This week's links. Enjoy.
Unsung Literary Heroines
Fanny Price, the heroine of Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park, has often been unfairly dismissed by readers and critics. To mark the novel's 200th anniversary, The Guardian invited writers to celebrate literary heroines who have been overshadowed by their more famous sisters.
What Do Conductors Do?
If you've ever wondered what it is exactly that conductors do when waving their arms in front of an orchestra, here's the explanation.
New York City's Last Great Secret: The Abandoned Island
Slide show of images from former architect Christopher Payne's new book about North Brother Island, located in the East River between the Bronx and Rikers Island and nearly forgotten today. Fascinating glimpse of New York history.
How I Learned to Love Vegetables — By Following The Grateful Dead
Lovely food memoir piece by Rosie Schaap over at Bon Appétit that will have you both admiring her independent spirit and feeling a need to go and absorb the atmosphere at your local independent health food store. Wonderful.
New Prospects
A Brooklyn architect shows what a little elbow grease, a healthy dose of naïveté and a decade can accomplish. Great reno from Dwell with excellent ideas.
Tattooed Porcelain Figures by Jessica Harrison
Love these — artist Jessica Harrison takes sugary porcelain figurines of women in ball gowns and adds vintage sailor tattoos from neck to wrist. Fun social commentary.
5 Critic Favourites at Cannes
A short list of the films currently wowing the critics at the Cannes Film Festival — some good stuff.
Warm French Lentil Salad with Bacon and Herbs
Comforting food that makes a great lunch or light supper. I'd serve this with a simple green salad.
(photo louise rastall)