Author Archives: petrini1

March 22 Writer Birthdays

1181 – Ibn al-Farid, Egyptian Sufi poet, writer, and philosopher who was esteemed as the greatest of all Arab mystic poets. 1554 – Catherine de Parthenay, French writer, poet, playwright, mathematician, and patron of the arts; she was considered one of the most brilliant women of her era. 1712 – Edward Moore, English dramatist andContinue reading “March 22 Writer Birthdays”

52 Ancestors, Week 12: Membership

It’s Week 12 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project, created by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. And this week, the theme is Membership. I often see posts on genealogy-related pages from people who are trying to establish their eligibility for membership in U.S. lineage organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, theContinue reading “52 Ancestors, Week 12: Membership”

March 21 Writer Birthdays

1557 – Anne Howard (Countess of Arundel, née Dacre), English poet, writer, and religious conspirator who converted to Catholicism, despite laws against it. 1831 – Dorothea Beale, British textbook writer, educator, women’s suffragist, and college president; her Textbook of General History became a popular book with teachers. 1841 – Mathilde Blind (born Mathilda Cohen), German-bornContinue reading “March 21 Writer Birthdays”

Spring Begins as Spring Break Ends

My son’s spring break ended yesterday, and he returned to campus. And today, spring begins. I was sorry to see him go back to school — though, of course, I am also pleased that he is doing so well at his university and has forged some strong friendships. But I will miss him. I readContinue reading “Spring Begins as Spring Break Ends”

March 20 Writer Birthdays

0043 BC – Publius Ovidius Naso, known as Ovid, Ancient Roman poet best known for the Metamorphoses; along with Virgil and Horace, he is regarded as one of the three canonical poets of Latin literature. 1612 – Anne Bradstreet (née Dudley), the most prominent early English poet in North America and the first writer inContinue reading “March 20 Writer Birthdays”

March 19 Writer Birthdays

1084 – Li Qingzhao, Chinese writer, poet, essayist, artist, and lyricist; she is considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. 1503 – Benedetto Varchi, Italian humanist, historian, writer, poet, playwright, and translator; he is known for writing a 16-volume history of Florence, on a commission from Cosimo Medici I, but his Storia fiorentinaContinue reading “March 19 Writer Birthdays”

March 18 Writer Birthdays

1634 – Madame de La Fayette, French writer, novelist, historian, lady-in-waiting, and correspondent; her novel La Princesse de Clèves was France’s first historical novel and one of the earliest novels in all of literature. 1652 – Anne Margrethe Qvitzow, Danish poet, writer, memoirist, and translator. 1829 – Mary Ann Harris Gay, U.S. writer and poetContinue reading “March 18 Writer Birthdays”

March 17 Writer Birthdays

1078 – Abdul Qadir Gilani (known as Muḥyī l-Dīn Abū Muḥammad b. Abū Sāliḥ ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī al-Ḥasanī wa’l-Ḥusaynī), Iranian-born Persian poet, jurist, mystic, preacher, and theologian. 1520 – Thoinot Arbeau (anagrammatic pen name of Jehan Tabourot), French priest who was a choreographer, music composer, and author of dance manuals; he is most famous forContinue reading “March 17 Writer Birthdays”

March 16 Writer Birthdays

1657 – Susanna Elizabeth Zeidler, German Baroque poet and advocate for women’s rights, especially the right to participate in the public and literary world; her work Beglau-bigung der Jungfer Poeterey (Certification of the Maiden Poet) is considered a classic text on the defense of women’s right to authorship. 1744 – Nicolas-Germain Léonard, Guadeloupean poet, novelist,Continue reading “March 16 Writer Birthdays”