One of the most famous authors of the 20th Century got into a duel over an accusation by a literary critic that he was gay. It turned out that Proust really was gay, but so was the literary critic. The two got into a duel over the publicized claim, although the two of them survived. The duel adds insight into life in Paris at the turn of the century, and it proves to be a colorful illustration of Proust's life. #history #duel #literature #reading #booktok

This week, we are diving into one of my favorite department stores of the 19th/20th century, I. Magnin! I. Magnin was a luxury department store chain founded by Dutch immigrants Mary Ann and Isaac Magnin in 1876. The company started as a small shop selling baby clothing, which Mary Ann made. The store quickly expanded to include high-end bridal wear, lingerie, and other women's fashions made from expensive European fabrics. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed the store, th