Rodin, a Cadaver, and the Scandal that Nearly Derailed Him

Plus, The Oft-Forgotten California Islands Are Cooler Than You Imagine

Manage newsletters View in browser The entire world in your inbox. Hello all—   Thanksgiving is a mere two days away, and hopefully you're better prepared than I! Luckily, everyone knows I'm a terrible cook, so expectations are pretty low for my contribution. Over the long Thanksgiving weekend I'll be closing out our Where to Go in 2022 list, so if you've got any ideas send them my way!   This week's lead story is a fun one, especially if you're planning a visit to Paris soon. One of the city's loveliest spaces is the Musee Rodin, which is housed in the Hôtel Biron with some of the most romantic gardens in the whole city. On a recent visit, I spotted a little caption about how Rodin was upset by accusations that he used casts of models for his sculptures, and that he had even been accused of using a cadaver! Erin Zaleski, our Paris correspondent, dug into the story for us, and has delivered a fascinating tale about the turn-of-the-century's most famous sculptor. Our second big feature comes from our It's Still a Big World series on underrated destinations. Laura Studarus grew up on the California coast, but like many, she never felt the need to explore the nearby Channel Islands. This year, with COVID limiting her travel, she finally hopped on a ferry and checked them out. After reading her piece, it's likely you will too!    —William O'Connor, Travel Editor Rodin, a Cadaver, and the Scandal that Nearly Derailed Him It was the sculpture that was supposed to make the once rejected sculptor successful. But almost as soon as it was unveiled he was faced with a shocking accusation. The Oft-Forgotten California Islands Are Cooler Than You Imagine It took a year off for me to finally explore a major hometown treasure. Forget Marco Polo! The Real Origin of Spaghetti & Tomato Sauce We talked to author and Italian food scholar Massimo Montanari about his new book, "A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce," and the real history of this staple. The Next Cocktail Frontier? Smaller Cities This episode of the podcast Life Behind Bars is about why some of the top bartenders are leaving big cities and features chef Cheetie Kumar and bartender John Gertsen. This Away Carry-On Completely Improved My Travel Experience  Scouting Report: This suitcase is sleek, fits in the overhead compartment, and rolls with ease. Traveling has never been more of a breeze.   If you have found it is time to finally invest in a good-quality carry-on suitcase, don't overlook this cult-favorite from Away:  The Bigger Carry-On. With over 3,000 positive reviews and a 4.9-star rating, the luggage promises to fit perfectly in the overhead bin of most airplanes and feel lightweight enough to bring with you in your car or on the train, too.   As someone who has now used it three times including on a long car ride and plane ride, I can confirm it does just that—and more. But its lightweight feel and compact size aren't the only star features it has, the carry-on also comes with a hidden laundry bag inside for easy washing at home, an ejectable USB charger to charge your phone and devices, and lots of space to store all the clothing anyone could possibly need. Plus, even though I opted to purchase the color black, the bag also comes in seven other colors, ranging from blush to navy. It's the carry-on I always wished for, but could never find.   If that wasn't enough, the bag's exterior is composed of a super durable polycarbonate hard shell to ensure none of my possessions (like my laptop, beauty products, the like) break during any turbulence or bumpy rides. The luggage is also made with 360-degree spinner wheels that make it super easy to drag on the long trek through the airport or train station.   As someone relatively new to Away luggage, I can officially say that it's worth every penny. The hype surrounding their products is real and after using it, I can understand why. The Carry-On is well made, durable, and fits enough clothing for about five days (if you pack light).   — Scouted by Rachel Dube SHOP AT AWAY >>> "A trip home to sleep in our childhood bedrooms feels reassuring nostalgic, but we can't just "go back to normal." Navigating the emotions is difficult but we aren't the first to find ourselves in this situation, and we have some assistance in the form of a new book about homecomings and the Odyssey." — with Thanksgiving just a couple of days away, Candida Moss tells us to look to the Greeks for a little aid in coping. OMG I Want to Rent This House!      Edinburgh, Scotland (Vrbo): Now, your vacation is your vacation and we wouldn't dream of telling you how to plan it given how desperately you need a break. (No, those faces you've been pulling on the office Zooms are not subtle.) But just take a look at this perfect picture of a castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Take in all that space, the vast grounds, and what we're assuming is an unpictured dungeon. What we're hinting at here is that, given the upcoming winter holidays and that this fabulous palace sleeps 24, it might be the perfect time to plan a long overdue family reunion. Here, you can reconnect (or do what our family affectionately calls f-cubed—forced family fun), while still having the space for everyone to spread out—waaaaay out—when things inevitably start to get a little tense.   You and your entire retinue—from the spoiled princess that is your sister to the court jester that is your weird uncle—will fit into these grounds. The 12 bedrooms sleep 24 guests, with nine rooms in the main castle and another three in the Gate Lodge for those who need some distance.   Book Your Stay: Kirkliston Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland $10,720/night via Vrbo   Don't miss previous OMG, I Want to Rent This House posts, which spotlight the most spectacular and unique homes that you can actually stay in.  Check out the full archives.  The Mysterious Man Behind the World's Most Famous House   Rare is the person whose work is one of the most mentioned in the world and yet most would finding naming them difficult. But such is the situation with James Hoban, the architect who designed and oversaw the construction of the White House. Only a silhouette exists of his likeness and his papers burned after he died. But a new book (and the latest selection for our series on exciting new coffee table books, Just Booked) from the White House Historical Association, James Hoban: Designer & Builder of the White House sheds at least some light on this elusive figure.   The book's first half is a collection of essays from scholars examining the man who through one work alone would shape American visual identity. Topics covered include his religion, his ownership of the enslaved, his collaboration with George Washington, and his life growing up in Ireland.   The second half of the book is a collection of images mostly focusing on the influences he likely found while living and working in Ireland and then how those influences found their way into his designs for the White House.   Check out our previous selections for our series on gorgeous travel-related coffee table books, Just Booked. BUY AT THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION  >>               Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts or newsletters, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales. © Copyright 2021 The Daily Beast Company LLC  555 W. 18th Street, New York NY 10011  Privacy Policy If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. To ensure delivery of these emails, please add emails@thedailybeast.com to your address book. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, or think you have received this message in error, you can safely unsubscribe.