December 5 Writer Birthdays

1830 – Christina Rossetti, English writer of romantic and children’s poems, best known for her long poem Goblin Market. 1872 – Vir Singh (Punjabi: ਭਾਈ ਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ), Indian poet, scholar, and theologian who was a key figure in the movement for the revival of Punjabi literary tradition. 1886 – Rose Wilder Lane, American journalist,Continue reading “December 5 Writer Birthdays”

December 4 Writer Birthdays

1795 – Thomas Carlyle, Victorian-era Scottish satirical writer and historian. 1817 – Prince Nikoloz “Tato” Baratashvili (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ “ტატო” ბარათაშვილი), Georgian poet credited with combining modern nationalism with European Romanticism to introduce “Europeanism” into Georgian literature; often referred to as the “Georgian Byron.” 1822 – Frances Power Cobbe, Victorian-era Irish author, essayist, and activist whoContinue reading “December 4 Writer Birthdays”

December 3 Writer Birthdays

1807 – Gamaliel Bailey, American journalist, editor, and publisher 1857 – Joseph Conrad, Polish author who wrote in English after moving to Britain and became one of the best-known authors in the English language; he is famous for such classic novels as Heart of Darkness and Lord Jim. 1897 – Kate O’Brien, Irish novelist and playwright. 1914 – Alaíde Foppa de Solórzano, GuatemalanContinue reading “December 3 Writer Birthdays”

College Craziness

Help! It’s college application time. My son tends to wait until the last possible moment to get his applications in, which is increasing the stress levels associated with this whole process. And the stress levels, in any case, are high. So many applications (and application fees) to pay. So many requirements to fulfill, essays toContinue reading “College Craziness”

December 2 Writer Birthdays

One tradition I’d started years ago on the first version of the Petrini Page is posting lists of writer birthdays. I still don’t have a list put together for every day of the year, but I’m getting close. I don’t claim that these lists are inclusive, but I am trying to post a wide varietyContinue reading “December 2 Writer Birthdays”

December 1 Writer Birthdays

1083 – Anna Komnene (also spelled Comnena), a Greek princess, scholar, doctor, hospital administrator, and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium; she wrote the Alexiad, a historical account of her father’s reign. 1886 – Rex Stout, American writer of detective fiction, known for the character Nero Wolfe. 1895 – Henry Williamson, EnglishContinue reading “December 1 Writer Birthdays”

King of the School Story

I am so sad to hear that author Andrew Clements passed away yesterday, at the age of 70. He wrote 80 books for children and young adults, and was best known for Frindle and his other middle-grade “school stories.” In fact, few authors write a school story as well as Andrew Clements did, and youngContinue reading “King of the School Story”

Photo Friday – Street Art, With Pup

I posted many photos on my old blog. On this new iteration of the Petrini Page, I intend to keep posting my own photography, including on “Photo Fridays,” starting now. I was walking in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood and came across a street artist putting the finishing touches on a mural. I later learned thatContinue reading “Photo Friday – Street Art, With Pup”

Welcome to My Blog!

Hello, I’m Cathy. I have had a blog, The Petrini Page, since 2007. But my old host company has become a problem, so it’s time to upgrade to a new one. I hope to copy a lot of my old posts onto this new page, but it could take a while, so bear with me.Continue reading “Welcome to My Blog!”