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Grace Under Fire

Definition of Courtesan

Portrait of Grace Elliott. Painting by Thomas Gainsborough (c. 1782). Frick Collection. PD- 100+ Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Grace Elliott. Painting by Thomas Gainsborough (c. 1782). Frick Collection. PD- 100+ Wikimedia Commons.

From the 2016 edition of Merriam-Webster:  a woman who has sex with rich or important men in exchange for money : a prostitute who has sex with wealthy and powerful men.

Allow me to introduce you to a Scottish woman, Grace Dalrymple Elliott (1754–1823). She was one of the more intriguing personalities of her time (kind of like Kim Kardashian to some of today’s star gazers). While Grace’s exploits were dutifully reported at the time by several of London’s widely read gossip newspapers, she is virtually forgotten today (as I’m sure Kim will be forgotten 200 years from now).

Grace and the French Revolution

I always get excited when I find something new (at least to me) about the French Revolution. This is especially true when it comes from a contemporary source. This time it is courtesy of Grace’s memoirs.

Portrait of Mrs. Grace Dalrymple Elliott. Painting by Thomas Gainsborough (1778). Metropolitan Museum of Art. PD-100+ Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Mrs. Grace Dalrymple Elliott. Painting by Thomas Gainsborough (1778). Metropolitan Museum of Art. PD-100+ Wikimedia Commons.

What we really know about Grace comes from her book and memoir Ma Vie Sous La Révolution (Journal of My Life During the French Revolution) that was published by her granddaughter after Grace’s passing in 1823. Despite Victorian censuring and I’m sure lapses in Grace’s memory, the book provides an interesting glimpse into the Revolution from the view of a participant. Other than this brief memoir, historians (e.g., Joanne Major and Sarah Murden, co-authors of An Infamous Mistress) have had to piece together her life from various third party sources and historical records. Read More Grace Under Fire

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Boxing Day Traditions

This blog was originally published in 2013. I had no idea what or why Boxing Day was celebrated in England. So I thought you might like to know—again. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!–Stew

Boxing Day Hunt in Cowbridge, Wales. Photo by Michael Gwyther-Jones (2008). PD-Creative Commons Attribution – Share Alike 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.
Boxing Day Hunt in Cowbridge, Wales. Photo by Michael Gwyther-Jones (2008). PD-Creative Commons Attribution – Share Alike 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.

I recently found out every English Premier League soccer team will be playing on Boxing Day in England. It happens to be the day after Christmas and apparently, this is a tradition in England. It almost seems like every English sport and teams will play that day. I guess it’s kind of like every NFL team playing on Christmas Day.

What Is Boxing Day? 

So Sandy asks me, “Do you know what Boxing Day is and what the tradition is?”

Boxing Day Hunt. Photo by Bob Jones (2009). PD-Creative Commons Attribution – Share Alike 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.
Boxing Day Hunt. Photo by Bob Jones (2009). PD-Creative Commons Attribution – Share Alike 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.

I naturally say, “Of course I do. It’s not hard to figure out. It’s the day when a big boxing match is held, huge wagers are made, and they all eat chips and dip (well, I suppose our type of chips). Just like our Super Bowl.”

Wrong.

I began to research Boxing Day and found out that it is a secular holiday in England (and other countries but primarily the former British empire). It is a bank holiday and as I correctly surmised, every sport under the sun has matches that day. Read More Boxing Day Traditions