The discovery of George Armstrong Custer’s body on June 27, 1876, did not match the heroic image later cemented in American memory. He was found naked except for his socks, propped against fallen soldiers as if sleeping. The reality was far grimmer. Chest and head wounds indicated he had been shot, and his brother Tom … Read more
Mijn man stond voor de pinksterleraar die aan zijn moeder rapporteerde, in plaats van onze dochter te beschermen. Dus haalde ik haar van school en vertrok hij om naar zijn familie te gaan. Ik ben achtentwintig, mijn man is drieëndertig en we hebben een dochter van zes. We zijn zes jaar getrouwd en hebben ongeveer … Read more
Quella sera tornai a casa con una torta piccola del supermercato, comprata per me, perché nessuno aveva parlato del mio compleanno per tutto il giorno. Avevo venticinque anni e avevo imparato a non aspettarmi molto, ma non ero pronta a quello che trovai sul portico. La mia valigia era lì, con i miei stivali da … Read more
La voce fredda della mamma riecheggiò nel salotto silenzioso. Il suo sguardo gelido si posò sul mio addome e mi lasciò senza parole. Mi chiamo Marion, ho venticinque anni e sono una casalinga. Mia sorella Tara ha tre anni più di me ed è sempre stata la preferita di nostra madre. Fino al giorno in … Read more
Universal executives were nervous about the script from the moment it landed. The National Lampoon brand was sharp, profane, and built on humor that made studios uneasy. When the company finally committed to a low-budget college comedy, nobody on the lot expected a hit—they were bracing for a curiosity that might turn a small profit. … Read more
Il giorno dopo il mio ventiseiesimo compleanno, alle sette in punto del mattino, qualcuno bussò alla porta del mio piccolo appartamento. Un uomo distinto, con un cappotto grigio antracite e un ombrello nero gocciolante, mi porse una busta sigillata con ceralacca rossa. Dentro c’era la verità che la mia famiglia aveva cercato di tenermi nascosta, … Read more
On July 2, 1863, Confederate forces smashed into Union lines near the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg, and in the chaos of that brutal engagement, Private Richard Baxter Smart of the First Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry vanished. His comrades searched the bodies scattered across the field. His family waited weeks for word. No one could find him. … Read more
On the morning of February 3, 1997, the United States Ambassador to France entered the pool at the Ritz Hotel in Paris and began her daily swim. She was 76 years old. Two hours later, she was pulled from the water by a hotel employee, unconscious. By the standards of her extraordinary life, it was … Read more
Entrai in casa mia con un bastone in una mano e la busta della dimissione nell’altra. La prima cosa che vidi fu una valigia che non era mia, appoggiata in fondo alle scale. Non una valigia piccola. Una valigia grande, con le rotelle, blu scuro, con un’etichetta rosa attaccata al manico. Rimasi lì un attimo, … Read more
On June 25, 1876, the Battle of Little Bighorn unfolded across the green plains of Montana. Five companies of the U.S. 7th Cavalry, led by General George Armstrong Custer, were annihilated in a fierce fight against combined forces of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. For the Native peoples involved, it was a desperate … Read more