Leila Marshy

But behind the lofty reasons for establishing a national park – preservation of the environment, educational opportunities – are the coarse politically and economically motivated attempts at creating “a coherent national story,” some of them as cringe-worthy as they are fascinating. It is this forging of a national story that Claire Elizabeth Campbell, associate professor of history at Bucknell University, deciphers in Nature, Place, and Story.

After interviewing Taras Grescoe for our blog, Leila Marshy writes an ode to public transport.

For Straphanger, Grescoe did the dirty work that too many of us in North America shun: he rode urban buses, subways, and trains in a dozen countries.

Sara Ferdman Tauben is the archaeologist who stays at the dig after all the others have gone home.

The original power couple, Georges and Pauline Vanier partook in – or were close observers of – many of the great events of the early twentieth century. “I ask only to serve,” was their personal as well as public maxim.

Joel Yanofsky and his wife share an Asshole List – a running tab of fathers who are even worse than he is. When they meet a new one or hear stories, Joel looks so good in comparison that rare marital sex ensues. Hey, I’m only reporting what I read.