, I’ve read a lot of books, but this one is one of the best! First of all, we are presented to the whole circus, a dream come true place where everything that you wish might exist. Then, we’re presented to their “staff” and the people who made it came true: Alexander, the men in the gray suit; Hector Bowen, aka Prosperus, The Magician; Chandresh, the “owner” of the circus; Celia and Marco, our “main” characters; Poppet, Widget, Tsukiko, the Burgess sisters, Tante Padva and many others. Alexander and Hector made an agreement years before the circus was created: a challenge, and Le Cirque des Rêves would be the local of the challenge. Celia is Hector’s daughter and Marco is an orphan adopted by Alexander. They are the opponents.

                As the story goes, you just keep wishing that the circus actually existed, and that you were a VIP guest, with an invitation like Bailey’s “This card gives the bearer unlimited admission”.

                The sad thing is that I can’t say too much about this novel, otherwise I’ll just keep writing and writing until I tell the whole book, and no one will buy it. ;) What I have to say to future readers is: Read this book VERY carefully. As a illusion, nothing is what it seems. It is as if Celia were really taking care of the circus, and manipulating what you are reading. You can see things like the bonfire in the center of the circus and smell things like those hot chocolates.

I had to keep a calculator by my side at all times to see how old were the characters during the reading. That was the only flaw I could find: the author wrote the years on each chapter, but they don’t follow a correct timeline, so you have to keep calculating the ages of everyone.

                There are so many magical places inside the circus main tent that it’s almost impossible to choose your favorites. Mine are the Illusionist – Celia’s tent – (OF  COURSE!) and the Ice Garden. But the circus is much more then the local of a fight, it represents the dreams of many and the love letters of the opponents. Yes, despite all things, Celia and Marco fall in love, and it’s soo beautiful! Marco is such a romantic! Every tent that he did was only for her. He did the Ice Garden; in return, She did the Tree of Wishes. That was the only way they could be together, since he couldn’t abandon London to travel with the circus and because their love wasn’t meant to exist. Their love is so simple, humble and delicate that I couldn’t stop cheering for them.

                Another story is of Poppet, Widget and Bailey. Bailey goes to the circus during daylight because of a “true or dare” game and meets Poppet when they were 10. Six years later, they meet again, this time inside the circus. Poppet and Widget are twins and have special powers – she has the power to read the future through the stars and he has the power to see peoples past, and it makes sense since Widget was born before the bonfire was created and Poppet was born after the bonfire was done – and they invite Bailey to travel with them.

                Erin Morgenstern writes, as I said, without following a correct timeline, but incredibly, everything connects and everybody gets together.

                So, don’t forget: keep attention during the whole reading because it may seems like there is no sense at all, but don’t trust on your senses because since it’s a illusion, nothing is what it seems (as I already said).

Opens at nightfall,

Closes at dawn.

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The man who broke into Auschwitz by Denis Avey and Rob Broomby

Synopsis: The Man Who Broke into Auschwitz is the extraordinary true story of a British soldier who marched willingly into the concentration camp, Buna-Monowitz, known as Auschwitz III.
In the summer of 1944, Denis Avey was being held in a British POW labor camp, E715, near Auschwitz III. He had heard of the brutality meted out to the prisoners there and he was determined to witness what he could.
 
He hatched a plan to swap places with a Jewish inmate and smuggled himself into his sector of the camp. He spent the night there on two occasions and experienced at first-hand the cruelty of a place where slave workers, had been sentenced to death through labor.
 
Astonishingly, he survived to witness the aftermath of the Death March where thousands of prisoners were murdered by the Nazis as the Soviet Army advanced. After his own long trek right across central Europe he was repatriated to Britain.
 
For decades he couldn't bring himself to revisit the past that haunted his dreams, but now Denis Avey feels able to tell the full story—a tale as gripping as it is moving—which offers us a unique insight into the mind of an ordinary man whose moral and physical courage are almost beyond belief.
 
My thoughts: After The Diary of Anne Frank, this is one of the most detailed books about World War II. We are presented to Denis Avey, an English soldier that is sent to Egypt to stop the Italian army. During this period he is captured by the Italians, try to escape three times and get caught. He is send to E175, a labor camp of war prisoners who have to work to build IG Farben, a place were the german produced Zyklon B, the pesticide repurposed by the SS for the gas chambers. And the conglomerate was the main supplier of chemical products essential to the Nazi war machine. Next to their camp was Auschwitz III-Monowitz, where everything happened.




                In this place, Denis meets Hans, a jew prisoner who lived in Auschwitz. Denis swaps places
with Hans, trying to see what life was like in the concentration camp. This story was well written and extremely touching. It shows that in a God forsaken place, good will still existed.
                There were a few parts that really chocked me, like when a SS soldier punched a baby child in the face because the kid was crying and he died instantly. Humanity was totally left behind once they got into the camp.
                I don’t know if Avey is still alive – he would have 93 years old – but if he is, he must have suffered such pain and sadness. I wish I could meet him one day.

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Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Synopsis: Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny? 
The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and  mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

My thoughts: a good romance, but I started liking it when I got near the end. We are presented to Kelsey, a 17-year-old girl who lost her parents in an accident and now lives with her fosters, and she starts working temporarily in a circus, where she falls in love with a huge and beautiful white tiger with blue eyes called Dhiren. Kelsey starts passing most of her free time next the animal’s cage, and soon a friendship begins. Until then it was o.k., the story was kind of good, but when an Indian called Mr. Kadam buys Dhiren, he offers to take Kelsey to India with him so she could help taking care of the tiger. That was the part that disappointed me the most because any parent – even foster ones – would never let their daughter leave to the other side of the globe with a stranger and a tiger! It was very idealized their decision, letting their girl go away trusting only on the man’s word! What if he was a kidnapper?!

                When they get to India, Kelsey and Dhiren get separated from Mr. Kadam e the tiger takes her to the middle of the dense jungle to an unknown house. She ties him up to a tree so that he wouldn’t scare anyone while she was examining the house, but when she starts to walk away, she hears a masculine voice coming from behind her and where once there was a white tiger was now a gorgeous man with the same cobalt eyes as the tiger’s. This was the point where the story got interesting: Ren was an Indian prince with more than 300 years that was trapped in the body of the tiger because of a curse and he only had 24 minutes per day to keep his human form. Apparently, what helped him get back was Kelsey’s presence. They embark in a journey to break the curse, with the help of Mr. Kadam and Dhiren’s money. Yes, besides he being handsome, romantic, and so tender that hurts, he is extremely wealthy. They pass a lot of tests – from finding Ren’s brother, Kishan, another handsome Indian man that transforms into a black tiger, to escape from an army of monkeys in Kishkindha (aka monkey’s city) – and soon their friendship becomes an undeniable attraction. Despite the fact that their love is very beautiful, some scenes – a few actually – seemed a little forced and even fake, as if the characters were being forced to say that line, so it sounded unnatural.

                I really liked the ending though, because it was unexpected and therefore chocking. Now I am very excited and yearning for part 2 to know what will happen to the couple.

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Blue Blood Saga: Part 1 by Melissa De La Cruz

Synopsis: Within New York City’s most elite families, there lurks a secret society of celebrated Americans whose ancestors sailed on the Mayflower. They are the powerful and the wealthy—and in fact, they are not human. They are the Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires.

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner—and happy that way.

But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. She has a mosaic of blue veins on her arms, and craves raw meat. The death of a popular girl from Duchesne is surrounded by a mystery that haunts her. And strangest off all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.

Schuyler wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

My thoughts: when I bought this book, I fell in love with its cover and, after I started reading, I fell in love with the rest. Well written, this book shows us a different point of view when related to vampires: they aren’t just monsters who want our blood; they are fallen angels, beautiful and powerful creatures, and their only wish is to one day be redeemed and come back home. We are presented to Schuyler, a girl whose life is about to change, when she discovers that she isn’t just anyone: she is a Blue Blood, therefore, a vampire. She is friends with Oliver, a Red Blood – aka human – and Dylan, a mysterious guy that just got to Duchesne – and a vampire too - , who will start something quite interesting with Bliss Llewellyn, a Texan Blue blood and Mimi’s new friend.

                When a girl from her school – and a vampire too – is found dead at a party, panic arises at the Blue Blood coven. Who could have killed a vampire? The adults are a keeping a secret from everyone and Schuyler wants to find out what it is, but what if she herself was in danger? Dylan suddenly disappears, as well as other teenagers Blue Bloods, and Schuyler will have to join forces to the handsome, hot, romantic Jack Force – her secret crush and mine too! ;P – to pull this of. But the strangest is that he seems to have an interest in her, and she might be not only in danger of dying mysteriously, but of dying in his twin sister’s hand: Mimi Force, the most beautiful girl in Manhattan.

                I loved it because the author could join the two things that I love most: angels and vampires in a way that I couldn’t put it down the book even if I wanted to. I highly recommend it!

Synopsis: Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young Blue Bloods. Her search brings her to Venice, Italy, in the hopes of finding the one person who can help. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city’s wealthy, powerful, and unhuman—a true Blue Blood affair. But it’s at the after-party masquerade that the true danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire’s destiny.

My thoughts: The coven is terrified, and the Regent – Jack’s father, Charles Force – aka Michael, Pure of Heart – is acting as if nothing is happening, even though an old threat, that was supposed to be extinguished, returns stronger than ever. Schuyler goes to Venice at her grandmother’s request after she died, to look for her grandfather, the only one that might have the solution for their problem.

Back in Manhattan, the vampires are preparing the Four Hundred Ball, a gala party to present the youngest Blue Bloods to society. But it’s the after party – hosted by Mimi – that really matters. The most romantic scene for me was at this party, and everybody is wearing masks. *SPOILER* Schuyler is in a room all alone thinking about Jack and a guy start talking with her. They kiss each other – well he kisses her – and then he disappears. She was so sure that it was Jack, but then he appears at Mimi’s side, and you keep this excruciating doubt through the whole book.

This one was more dynamic than the first, in my opinion. And the cover has many meanings: Venice, the place where Schuyler finds her grandfather; the hidden guy behind the mask that kissed the main character; or even a most deep interpretation: the discovery of what – or who – is attacking the Blue Bloods, and what they want.

Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City’s wealthiest families? They’re powerful, they’re famous… they’re undead.

Schuyler Van Alen’s blood legacy has just been called into question—is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When an ancient place of power is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Schuyler is torn between love and passion, duty and freedom. And in the end, one vampire’s secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

My thoughts: This one was the most thrilling of them all! Schuyler Van Allen isn’t a “100%” Blue Blood, and that is cause for a lot of debate. She is forced to live with her cousins, Jack and Mimi, and her uncle Charles. Jack and Schuyler start a secret affair that is soooooo cute! He wants to let go of everything – his family, his bondmate Mimi – yes, he is supposed to marry his sister because they are the Angels of the Dark! – to stay with his love. My favorite scene in this book, I must tell.

                This is the first book I’ve ever read that has a scene in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A real scene, not just a comment. It’s held at Christ, The Redeemer, considered a powerful place for the vampires, because it’s the prison of Leviathan, the monster who was trapped there by Michael himself. The Silver Bloods – vampires who sided with Lucifer and to survive drink from the Blue bloods – want to release him again.

                Not only Rio is in danger, though. New York is a chaos and Schuyler is the only one that might be able to save them. This one I got more and more excited while going through the pages and the end – that I won’t say, but I’ll give a little tip: Mimi has a finger in it – I was so chocked that I just couldn’t wait for the fifth book!

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Josephine Baker: The Black Pearl

Full name:                                      Freda Josephine McDonald

Birth:                                             June 3, 1906

Place of Birth:                                St. Louis, Missouri

Death:                                           April 12, 1975

Place of Death:                              Paris, France

She was an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess".

Baker was the first African American female to star in a major motion picture and to integrate an American concert hall.

Josephine Baker's mother was Carrie McDonald and her father was Eddie Carson. Arthur Martin was her stepfather. Her siblings were Richard, Margaret and Willie Mae. Surviving the 1917 riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, where the family was living, Josephine Baker ran away a few years later at age thirteen and began dancing in vaudeville and on Broadway.

Josephine's first husband was Willie Wells; her second husband was Willie Baker; she later took the name Baker from her second husband, whom she married at age 15. In 1925, Josephine Baker went to Paris where, after the jazz revue La Revue Nègre failed, her comic ability and jazz dancing drew attention of the director of the Folies Bergère.

Overcoming the limitations imposed by the color of her skin, she became one of the world's most versatile entertainers, performing on stage, screeen and recordings. Virtually an instant hit, Josephine Baker became one of the best-known entertainers in both France and much of Europe. Her exotic, sensual act reinforced the creative images coming out of the Harlem Renaissance in America.

During World War II Josephine Baker worked with the Red Cross, gathered intelligence for the French Resistance and entertained troops in Africa and the Middle East.

After the war, Josephine Baker adopted, with her second husband, twelve children from around the world, making her home a World Village, a "showplace for brotherhood”, whom she called her "Rainbow Tribe." Her twelve adopted children were: Akio (male), Janot (male), Luis (male), Jari (male), Jean-Claude (male), Moise (male), Brahim (male), Marianne (female), Koffi (male), Mara (male), Noel (male), Stellina (female). She returned to the stage in the 1950s to finance this project.

In 1951 in the United States, Josephine Baker was refused service at the famous Stork Club in New York City. Yelling at columnist Walter Winchell, another patron of the club, for not coming to her assistance, she was accused by Winchell of communist and fascist sympathies. Never as popular in the US as in Europe, she found herself fighting the rumors begun by Winchell as well.

Josephine Baker responded by crusading for racial equality, refusing to entertain in any club or theater that was not integrated, and thereby breaking the color bar at many establishments. In 1963, she spoke at the March on Washington at the side of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Josephine Baker's World Village fell apart in the 1950s and in 1969 she was evicted from her chateau which was then auctioned off to pay debts. Princess Grace of Monaco gave her a villa. In 1973 Baker married an American, Robert Brady, and began her stage comeback.

In 1975, Josephine Baker's Carnegie Hall comeback performance was a success, as was her subsequent Paris performance. But two days after her last Paris performance, she died of a stroke.

The Lady Most Likely By Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway

Synopsis: Three of the brightest stars of historical romance invite you to a party at the country home of the Honorable Marquess of Finchley

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife, so his sister hands him a list of delectable damsels and promises to invite them— and a few other gentlemen—to her country house for what is sure to be the event of the season.

Hugh will have time to woo whichever lady he most desires . . . Unless someone else snatches her first.

The invitation list includes:

          The horse-mad but irresistibly handsome Earl of Briarly

·         The always outspoken Miss Katherine Peyton

·         The dashing war hero Captain Neill Oakes

·         The impossibly beautiful (and painfully shy) Miss Gwendolyn Passmore

·         The terribly eligible new Earl of Charters

·         The widowed Lady Georgina Sorrell (who has no plans to marry, ever)

And your hostess, Lady Carolyn Finchley, an irrepressible matchmaker who plans to find the lady most likely . . . to capture her brother’s untamed heart.

My thoughts: the romance is divided in three parts and it shows different couples, but mostly, the story is about a list of selected lady who would be presented to the handsome Earl of Briarly, Hugh Dunne, even though he is horse-mad about horses, and not women.

The first part is about the shy Miss Gwendolyn and the Earl of Charters, who fells for her as soon as he sees her at the ball arranged by the hostess. I didn’t like this part very much: I thought it too vague. Despite the fact that I LOVE Julia Quinn’s works, I think she could have worked more in the romance, attraction and chemistry between the characters. The love happened too fast and without any explanation.

The second part is about Miss Katherine Peyton and the Captain Neill Oakes, who reencounter each other after years. I liked this one more especially because of the past they share and the strength and deepness of their love. So romantic and cute at the same time, not to say funny too.

The last part was, by far, my favorite, because it wasn’t expected. It’s about – finally – the hot, gorgeous Hugh Dunne and the widowed Lady Georgina Sorell. It was not their past that surprised me, but the time that took for them to get together and how beautiful Hugh’s love for Georgina is.

Anyway, I laughed at the turns of most of the romances, but It would have been perfect if Quinn had explored her part a little more.

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