Month: December 2014

U.S.-Cuba rapprochement: historic, but limited

Guest post by Christopher Darnton The United States and Cuba have reached a historic agreement, putting an end to a half-century of frozen relations. Reciprocal speeches by Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro, and gestures like the exchange of high-profile prisoners convicted of espionage, suggest that the two countries will open not only embassies but…

Give the gift of books from JHU Press!

The JHU Press publishes beautiful, influential, award-wining books on a variety of subjects. From a history of the Folger Shakespeare Library to a full-color celebration of Amish quilts to an insider’s look at the Large Hadron Collider, books from JHUP make terrific gifts for series readers. For reviews and more information or to place an…

Give the gift of books: HISTORY

The JHU Press has an award-wining list in history, with acclaimed books on Lincoln and the Civil War, a fascinating account of the linothorax (the linen armor of the ancient world), and a new family-friendly guide to historic travel in the Mid-Atlantic. Read more about them or place an order by clicking on the titles…

The stranding of so many Kemp’s ridley turtles in Massachusetts is both good news and bad news

An expert’s perspective: James R. Spotila In recent weeks, sea turtles have been stranding in historic numbers along the beaches of Cape Cod. A recent article in the New York Times tells the story of heroic volunteer efforts to rescue the stranded turtles, and it highlights the uncertainties (and the hunches) as the scientific community tries…

Happy birthday, Jane Austen!

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England. Today, on her 239th birthday, Austen’s life and work continue to attract enormous world-wide interest. In 2016, the Folger Shakespeare Library will host an exhibition called Will & Jane: Shakespeare, Austen, and the Cult of Celebrity, exploring how these writers became literary superheroes.…