Women

Mary Granville Delany: An Artist Blooms at 72, Pt. 2

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In Part 1, we left Mary waffling. Patrick Delany, a man she adored but hadn’t seen in 10 years, had just asked her to marry him. Mary was 43 and had been a widow for two decades, not for lack of proposals. Her first marriage at 17, to a gross old drunk she called “my [...]

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Mary Granville Delany: An Artist Blooms at 72, Pt. 1

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“An ingenious mind is never too old to learn.” ~Mary Granville Delany Let me introduce you to this spectacular alien. It’s called pancratium maritimum, sea daffodil. It grows on beaches along the Mediterranean. Examine the the stamen antennae, fluid white petals, deep blue shadow on the rear leaf. (Look here if you want extreme detail.) [...]

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Rosie the Riveter Learns To Fly

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Rose Monroe wanted to train as pilot during WWII, but was disqualified for being a single mother. She became a riveter instead — you may know her as Rosie. And she did learn to fly.

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Freya Stark: Late Bloomer & Fearless Nomad, Part 2

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Freya Stark has been called “the last of the romantic explorers.” She lived to 100, but didn’t start her adventures until age 35, after many hardships. Part 2 of 2.

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Freya Stark: Late Bloomer & Fearless Nomad, Part 1

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Freya Stark has been called “the last of the romantic explorers.” She lived to 100, but didn’t start her adventures until age 35, after many hardships. Part 1 of 2.

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Marija Gimbutas: Unearthing the Beauty of a Woman

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Marija Gimbutas, whose work figured in rise of modern goddess worship, was no feminist. Yet in the end, she unearthed a worldview our modern brains still can’t fathom.

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Edith Wharton: Beyond Downton Abbey

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Edith Wharton published her first book at age 35, a decorating guide for the rich. A quarter century later, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer.

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Grandma Moses: The Importance of Keeping Busy

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“Painting’s not important. The important thing is keeping busy.” Words of wisdom from 101 years of living. Grandma Moses painted to the end, but didn’t start until 76!

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Mrs. Somerville: First Scientist

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The United Kingdom’s first recognized scientist was a self-educated Scots woman who lived during the 19th century!

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The Secret Life of Late Bloomer Sue Monk Kidd

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Sue Monk Kidd published The Secret Life Of Bees at age 53. Her spiritual journey took her from traditional Baptist wife to writer of the sacred feminine.

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A Liz Smith Magic Package

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Liz Smith always knew she wanted to be an actress. Four tough decades passed before she made that dream come true.

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Ruth Flowers: Rockin’ Retirement

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One of Europe’s best loved DJs is an English granny who ran a fabric store! In case you’re wondering, she prefers electro rock to house music.

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Ina Garten: The Barefoot Late Bloomer

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She’s neither barefoot, nor a contessa, nor even Italian for that matter. But she was a nuclear power analyst. Ina Garten’s delicious story.

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Julia Child: Eat Well, Live Big, Bloom Late!

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How can you not love Julia Child? She was 6′ of bonhomie, exuberant passion, in love with food and with life. And she waited until age 36 to find it!

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Sharon Penman Takes On William Shakespeare

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Why, with that name, did Penman considered anything other than writing? A dastardly deed derailed her, but she finally bested Shakespeare!

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P.D. James: From Civil Servant to Literary Royalty

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PD James retired from the Home Office after writing eight successful mysteries. Today, at age 90, she’s a baroness and still going strong!

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Mrs. Benz Borrows The Car

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The next time you see a Mercedes on the highway, think of Bertha Benz, the daring gal who took the very first test drive at age 39!

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Penelope Fitzgerald: Saved By A Sinking Houseboat

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Fitzgerald may be Britain’s most famous unknown writer. She started writing in her late 50s and won the Booker Prize at age 63.

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Go Granny! Two Marathon Runners Speed Past 90

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Need inspiration to get off the couch? Guinness World Book just named Gladys Burrill, age 92, the Oldest Female Marathon Finisher.

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Eugenia West Blooms Again

Eugenia West

A late-blooming writer who published her first novel at 56, but didn’t see her second one in print until age 84!

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