Mary Kay McBrayer
Mary Kay McBrayer is the author of America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster. You can find her short works at Oxford American, Narratively, Mental Floss, and FANGORIA, among other publications. She co-hosts Everything Trying to Kill You, the comedy podcast that analyzes your favorite horror movies from the perspectives of women of color. Follow Mary Kay McBrayer on Instagram and Twitter, or check out her author site here.
A History of the Haka, a Traditional Māori Dance
Learn the roots of this ritual that hails from New Zealand.
The Long History of Toxic Cosmetics
From lead-based eyeliner to radium-infused lipstick.
Catherine Parr Was King Henry VIII's Last Wife
She's the subject of a new historical film, Firebrand.
The "Madness" of King George III
Britain's longest-reigning male monarch suffered from recurrent bouts of a mysterious illness.
San Pedro Claver: The Slave of the Slaves?
This Jesuit priest is the patron saint of enslaved people, but his legacy is complicated.
How Jenny Geddes Sparked a Rebellion in 17th-Century Scotland
The street seller caused a commotion in church.
The "Real" Witches of Macbeth
The Weird Sisters in the Scottish play may have been based on real people.
Who Was Joséphine Bonaparte?
Delving into the life of the French empress.
The History of Fashion in 10 Books
From corsets to women's military uniforms.
Voodoo Macbeth: Orson Welles' Historic Production With a Black Cast
It launched many careers and brought Shakespeare to Harlem.
An Interview with Stephen Williams, Director of the Historical Film Chevalier
Get an inside look at this highly anticipated new movie.
8 Eye-Opening Books About Colonialism
European empires once controlled most of the globe—what's their legacy?
8 Ancient Cities That Are Still Standing
Entire civilizations have crumbled around them, yet these cities remain remarkably unchanged.
Hatshepsut: Egypt's Forgotten Female Pharaoh, Re-examined
Attempts to destroy her legacy have been unsuccessful.
