Women were moving from crinolines to bustles as the 1870s began. One small revolution of sorts crept into what women wore. Clothing became modified to allow women some greater freedom to participate in sports. The 1870s saw more women taking up tennis, golfing, roller skating, and hiking. Skirts were shortened a little without raising shouts of immorality. Trousers, however, were still beyond the pale.

Garments for basketball, bicycling, and swimming were just a few decades away. Social change was happening, albeit slowly. While seeming less obvious in Europe, and particularly in England, the growth of industrialization and urbanization in America brought cause for hope. An economic boom marked Britain’s rising Empire of far-flung colonies. The desire for upward mobility was strong, infecting the young and the restless. With optimism on the move, changes in fashion were more likely than ever to happen.

Are you interested in creative nonfiction writing? Would you like to know the ins and outs of this exciting genre, from writing dynamics to ethical issues? Then come along with me on a two-hour voyage of discovery, Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing. We’ll set sail from the South Court Classrooms on Saturday, June 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and repeat this trip on Saturday, July 11, at the same time and place.