Jane Alexander

Joined: Apr 26, 2021

Jane Alexander is a freelance writer based in the UK. She focuses on literature, history, and the visual arts, and has previously written for Londonist, among other publications.

Green hat on green background above pot of gold coins

An image of inventor Harriet Tracy layered over an advertisement for an early safety elevator brake and self-closing door.

The flower moon rising over Van, Turkey in 2021.

These traditional Swedish toys are much more than a classic holiday gift or travel souvenir.

Santa would look a lot different, if not for Thomas Nast.

Thomas Nast’s illustrations of Santa for ‘Harper’s Weekly’ shaped the Father Christmas we know today.

The of Apollo, circa the late 2nd century CE.

Many old statues from past civilizations have been disfigured in a remarkably similar way.

Whether they’re depicting unholy looks at hell or terrifying visions of war, these artworks will send a shiver down your spine.

Edgar Wallace wanted to promote his first novel with more than just traditional ads—but his brilliant idea almost became his downfall.

Time can be particularly complicated—especially when politics and war are involved.

Early versions of the rhyme included the words ‘bloody’ and ‘blooming’—and sometimes didn’t feature a spider at all.

This simple nursery rhyme comes with a number of unanswered questions about everything from its authorship to who inspired it.

The cover of Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Brideshead Revisited.’

From the accident that led to its creation to the real people who inspired key characters.

One of Henri Matisse’s cut-out artworks.

From Matisse’s cut-outs to Van Gogh’s self-portraits—and beyond.

Cultures throughout history have come up with their own unique ways to track the days, months, and seasons.

Not a place you would expect to see members of a clergy playing a game.

From "scrabbling games" to hunting hares, these old Easter traditions have fallen out of fashion.

Jane Alexander

Joined: Apr 26, 2021

The History of How Leprechauns Became Associated with Gold

5 Mothers Behind Famous Inventions That Transformed Daily Life

6 Historical Figures With Powerful Mothers

The History of How Each Month’s Full Moon Got its Name

How the Dala Horse Became a Symbol of Sweden

Thomas Nast, the Political Cartoonist Who Illustrated Santa Claus

Why Are So Many Old Statues Missing Their Noses?

6 of History’s Scariest Paintings

How a Book Marketing Ploy Almost Ruined Edgar Wallace, Literature’s “King of Thrillers”

6 Strange Time Zone Disputes

“Itsy Bitsy Spider”: The History of the Classic Nursery Rhyme

“Frère Jacques”: The History of the Classic Nursery Rhyme

8 Facts You Might Not Have Known About Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Brideshead Revisited’

5 Artists Who Created Work While Recuperating From Illness or Injury

5 Defunct Calendars

5 Old-Timey Easter Traditions We Don’t See Anymore