#the biography of one james rhodes

[pop-goes-the-weasel]

What are the best books you've read in the past 12 months?

So sorry I could not answer this earlier...because life!

Let's see...what were the best books I read in the past year or so...

The Picture of Dorian Gray: One of my most favourite novels of all time

The Hungry Stones and The Detective: Short stories by Tagore...brilliant, witty, awe-inspiring

To Know a Fly: Honestly, I do not know why Vincent Dethier's book is not taken as the gold standard of popular science writing

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Brilliant in how it speaks in its silences

Henry Wellcome: This biography of the man who changed both pharmaceutical industry and the study of science itself is endlessly fascinating. By Robert Rhodes James

The Beetle: Richard Marsh's masterclass on how NOT to write a novel

Dracula : Self Explanatory

[johannadc]

Remember this famous Mycroft remark?

Mark Gatiss played Mycroft.

Mark wrote a biography of James Whale, director of Bride of Frankenstein (among other films).

Bride of Frankenstein co-starred Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Pretorius.

Ernest is famous for a number of camp remarks, including this one, when asked about his experience in World War I.

However, this website claims "this quote originally appeared in the book Sword of Bone by Anthony Rhodes, 1942, according to The Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations, 5th Edition [....] Though Ernest may have said it, it did not originate with him."

That same website also says "In 1908 Ernest performed in a charity production of “The Importance of Being Earnest”." Ernest was also an accomplished painter and needlepointer, even writing a book about embroidery. He was also known for always wearing a string of fine pearls under his clothes.

[welidot]

Glenn Maxwell

This Biography is about one of the best Professional Cricketer  of the world Glenn Maxwell including his Height, weight, Age & Other Detail… Express info Real Name Glenn James Maxwell Nick Name The Big Show and Maxi Profession Australian Cricketer (Batsman) Age (as in 2023) 34 Years old Physical Stats & More Info Height in centimeters- 180 cm in meters- 1.80 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 11” Weight in Kilograms- 73 kg in Pounds- 161 lbs Eye Colour Light blue Hair Color Black Body Measurements - Chest: 40 Inches - Waist: 32 inches - Biceps: 13 Inches Personal Life of Glenn Maxwell Date of Birth 14 October 1988 Birth Place Kew, Victoria, Australia Nationality Australian Hometown Melbourne, Australia Family Father- Neil Maxwell Mother- Joy Maxwell Brother- Daniel Maxwell Religion Christian Hobbies Listening music Controversies      He got angry at being dismissed in a Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014 match and in frustration he hit a dustbin, after which apologized on twitter. Cricket History Of  Glenn Maxwell International Debut Test- 2 March 2012 vs India in Hyderabad ODI- 25 August 2012 vs Afghanistan in Sharjah T20- 5 September 2012 vs Pakistan in Dubai Domestic/State Team Australia, Victoria, Cricket Australia Chairmans XI, Melbourne Renegades, Delhi Daredevils, Hampshire, Melbourne Stars, Mumbai Indians, Surrey, Australia A, Kings XI Punjab, Yorkshire IPL Team Kings XI Punjab Nature on field Very Aggressive Jersey Number #32 (Australia) #32 (IPL, County Cricket) Records • Fastest domestic 50 by an Australian, as he scored a 19-ball fifty for Victoria against Tasmania in Ryobi One-Day Cup 2011. • Joint-fastest 50 for Australia in ODIs which he scored against India in Bangalore in 2013. • Joint-fastest 50 of 18-balls for Australia in T20 along with David Warner, against Pakistan in Mirpur. Favourite Shorts Switch Hit Likes To Play Again India and England Career Turning Point His quick 19-ball half century against Tasmania in the Ryobi One-Day Cup 2011. Favourite Things Of Glenn Maxwell Favourite Food Chicken Favourite Colors Yellow, Green Favourite Sports Cricket Favourite Destination Paris Favourite Cricketer Batsman: Sachin Tendulkar, Adam Gilchrist, Micheal Hussey, Jonty Rhodes and Michael Bevan Bowler: Shane Warne Girls , Affairs and More Of  Glenn Maxwell Marital Status Unmarried Affairs Jayne Egeberg Candice Wyatt (Partner, Journalist & News Presenter) Earning Money of Glenn Maxwell Net Worth $4 Million Salary Per Match Test - $14,000 ODI - $7,000 T20 - $5,000 This Biography written by www.welidot.com Read the full article

[lovelyirony]

Hmm Im just drinking some Respect Rhodey Juice tonight and was wondering if you would write smth about his journey/struggles of life and ppl who doubt him (and then eat their words when he looks fabulous and kicks ass)

A lot of people know Tony Stark’s story. They know that he considers Rhodey to be the best person in the world. He was in ROTC training, Tony made fun of him, but they ended up bonding over engineering and some inside joke at MIT.

They don’t know the whole story.

So here it is.

Rhodey grew up in a relatively nice household in Philadelphia. He still considers some aspect of that to be home, no matter if he hasn’t lived there since high school.

He remembers his dad’s low humming on Sunday mornings when he was a kid, the way he smiled at him.

“Hey Jimmy,” he would say quietly. “Wanna surprise mama with breakfast?”

Mama acted surprised every single time, even if every Sunday she got breakfast on a tray. Rhodey would grin brightly up at his mother and clamber into her bed to steal the “extra” piece of bacon.

(His dad cooked three slices, and saved one for his son.)

He remembers that his sister Jeannette was born when he was four years old, and he did not appreciate having a sister.

“You have to be a good role model for her, sugar,” Mama had told him. She was tired from the hospital, and had handed Jeannette to Dad. “She needs a good big brother.”

Rhodey doesn’t get why his mom is so insistent on that, having a good big brother. It isn’t until he’s eight and Mama’s own older brother comes asking for a car or some money for his new business that he understands that Mama had a very different sort of life. One that they don’t talk about.

So he grabs his dollar and walks his sister to the corner store and gets her a popsicle that dribbles down her chin. She got watermelon flavor.

“Thanks Jim,” Jeannette says, grinning. “You’re the best!”

He vows to always be the best for her.

Always.

Including an academic example. He scores excellently on his tests, enough to catch the notice of the private education institution. They send a nice lady to talk to Mama and Dad about the possibility of him learning there instead of his regular school.

They agree. Rhodey doesn’t exactly want to go, but gets that this is an opportunity.

The school is nearly all-white. That’s...weird. They look at him differently, ask weird questions. He keeps his head down, focuses on studying. He doesn’t realize it yet, but these people have never had to worry about their race.

He’s still a good student. He’s in the top ten, and people whisper and say that it’s because he’s black.

He stares them down and asks if they have a problem with the color of skin he has.

They stammer out a no, but he knows. He knows that they think that he’s gotten all sorts of advantages, and some will never believe that his success is merit-based. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, and he comes home angry.

“Be better,” Mama tells him, smoothing her hand over his face. “You know you’re better than what they always say. You just gotta keep going.”

-

It’s around this time that they go to the Franklin Institute.

And it’s there that he gets introduced into flight travel and falls in love.

He wants to know how planes work. He wants to know why they use some materials but not others, how it works.

“You could go into the Air Force,” his dad chuckles one night.

“Are you gonna be a pilot?” Jeannette asks, looking up from her toys. “You’d be a good pilot.”

“Maybe,” he tells them. “Maybe.”

The military is his best bet.

Come high school, he starts training immediately. He’s a good kid, all things considered. He follows orders well, is intuitive to what comes next, and his officer lets other officials know that this kid will be a good guy.

Assuming, of course, that they let Rhodey into a position of power. He wants to be a good pilot, he wants to have a good job that’s kind of safe.

He also needs to figure out college. He knows he needs a college degree, needs something to show that he is who he says he is.

Rhodey gets a full ride to MIT. His dad sighs and looks at him.

“Son, I need to talk to you...”

“I know I can do this,” Rhodey says determinedly. “I know that I can do a college education, I know I can prove others wrong, and--”

“I know that,” his father says. “But really...Boston?”

His mother laughs for a long while, and makes her husband promise to visit their son, even if they do have to voluntarily go to Boston.

When they move him in, they’re greeted with one Tony Stark chasing after a robot who has grabbed a broom and is wreaking havoc in the apartment.

“Hi,” Tony heaves. “Sorry to be meeting you all like this, I sincerely did mean to be presentable. I’m Tony Stark, nice to meet you.”

His parents are scared of Tony, all things considered. He’s a kid with too much influence on the world. If he says one wrong thing...Rhodey’s finished.

Rhodey holds no such fear because Tony is standing in mismatched socks and chasing after a robot.

When his parents leave and his teenage sister actually gives him a hug, he’s left in the room.

“You want pizza?” Tony asks, blinking. “I’m ordering a pizza.”

They sit together and eat pizza that has too much grease on it, and Tony asks all about Philadelphia. He’s never traveled there, and wants to know if people really do run up the stairs like in the movie Rocky.

Rhodey answers yes, unfortunately, a lot of tourists do that.  Tony laughs.

He talks about New York, everything that people get wrong or right about it.

Then they decide to compare class schedules, and it turns out they have a lot of the same classes.

Rhodey likes being friends with Tony. He’s an easy guy to fall into friendship with. He’s not expecting anything from him, just that he likes some food and tells Tony to knock it off if he’s being annoying.

ROTC training is still going well. Tony makes fun of the uniform and teases him, but also helps make sure his pants are ironed in time.

“I swear to god if I told anyone you were an Iron-kinda-Man, they wouldn’t believe me,” Rhodey teases him. “Thanks.”

He presses a kiss to Tony’s forehead before he rushes out.

-

The Air Force loves him. He’s in aerodynamic engineering, getting the best grades in the class, and has proven time and time again to be a natural-born leader. His very presence commands attention, and the guys around him respect him quite well.

He’s offered a position after graduation to become a pilot.

He���s flying high.

-

His parents, of course, are proud. They host a party with all their friends and family, and Rhodey truly feels like this is it.

Of course, it’s not easy. Nothing ever is. He has to command men and women, go against what others say. He was one of the first in his unit to advocate for women to be part of the team.

“They’re too emotional,” Kennick had remarked.

“And just who nearly cried because their football team didn’t make it to the Superbowl?” Rhodey asks him. “Because it sure as hell wasn’t your wife or daughter, Kennick.”

The rest of the team howls in laughter, and Rhodey smiles to himself.

Tony is still his best friend. They call each other often, although Tony is busier with the company now. Rhodey acts as a sort of liaison for the negotiations between SI and the military.

Tony sends him care packages that host a wild variety of things, ranging from quite the bottle of Scotch to four different McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys.

“Why the toys?”

“Kids keep leaving them in the SI building after their school tour. I have to do something with them.”

(Rhodey takes pictures of them around the base and nearly compromises a secret mission.

It’s worth it.)

But Rhodey’s life is good. It has its ups and downs, but he got what he wanted. And when he sees the other kids from his school who looked at him weird, the teachers who told him to “aim a bit lower” than his goals, he smiles.

He especially likes to smile to himself when he wakes up next to Tony, who smiles at him like he has all the stars in the world.

[bridgeporthq]

Oh, look! It’s [Conor Thomas Rhodes]! I heard they’re [Thirty Eight], a [Male], use [He/Him] pronouns, have been in town for [His whole life] and are actually from [Bridgeport]. They are currently working as a/an/the [Construction worker at I&K Construction] and living in [Point Breeze]. You know, I personally think they look like [Andrew Garfield], but that’s crazy, right? 

BIOGRAPHY

Triggers in Bio: Death 

Conor Thomas Rhodes was born to two amazing parents in Bridgeport, Maine. Conor was the oldest Rhodes kid, and the only boy which meant he got to help take care of his two little sisters. Conor wasn’t a softy; in fact, he was the opposite of a softy. He was always tough, he was the quiet, don’t fuck with me kid growing up. But when it came to Olivia and Rosemary, they had him wrapped around his finger from a young age and he was like a walking teddy bear when they were around. Family meant the world to Conor something his mother Leanne and father Malcolm instilled in him from a young age.

As a child he could always be found at the baseball field. He loved everything about the game of baseball. The boy was a natural at the game from a young age, and everyone swore up and down he was going to go pro. His favorite baseball team was the New York Yankees, and he even swore one day he’d be the biggest pitcher to ever play for them. With how well he played no one ever doubted him.

In high school, Conor was like the real-life Troy Bolton. He was a star on the field, but he was also a star off the field. Conor was born to two parents that had more talent in their pinky than most people do in their whole body. Conor inherited that and was performing every chance he could. He wasn’t a good dancer, which was a hard pill to swallow when you watched his sister and his mother. But boy could Conor sing, he had a voice like no other. Think if James Bay and Luke Combs had a vocal baby, you’d get Conor. He was also super talented with the guitar and piano. Everyone still thought he was going to go pro, and pitch in the MLB but as Conor got older the more, he realized he wanted to make music. Without telling anyone but his parents he applied to Drexel University, Berklee College of Music (Spain), Bellmont University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Fortunately for Conor he was accepted to all the colleges he applied to and with the support and love from his family he chose to attend Berklee College of Music in Spain majoring in Music Production.

While attending Berklee College of Music Conor met Mariana Gutiérrez a beautiful Spanish girl from the local café next to the college. Conor tried for months to get her to go on a date with him, and every time he asked, she said no. But he knew from the minute he met her she’d be the one he married. With no luck he’d call his sister Olivia daily for advice on what to do, and finally with the right words of advice he managed to get a date with her. Conor and Mariana continued to date for all four years of his time in Spain. After his graduation he accepted an internship at Universal Music Group in Los Angeles, Mariana leaving behind Spain and going with him.

After one year in an internship in Los Angeles, Conor was offered a permanent job at UMG as a board operator. If you asked Conor when he first graduated high school if he accepted to live away from home for this long, he would have said no. But he knew that he loved what he did, and he was meant to be here in this moment. Plus, he flew home for every holiday, all the birthdays and any vacation he went on was always to Bridgeport.

Conor and Mariana spent seven years in Los Angeles, when he was offered the head music producer position at Roofless Records in Miami. For the next seven years Conor and Mariana lived in Miami. He proposed to her and less than two weeks after proposing they found out they were pregnant. Everything was going great, they visited Bridgeport and they visited Spain before they had the baby, because they knew they wouldn’t be able to travel anytime soon after having the baby. The birth of their daughter came, and Mariana tragically passed during delivery. Conor’s heart broke into a million pieces, but he knew he had to be strong and hold his head up high for their beautiful little girl Elena (Shining Light) Olivia Rhodes because she was a shining light in the time of such darkness. Conor took Elena to Spain for the burial of Mariana, and so she could meet her mother’s family before heading home to Bridgeport to be close to his family.

Four years later, and he’s currently residing in Point Breeze with his four-year-old baby girl Elena. They say time heals the wounds, but Conor is still waiting for that time to come.

[handeaux]

17 Curious Facts About Cincinnati’s Findlay Market

There Can Be Only One Findlay Market is the last remaining public market in Cincinnati, surviving the demise of eight other markets on Canal (1829-64), Court (1864-1914), Sixth (1829-1960), Pearl (1804-1934), Wade (1848-98), and Fifth (1829-70) streets, the Jabez Elliott Flower Market (1890-1950) and Farmers Wholesale Market (c. 1815-1967). Findlay Market is the oldest continuously operated public market in Ohio.

Hand-Me-Down Bell When the old Pearl Street Market was razed in 1934, its antique tower bell was salvaged and installed at Findlay Market. The bell is rung on the morning of each market day.

Not Just For Shopping Cincinnati’s public markets offered more than food. They were popular venues for political meetings, served as polling sites during elections, and rallying spots for volunteer militia during emergency musters.

A City And A Market Honor General Findlay The Market is named for James Findlay (1770 - 1835), who purchased a large plot of land in what was then unincorporated territory north of Cincinnati. Findlay was an early settler, pioneer merchant, two-time mayor, U.S. congressman, and general in the Ohio militia. During his service in the War of 1812, he built a military outpost named Fort Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio. The City of Findlay grew up around the fort.

Old Tippecanoe & Findlay William Henry Harrison campaigned for the U.S. Presidency twice, unsuccessfully in 1836 and successfully in 1840. During his campaigns, he established headquarters in Cincinnati at the home of his good friends, James and Jane Findlay, on the east side of Broadway, between Third and Fourth.

Remember The Ladies Although Findlay Market also memorializes the general’s wife, Jane Irwin Findlay (1769 - 1851), her biography does not appear on the historic marker at the intersection of Race and West Elder streets. It is likely that she had as much to do with creating Findlay Market as her esteemed husband. Construction on the market began almost immediately after her will was probated in 1852. Mrs. Findlay also had a brief but prominent role in United States history. When William Henry Harrison was elected president in 1840 his wife Anna was too ill to travel. Her place as acting first lady was filled by Harrison’s daughter-in-law, Jane Irwin Harrison, assisted by her aunt, Jane Irwin Findlay, who was then seventy-three.

What Street? Although early references call it the Findlay Street Market, the market is located, and always has been, in the middle of Elder Street. Findlay Street runs a block north of the market.

The Market Has Two Founding Dates The cornerstone of Findlay Market was installed in October 1852. Construction dragged on for years because of disputes with contractors and difficulties with the new and unfamiliar all-iron design. The market didn’t open for business until 23 February 1855.

Innovative Iron The Findlay Market building was designed by Alfred West Gilbert (1816-1900), a civil engineer who was the city’s official surveyor and a member of the Water Works board. Gilbert’s open-air pavilion  employed a durable but unconventional cast and wrought iron frame, but no walls. It was among the first buildings constructed in the United States with this method, and among the few that have survived.

Shop At Your Own Risk For its first 60 years, Findlay Market was only an open-air shed, with no plumbing or electricity. Meat hung in the breeze, exposed to dust and flies. Market butchers stored meat in nearby brewery tunnels or relied on delivered ice. Renovations in 1902 and 1915 enclosed the structure and introduced water, refrigeration and lighting.

Boss Cox’s Racket While running Cincinnati as his own private fiefdom, George Barnsdale Cox let no detail escape his clutches. He saw to it that his friends got great deals on Findlay Market stalls, which they could “sublet” to actual vendors at exorbitant rates.

Early Promotions In connection with renovations in 1915, the Findlay Market Improvement Association ran several promotional events. In one, a brand-new $2 bill was hidden somewhere among market displays as a prize for the first shopper to find it. The Association also sponsored a red-head day at Chester Park.

Findlay Market Was Late To The Parade Although Findlay Market is synonymous with Opening Day in Cincinnati, Greg Rhodes, Cincinnati Reds team historian, has documented that the parade preceded the market’s involvement by at least 30 years. The Cincinnati Reds marked their initial home game with a parade between 1890 and 1902. When the team pulled out, booster clubs stepped in to run an annual parade. Findlay Market was not involved until 1920.

Butchers Only Until the 1930s, only meat vendors were allowed to rent stalls inside the Findlay Market building. Everyone else, including vegetable dealers, purveyors of pickles and spices, the butter and egg men and the fishmongers, were restricted to outdoor spaces.

Unhappy Centennial In 1954, just after Findlay Market celebrated its 100th birthday, Cincinnati’s City Planning Commission staff recommended demolishing the historic market and replacing it with “ a modern shopping center with an adequate parking area in line with modern planning concepts.”

An Erstwhile Municipal Utility In 2004, the City of Cincinnati transferred management of the market to the non-profit Corporation for Findlay Market. For the previous 152 years, Findlay, like all other public markets in town, had been managed as a municipal service by Cincinnati’s city government.

Necessary Renovation Although Findlay Market has been upgraded, repaired and restored on several occasions, the 1974 make-over was more urgent than some of the others. After the official re-opening, marked by Governor John Gilligan cutting a ribbon of sausages, a reporter asked an architect if he had done anything to retain the old-fashioned flavor of the place. “I developed some mechanical rats,” he said, “to run across the floor to make the old folks feel at home.”

[ao3feed-petermj]

by Angeeelatin

Tony Stark dies at the age of 57 of a heart attack. Looking for closure, Peter decides to write Tony's biography with the help of their close friends and family.

In that moment, stepping out of his suit and taking the time out of his day to actually talk to his mentee, I understood that Tony wanted me to be better than him. What he never knew; what I never told him was that there would never be anyone that could be better than Tony Stark himself. […]

An excerpt from page 57, written by Peter Parker.

Words: 5020, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 14 of Angel's Marvel One-Shots

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Iron Man (Movies)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: F/M

Characters: Pepper Potts, Morgan Stark, Peter Parker, Harley Keener, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Shuri (Marvel), T'Challa (Marvel), Michelle Jones, Ned Leeds, May Parker, Happy Hogan, Flash Thompson

Relationships: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Michelle Jones/Peter Parker, Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Peter Parker & The Avengers, Peter Parker & Harley Keener & Morgan Stark, Peter Parker & Michelle Jones & Ned Leeds, Happy Hogan/May Parker (Spider-Man), James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark

Additional Tags: Social Media, Future Fic, Dead Tony Stark, Peter Parker writes Tony Stark's biography, Tony Stark Acting as Peter Parker's Parental Figure, Precious Peter Parker, Tony Stark Dies, Flash Thompson Redemption, an excessive amount of the word 'truly', Pepper Potts Acting as Peter Parker's Parental Figure, Parent Tony Stark, Supportive Avengers, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, Character Death, Tony Stark Biography, IW? haha no, Not Avengers: Endgame (Movie) Compliant

[ofvagabxnds]

( YAYA DACOSTA. 34. FEMALE. SHE/HER. ) in texas, ELIZABETH RHODES is more commonly known as LIBBA. they’ve been living in stratford for NINE YEARS and currently ACCOUNTANT. some say they are INTENSE & ANALYTICAL but i’m more inclined to believe those that say they’re EAGER & DYNAMIC. if you walk by their house, you can sometimes hear WHO IS SHE ? by I MONSTER playing from their window. ( unforgiving instructions for the perfect cup of tea, a wayward drop of scarlet on a pristine white collar, heeding black cats that cross paths, and the lingering scent of gardenia on damp skin. ) 

BASICS

Full Name: Elizabeth James Rhodes 

Nickname(s): Libba, Libba James (by her parents)

Age: 34

Date of Birth: September 1, 1987

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas

Nationality: American

Gender: Female

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

Romantic Orientation: Heteromantic

Religion: Christian raised. 

Occupation: Accountant 

Language(s) Spoken: English, French

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Face Claim: Yaya Dacosta

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Height: 5’7”

Weight: 123 lbs or 56 kg

Build: Slim

PERSONALITY

Positive Traits: Articulate, Driven, Eager, Organized, Passionate 

Negative Traits: Eager to Please, Analytical, Intense, Sensitive

Goals/Desires: She thinks her current goal is to find a way to make it work with her husband, but that is only a projected (and faithless) hope. Her inner desire is to do something more with her life besides balancing the town bankrollers’ checkbooks. 

Fears: Complacency, Incompetence

Hobbies: The gun range, Exercising, Learning German

Quirks: Can’t write or present or generally handle a piece of paper that is bent or wrinkled, stupidly superstitious, has a very specific tea order. 

BIOGRAPHY

(TW murder)

Elizabeth James Carmichael had no choice but to be perfect. Perhaps if her sister had lived up to at least a quarter of the expectations their parents set forth, there would have been leeway left for Libba. No, Bridget had better things to do than to live in the shadow of their family name, which was unfortunate for anyone who stressed over the cleanliness of it. She never wanted the pressure, the responsibility, but rather enjoyed the bottomless bank accounts to fuel her less than high class habits. That’s why Libba was expected to never step a toe out of line. 

She had the grades, the tenacity, and the drive to be anything she set her sights on. Money, her father said, would never go out of style, and together they worked to make sure Libba got into a college that labeled her pristine with her masters in Accounting. What Libba never saw coming was the pitfall her parents took the year she finished school. Money, as her father said, ruled the world, and they were suddenly out of it. Deep and promising talks behind locked doors eventually landed Libba in a deal that she never asked for, nor was she given a chance to refuse. She married Vincent Rhodes six months after graduation, and thanks to her mother’s friend at the local society magazine, they were labeled longtime sweethearts. 

As always, Libba acted the part of the doting and loving wife, even if her husband did not. He owned an accounting firm in a smaller town, Stratford, where Libba moved to after the wedding, even despite knowing how her husband was awful with numbers and only inherited the firm from his father. Day in and day out she tapped away, handling her clients as well as her husband’s, all while he galavanted with other women and did his best to piddle their fortune away. There was no surprise it wasn’t long before her mind began to wander. She had always loved computers, finding inspiration in each line of code, so it only came natural that she began to dabble in the software she came in contact with. Too soon she breezed past her own company’s mainframe and began snooping  in those of her clients. Mostly she just looked, occasionally removing viruses so she could study them at her leisure, but never once leaving a trace behind. 

Libba grew brave with her illegal activities, too, which probably didn’t help keep her pastime a secret. A stranger turned associate caught on to her side business, but instead of turning her in, something extraordinary happened. He offered her a job. One, small role in a job, at least. Who cared if she didn’t know the details? She was hooked. Libba tried to refrain, telling herself that she only helped him because he had dirt on her, but deep down she knew better. It wasn’t her guilty conscience that made her fall into bed with him, and no amount of self righteous inner monologue would change that fact, nor did it stop her from seeking him out again. In fact, she only managed a matter of days before she sought him out and made it known she was available for other jobs...if he needed her. Despite her lacking finesse, it worked. Guns was the game, not that it mattered. 

Libba could have convinced herself murder was okay as alive as she felt. The more time she spent with him and away from her husband, the more herself she felt. For the first time in her life, she was free, making her own decisions and thriving in the center of the chaos. Slowly she began loosening her grip on the version of herself that she always tried to project. Love was attainable, within her reach, and so intoxicating she hardly minded when it got her husband killed. Of course, all of those years of pretending meant she was ready to put on the show it took to bury him. One job gone wrong was all it took to bring the fantasy to a screeching halt, though. No longer the accomplice, Libba suddenly found herself a victim in the very crime she was helping commit. Long after the police lights faded and the dust settled, her cohort was behind bars, and her family knew only of the horror of the last job. 

As soon as anyone would let her, she returned to work. It was easy to move on when no one knew the truth, but the burning wonder never disappeared. To her, it had been the most liberating and exhilarating experience of her life, breaking the law, being liberated from her husband, all of it. She was a logical person, but the fact that she ended up a hostage and her accomplice the one behind bars simply didn’t add up. Every day she goes through what she knew, and every day she comes up empty handed. She lives her normal life, playing the widow, trying to patch up the holes left behind from her escapades, and drowning in a sea of monotony, wondering if she let the spark slide by without putting up a fight. 

TLDR;

Libba Rhodes was born to a wealthy family in Dallas. She was the perfect child out of necessity, but when her family hit financial trouble her senior year of college, she was forced to marry for money. She moved to Stratford to become an accountant at her husband’s firm where she did most of the work and he cheated on her and spent their money. Because she liked to illegally hack business software, she drew attention that linked her with an arms dealer. That she then started an affair with and he killed her husband. Plot twist: he flipped the script on her during the last job and ended up in jail after he used her as a hostage. 

TIDBITS

Hasn’t spoken to her sister in nearly a decade.  When her husband died she sold his house and moved into a loft apartment.  She has a pet canary named Alfred.  Her favorite color is ice blue.  Surprisingly good at karaoke. Could do without Christmas, but does but up a Halloween tree. Hyper-organizer when in a good headspace, chaotic indifference when stressed. 

[all-pacas]

heyyyy i saw ur list of history nonfiction and loved it (ive actually started sapiens and am loving it so far), do u have any other general nonfiction books you've liked? i trust ur reviews and need something to fill the time with

more chances to talk about books????

a history of food in 100 recipes - william sitwell

so i personally find this shit fascinating.  the ‘100 objects’ book i mentioned last time set off a huge trend in list books, and some are pretty half-hearted, but if you find one about a subject you love? the book gets weak in the modern era because sitwell gets judgey, but if you, like me, are fascinated with the progression of cooking and food and society and the ways it reflects the era? excellent.

operation mincemeat - ben macintyre

if you want to read a WILD ww2 story, please read this book which is the absolutely true story about how MI6/ian flemming decided to plant false information for the germans to find by finding a random body in a morgue and creating an entirely fake life for him and then throwing it off the coast of spain. it’s incredible and weird and a heist movie waiting to be made.

born a crime - trevor noah

this is a biography rather than a history book, but it’s truly fascinating. trevor noah now hosts the daily show, but he was born in south africa during apartheid as the son of a black woman and a white german man. thus, literally his existence was illegal. it ends up being a fun story about him, but an excellent portrait of his mother, who is lovingly portrayed and just fascinating — apparently trevor’s name, for example, was chosen because in south africa there is a tradition of giving your children names that Mean something and will shape them, and his mother had no idea was “trevor” meant — and so named him that out of stubbornness that he shouldn’t have those rules on him. 

the world as it is - ben rhodes

look, you’re either the kind of person who recognizes his name immediately and hates me for suggesting this, or not. but rhodes was obama’s foreign policy speechwriter and later fox news scapegoat… he was with obama since the campaign, and, more importantly, he can actually write in an interesting way unlike a lot of political writers! the book covers his memories of the campaign and presidency, and is interesting on those merits. but if you don’t like reading about politics, this isn’t the book for you!

1000 books to read before you die - james mustich

i am a certain type of person, where i love reading reviews of things. books, movies, tv shows, i love it. this is a massive book, each book gets a few loving paragraphs or a page as to why it is worth reading, and best of all mustich is completely un-elitist and unpretentious about it: he recommends the classics, but he also recommends harry potter and the hunger games and even the da vinci code — you get the sense it’s all about enjoyment, not accomplishment or bragging rights, and it’s great fun just to flip through — to go from the old man and the sea to harriet the spy and see both treated as equally Important.

the odyssey - emily wilson translation

cheating! it’s not non-fiction, but it’s also such a classic, such a story,  and this translation, man! it takes all the pretension out, it makes it brisk and quick and real, and the prose! man!  Now goddess, child of Zeus/tell the story for our modern times./Find the beginning. come on!

[maksymilianmikolajczak]

Exhibition Review

Linda Louise McCartney.

Born in Scarsdale, New York, on 24th September 1941. She graduated from Scarsdale High School in Westchester County, New York in 1960 and went on to study Art History at the University of Arizona.

She has only attended photography night classes and after being told she has “a good eye for the pictures” she decided that’s all she needs and moved on to photography. Without much knowledge of any of the techniques and experience with a camera, she had managed to do a photo shoot with Rolling Stones on Hudson River as she used an unwanted invitation for Rolling Stones promotional party. She was chosen from hundreds of photographers and she was hoping for the best. After the photoshoot, Linda got her first big break as her work got published in an Editorial feature- her first of many magazine commissions.

Linda became a professional photographer in the mid-sixties. Her photography focused on the music revolution of the decade. While working at the Fillmore East in New York City she photographed lots of famous musicians including; The Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, The Kinks and many more. Later on, she has also begun shooting self-portraits and family shoots with her husband Paul McCartney and their four kids, Heather, Mary, Stella, and James.

Heather and Javelina - Arizona 1997 Colour C-type print.

Above print has been taken in 1997 in Arizona. I personally think Linda has shot this in medium format. Even though Linda shoots more in film she has effectively managed to shoot in colour too. She has taken the picture either during a sunset or a sunrise and she has taken advantage of the lighting she had available. Because of the lighting she had, there’s a lot of warm tones within the picture and set up a positive mood. The picture also doesn't look like it was planned however Linda was known for having a good eye for framing make this image even more successful. Linda also decided to take this picture of Heather as it would be one of many memories she would have of her child and also she’s her first daughter from the first marriage which would suggest she means a lot to Linda. While Heather is sitting in the bottom left corner the Javelina in the middle makes eye contact with Heather also creating some tension in the image as we don't exactly know what is the Javelina gonna do next. Javelina in the middle also brings our attention to Heather sitting in the corner because she’s directly staring at her. Immediately the viewer wants to know what the animal is looking at. This picture is a Colour C-type print which is quite common for Linda. Above picture has also been taken a year before Linda’s death which shows she didn't waste a minute spending time with her loved ones doing what she love’s the most.

Francesca Stern Woodman

Born on April 3, 1958, was an American photographer born in Denver, Colorado to artists George Woodman and Betty Woodman. She has started her journey with photography at a young age of thirteen and she continued with it until she died at a young age of 22. In 1972 She has attended a private Massachusetts boarding school where she has been further developing her photographic skills. Francesca is best known for her black and white pictures featuring either herself or female models often nude in empty interiors which show a lot of intimacy and can be seen as quite controversial and abstract. Within her pictures, she’s often hidden behind object’s and furniture which convey an underlying sense of human fragility. Many of her photographs show women, naked or clothed, blurred due to movement and long exposure times, merging with their surroundings, or whose faces are obscured.

Untitled, from Eel Series, Venice, Italy 1978  gelatin silver print on paper

The image above is a self-portrait of Francesca Woodman taken in Italy 1978 from her Eel Series. Just slightly off-centre there’s a white bowl lying on the textured background floor. This immediately creates contrast and separation between the floor and the bowl. To the right, we can see Woodman with her face down, naked, in a vulnerable state curving around the bowl similar to the Eel in the bowl. Using her arm she has effectively framed the bowl in the centre of the image making it the focal point.  Her outstretched arm is blurred as though in movement, and, like her legs, is largely in shadow, where on the other hand her naked back catches soft light that falls on her. Within her picture’s Francesca has great use of natural lighting which she can manipulate effectively to suit her style. This photograph was created  during the time that Woodman spent studying abroad with the Rhode Island School of Design. Her roommate and close friend Sloan Rankin wrote: “I remember carrying bags of live eels with Woodman across Rome from Piazza Vittoria in preparation for what would become Woodman’s Eel Series”. While studying in Rome she has come into contact with the “Symbolist work of Max Klinger,” whose influence can be seen in this series. This picture has also been taken one year before Francesca’s death. She has killed herself at the age of 22. Within her picture’s you can see how lost she was and how depression has also affected her work.

This image was processed on a gelatin silver print on paper which was and still is a popular photographic process available for the black and white film.  Although Woodman used different cameras and film formats during her career, most of her photographs were taken with medium format cameras producing 2-1/4 by 2-1/4 inch (6x6 cm) square negatives.

Personally, I prefer Francesca Woodman’s work as I feel like I can connect more with it and it’s a style that I find intriguing, however, both photographer’s have amazing style’s and also use amazing techniques within their picture’s

Bibliography.

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/francesca-woodman-10512/finding-francesca

http://www.artnet.com/artists/francesca-woodman/biography

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/woodman-untitled-from-eel-series-venice-italy-ar00348

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesca_Woodman

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/retrospective-exhibition-of-linda-mccartneys-photography-to-be-shown-at-kelvingrove-art-gallery-museum

https://www.lindamccartney.com/tag/colour/

https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/linda-mccartney-retrospective-1965-1997

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin_silver_process

[ao3feed-thorki]

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QQp3FX Dillian

by Dillian

This Renaissance AU comes of watching a biography of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, back-to-back with Bette Davis' Now Voyager.

The marriage between Thor and Loki is an unhappy one, but it is one they hope to maintain, in order to protect the fragile alliance between their two countries. When the merchant, Tony Stark, arrives on a visit to the court at Hlidskjalf, a connection forms between him and Loki. Both of them married to another, neither wants it, but neither can break away, until the time comes for Tony to return to Midgard. Afterward, there are consequences that both must deal with, for having allowed themselves to grow so close.

Words: 5380, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies), Thor (Movies)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Other

Characters: Thor (Marvel), Loki (Marvel), Odin (Marvel), Frigga (Marvel), Fandral (Marvel), Volstagg (Marvel), Hogun (Marvel), Skurge | The Executioner, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Sif (Marvel)

Relationships: Loki/Thor (Marvel), Loki/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Sif/Thor (Marvel), Jane Foster/Thor, Frigga | Freyja/Odin (Marvel)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Renaissance, Gender-fluid Loki, Bisexual Tony Stark, mild adultery

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QQp3FX

[ao3feed-frostiron]

by Dillian

This Renaissance AU comes of watching a biography of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, back-to-back with Bette Davis' Now Voyager.

The marriage between Thor and Loki is an unhappy one, but it is one they hope to maintain, in order to protect the fragile alliance between their two countries. When the merchant, Tony Stark, arrives on a visit to the court at Hlidskjalf, a connection forms between him and Loki. Both of them married to another, neither wants it, but neither can break away, until the time comes for Tony to return to Midgard. Afterward, there are consequences that both must deal with, for having allowed themselves to grow so close.

Words: 2708, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies), Thor (Movies)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Other

Characters: Thor (Marvel), Loki (Marvel), Odin (Marvel), Frigga (Marvel), Fandral (Marvel), Volstagg (Marvel), Hogun (Marvel), Skurge | The Executioner, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Sif (Marvel)

Relationships: Loki/Thor (Marvel), Loki/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Sif/Thor (Marvel), Jane Foster/Thor, Frigga | Freyja/Odin (Marvel)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Renaissance, Gender-fluid Loki, Bisexual Tony Stark, mild adultery

[ao3feed-lokiangst]

Tarry Awhile, Lover

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QQp3FX

by Dillian

This Renaissance AU comes of watching a biography of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, back-to-back with Bette Davis' Now Voyager.

The marriage between Thor and Loki is an unhappy one, but it is one they hope to maintain, in order to protect the fragile alliance between their two countries. When the merchant, Tony Stark, arrives on a visit to the court at Hlidskjalf, a connection forms between him and Loki. Both of them married to another, neither wants it, but neither can break away, until the time comes for Tony to return to Midgard. Afterward, there are consequences that both must deal with, for having allowed themselves to grow so close.

Words: 5380, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies), Thor (Movies)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Other

Characters: Thor (Marvel), Loki (Marvel), Odin (Marvel), Frigga (Marvel), Fandral (Marvel), Volstagg (Marvel), Hogun (Marvel), Skurge | The Executioner, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Sif (Marvel)

Relationships: Loki/Thor (Marvel), Loki/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Sif/Thor (Marvel), Jane Foster/Thor, Frigga | Freyja/Odin (Marvel)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Renaissance, Gender-fluid Loki, Bisexual Tony Stark, mild adultery

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QQp3FX

[lovelyirony]

fuckin,, warwidow + actors au for the headcanons thing

The thing about acting was this: it was lying. Which Natasha has done all her life, not to brag or anything. It’s becoming someone else, someone that you either like or hate. But you have their mannerisms, their quirks, everything. Sometimes there are accents, sometimes not. She’s known for her rules as femme fatales, the sharp words, and the dry humor exhibited. 

So when her agent Tony decides she should be in a romantic comedy with one James Rhodes, she has to say no. 

“I’m not gonna play a ditsy girl who falls in love like that,” Natasha says. 

“You should!” Tony argues. “It’s not like the Hallmark movies that you swear you never watch! It’s about two super spies! And I personally read the script! It’s not as cringy as the Netflix specials!” 

Natasha concedes to do it after Tony buys her a churro and tells her that he personally knows James Rhodes, and he’s a good actor. She recognizes the name; he won an Oscar for doing a biography for someone or other. He’s also in a lot of action films, likes doing his own stunts. 

She decides to read up on him--or rather, watch him. 

Turns out, the man is good. His actions are deliberate, lines delivered like he doesn’t even think about them. Natural, that’s good. Natasha can deal with natural. She can see why Tony likes him; when she clicks on an interview, she’s pleasantly surprised. He’s easy to talk to, funny, and takes no bullshit. 

Exactly her type. Fuck. 

Natasha doesn’t like relationships in Hollywood. They happen without her knowing at times, or they happen and it’s...a disaster. The only couple she knows that has made it is Bruce and Thor, and that’s because while Bruce is a famed man for his revolutionary work in film, most everyone does not know him beyond “Thor’s boyfriend.” Which Bruce is fine with. 

She meets with the producers, they talk, it sounds like it’s going to be a good production. They’re starting stunt work soon. They clarify that they want this to be good--she’s not going to immediately fall in love. For most of the movie, Natasha isn’t even going to think of a relationship until a small moment. She likes that. 

Too bad the movie actually happens like that. 

James Rhodes shows up in a t-shirt and old jeans, looking unfairly like a model at ease in a campaign. She’s quickly coming to understand that ease is his thing. 

They read over the lines, making notes on what they hope to have changed or an action that should be there. 

She gets to calling him Jim. He calls her Nat. It’s easy like that. He makes sure that her chai tea is ready every morning during early starts, and that lunch is provided or made. She makes sure he doesn’t over-pace himself. They work well together. Better than anyone has seen. 

Jim likes Nat. He does. She’s to the point, direct, and gorgeous to boot. She doesn’t put up with bullshit well, can morph herself into whatever the movie needs, and has his taste in chocolate. (Extremely dark chocolate, bitter to taste, hint of sweetness at the end.) 

In the movie, Jim’s character falls in love quickly. Well, kind of. She breaks into a vault, trips on her face, and that’s it. Natasha does a perfect trip, makes a weird noise, and Jim knows he’s down for the count.

You’re not supposed to fall for coworkers, but here he is on his way down. 

[ao3feed-lokitony]

Tarry Awhile, Lover

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QQp3FX

by Dillian

This Renaissance AU comes of watching a biography of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, back-to-back with Bette Davis' Now Voyager.

The marriage between Thor and Loki is an unhappy one, but it is one they hope to maintain, in order to protect the fragile alliance between their two countries. When the merchant, Tony Stark, arrives on a visit to the court at Hlidskjalf, a connection forms between him and Loki. Both of them married to another, neither wants it, but neither can break away, until the time comes for Tony to return to Midgard. Afterward, there are consequences that both must deal with, for having allowed themselves to grow so close.

Words: 2708, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies), Thor (Movies)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Other

Characters: Thor (Marvel), Loki (Marvel), Odin (Marvel), Frigga (Marvel), Fandral (Marvel), Volstagg (Marvel), Hogun (Marvel), Skurge | The Executioner, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Sif (Marvel)

Relationships: Loki/Thor (Marvel), Loki/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Sif/Thor (Marvel), Jane Foster/Thor, Frigga | Freyja/Odin (Marvel)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Renaissance, Gender-fluid Loki, Bisexual Tony Stark, mild adultery

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QQp3FX

[opera-ghosts]

Hauk, Minnie (1851–1929)

American dramatic soprano, the first international opera superstar to emerge from the U.S., who was particularly celebrated for her Carmen. Name variations: Minnie Hauck. Born Amalia Mignon Hauck in New York City, on November 16, 1851; died at Villa Tribschen, Switzerland, on February 6, 1929; daughter of James Hauck; married Baron Ernst von Hesse-Wartegg.

The first full-fledged, internationally acclaimed operatic prima donna to be produced by the United States, Minnie Hauk was born Amalia Mignon Hauck (she later chose to drop the c) in New York City during 1851. She was the only child of a German-born father, a carpenter who had fled Germany after the failure of the 1848 revolution, and his American wife. The Hauck family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where at the age of five, Minnie attended her first theatrical performance while seated on her mother's lap. She later reminisced about this experience, recalling that after returning home she did not even look at her dolls, "sitting in a row near my bed. I had seen at the theatre much larger, much finer ones." Stagestruck, the young girl became obsessed by Jenny Lind , "the Swedish Nightingale." She owned many pictures of the singer, read a biography of Lind "at least once a week," and named her dogs and cats Jenny.

In the late 1850s, the Hauck family moved again, this time to the frontier town of Sumner City, north of Kansas City and situated on the Missouri River. With her father working as a boatbuilder and her mother running a boarding house, Minnie was often on her own. She took advantage of her freedom to stroll across the prairies, often winding up in a nearby Native American camp. As she recalled, "The Indians would call me their 'Prairie flower'; they would give me fruit, carry me in their arms, and take me for a ride on their little ponies. Their children would show me how to string a bow and shoot an arrow, would dance or have a sham battle or a pony race for my amusement, and, towards evening, they would accompany me a good distance on my homeward way." Alarmed by their wandering daughter, the Haucks sent her off to a girl's seminary in nearby Leavenworth. Here, her irrepressible spirits quickly got her expelled.

After a fierce flood on the Missouri River virtually destroyed Sumner City, the Haucks again decided to move on. James Hauck built a boat, loaded it with his small family and all their worldly possessions, and they set sail for New Orleans where life would be easier. Just south of St. Louis, however, their houseboat was rammed by a steamboat and demolished. As Minnie and her parents floated in the water, clutching debris from their vessel, they watched everything they owned sink into the mighty Mississippi. The steamboat's captain rescued the shaken family and took them free of charge to their destination. By the time the Haucks arrived in New Orleans, the Civil War had begun, the city found itself blockaded, and economic life was at a virtual standstill. Soon, however, Minnie's parents were able to find employment and a modest lifestyle was enjoyed by the family. Minnie attended the Belleville School and took singing lessons from a European basso, Gregorio Curto.

Before long, she was facing an audience, singing in the city's grand opera house at a charity concert to raise money for wounded soldiers.

Convinced of her talent, Minnie's parents again relocated. In late 1862, with the Civil War still raging, they sailed from New Orleans to the Florida Keys, and from there to New York City. In Manhattan, Minnie soon became a musical sensation, regularly singing in the homes of the social elite, including Naval Commodore Ritchie, August and Caroline Perry Belmont , and racetrack entrepreneur Leonard Jerome, father of Jennie Jerome (Churchill) . After a brief but intensive course of study with Achille Errani, who had gained fame as a teacher of a number of successful American sopranos, Minnie made her operatic debut, singing in La Sonnambula at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on October 13,1866. A month later, she made her Manhattan debut at the Winter Garden, singing the role of Prascovia in Giacomo Meyerbeer's L'Étoile du Nord. The New York Times' assessment of her performance was highly enthusiastic, noting that she was "an artist who in time will rank among the foremost. Her power is quite equal to her brilliancy, and experience will beyond a doubt develop in her an artist quite equal, if not superior, to any we have yet heard."

Youthful and supremely confident, Minnie Hauk quickly emerged as a prima donna, adding major roles to her repertoire at a dizzying pace. The only component left to secure her career was a trip to Europe, and funds for this undertaking were provided by the music publisher Gustav Schirmer, whose confidence in Hauk's talents was repaid quite literally with interest soon after her first engagements on the Continent. Traveling with her mother—who would serve as Hauk's best friend, constant companion and closest adviser—the young soprano's first stop was London. Although no engagements materialized in the British capital, Hauk attended the opera, made a number of important connections, and carefully studied the singing techniques of several of the city's reigning singing stars including Adelina Patti and Christine Nilsson . In Paris, however, she secured an engagement in the role of Amina in La Sonnambula. Hauk became the instant darling of the French public not only because of her vocal and dramatic talents, but also because her colorful American frontier background provided great copy for the local newspapers, which described her in fantastic terms as a half-civilized Pocahontas figure who in the wilds of the New World was accustomed to riding a mustang bareback.

Within months of her Paris debut, Hauk was singing in the major opera houses of London, The Hague, and Russia. In Russia, she appeared in both Moscow and St. Petersburg's imperial opera houses, and it was during these Russian engagements that she began to earn a reputation for displaying a fiery stage temperament. A simmering artistic jealousy between Hauk and Désirée Artôt , then one of the leading sopranos on the Russian operatic scene, came to a head during a performance of Don Giovanni. Artôt's husband, Mariano Padilla, jerked Hauk's hand at the end of their duet in Act I. Convinced that Padilla was intentionally trying to cause her to break a high note, Hauk slapped him in the face. The audience, entranced by the events, gave both singers such an ovation that the entire duet had to be repeated.

Hauk's Russian successes made her an internationally recognized singing sensation. For the next decade, she would sing mostly in Vienna and Berlin, making her Viennese debut in May 1870. She quickly mastered the German language both to meet the requirements of daily living and because the non-German operatic repertory was customarily sung in German. At the time of her first appearance in Vienna in the role of Marguerite in Gounod's Faust, Hauk had not yet completely mastered the complexities of German. A slip-up she made in performance served to endear her to Vienna's music enthusiasts: responding to Faust, she told him she intended to go home ungekleidet (undressed) instead of the correct word, unbegleitet (unaccompanied). The sophisticated Viennese audience was delighted by the imperfect German of the American girl from the Wild West, and she became an immediate star. She enjoyed a comparable success at the Berlin Opera, where she starred in, among other popular operas of the day, Goetz's Taming of the Shrew.

Despite her late and rather sketchy vocal training, Minnie Hauk was a quick study and mastered not only the German language, adding dozens of roles to her repertory in a brief period, but also learned roles in exotic languages. In Budapest, for example, she sang the role of Maria in Ferenc Erkel's Hunyadi László in the original Magyar, even though she never learned a sentence of conversational Hungarian and learned the words, as she would later note, "like a parrot." Now a world-class artist, Hauk met many of the composers of operas she starred in including Richard Wagner whom she met after a Budapest performance of Der fliegende Holländer. On that occasion, she told him that she always made an effort to "act in accordance with the symphonic indications of the orchestra." A grateful Wagner replied, "That is right, that is right! Thank goodness! Here is an artist who knows how to act and sing according to my intentions."

Always willing to sing in contemporary operas that were fresh to the ear and even controversial, Hauk was glad for the opportunity to sing in Bizet's Carmen. In May 1878, when that opera was only three years old, she sang in the starring role at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. Her performance was a huge hit, at least in part because in order to totally master her role she had immersed herself in the French language, read the Prosper Mérimée short story the opera was based on, and took dancing lessons from the Monnaie's ballet master. On June 22, 1879, Hauk performed Carmen in London, singing it in Italian, the operatic language favored by British audiences of the day. Here, too, it was an immense success. Although she married the wealthy Austrian journalist and globetrotter Baron Ernst von Hesse-Wartegg in 1881, Hauk had no intentions of abandoning her immensely successful singing career, which by the 1880s had made her name as well-known in the United States as it had become in Europe during the previous decade. She toured constantly in the United States and Canada, and was invited by President Chester A. Arthur to perform at the White House.

Fearing that her success as Carmen might doom her to being seen as a one-role artist, Hauk was constantly searching for, and mastering, new roles, which included Hector Berlioz' rarely performed La Damnation de Faust. Among other novelties, Hauk introduced Massenet's Manon to the United States in December 1885. She sang at New York's Metropolitan Opera during the 1890–91 season, and her appearance in Carmen on April 2, 1891, marked her final New York performance. As a last hurrah for her fans, she founded the Minnie Hauk Grand Opera Company in mid-1891 to make an American tour. During this tour in Chicago on September 30, 1891, she appeared in Mascagni's sensational new opera Cavalleria Rusticana, in what was one of its earliest American performances. With the death of her mother in 1896, Minnie Hauk retired from the hectic but stimulating life of an operatic prima donna. She and her husband retired to their Swiss villa outside of Lucerne, the same Tribschen that Richard Wagner had occupied at the time he composed his masterpieces Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the mighty Ring cycle of music dramas. Here, she and her husband lived an idyllic existence until World War I destroyed their Austrian investments. After her husband died in 1918, Hauk became virtually destitute, a situation she attempted to remedy by dictating her memoirs, even though she was enfeebled and blind. Fortunately, operatic star Geraldine Farrar and the Music Lovers Foundation raised sufficient funds to make Hauk's final years financially comfortable. Minnie Hauk died at Villa Tribschen on February 6, 1929.

On the photo she is seen as Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust".