Michaela MacColl

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July 2012 Archive

Archives for July 2012

Queen Victoria’s Journals Online (it’s about time!)

July 23rd, 2012, 3:05 am

I read every  excerpt of Victoria’s diaries when I was researching Prisoners in the Palace. I loved the authentic voice of the young Princess and even used actual diary entries to punctuate my story. Since the teenaged Victoria had to submit her journal ot her mother’s review, it wasn’t always honest.  To celebrate the Jubilee, the British Royal Family has decided to make Queen Victoria’s diaries available to everyone on this nifty website.

This is what they said:

These diaries cover the period from Queen Victoria’s childhood days to her Accession to the Throne, marriage to Prince Albert, and later, her Golden and Diamond Jubilees.

Thirteen volumes in Victoria’s own hand survive, and the majority of the remaining volumes were transcribed after Queen Victoria’s death by her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, on her mother’s instructions. It seems fitting that the subject of the first major public release of material from the Royal Archives is Queen Victoria, who was the first Monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

It is hoped that this historic collection will make a valuable addition to the unique material already held by the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University, and will be used to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the past.

Queen Victoria circa 1839 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter - Supplied by The Royal Collection Trust/© HM Queen Elizabeth II 2012

Categories: Blog

Twain Playing Billiards…

July 15th, 2012, 5:28 pm

My good friend, Sari Bodi and I are writing a play for Scholastic about Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer. Have you ever noticed that as soon as you start learning about something new.. you see it everywhere.

I just came across this charming picture of Mark Twain at his favorite pasttime…

Mark Twain Playing Billiards, via Flavorwire

Categories: Blog, Uncategorized

Cool Bookshelves Pt 2

July 7th, 2012, 4:03 pm

Flavorwire.com likes to accumulate interesting items on a theme… I couldn’t wait to click through and see thier “Gorgeous and Innovative Bookcases”. Not all of them are practical, but they are all interesting!

Like this one… do you really want a visual (and heavy) representation of how far behind you are?

https://i0.wp.com/assets.flavorwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/readunread.jpg?resize=480%2C320

Read-Unread Bookshelf, designed by Niko Economidis.

Or for those of us with the enviable ability to walk while we read….

Circular walking bookcase designed by David Garcia.

Categories: Blog, Uncategorized

Cool Bookshelves Pt 1

July 1st, 2012, 3:55 pm

I just came across some really interesting bookshelf designs on Flavorwire.com. I love bookcases, always have. I can’t  bring myself to throw away the veneer covered plywood ones that you assemble from Staples (even after they got wet and the plyboard swelled in all sorts of unpleasant ways). The most satisfying renovation I’ve done to my house is to replace a 20 foot recess in my living room with built-in bookcases. But never in my wildest imagination did I consider bookcases like these!

What do you think? Why don’t they fall down?

Equilibrium bookcase, designed by Alejandro Gomez Stubbs of Malagana Design

Or this one? Isn’t it evocative and beautiful?

Tree branch bookshelf designed by Sebastian Errazuriz.

Categories: Blog, Uncategorized

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