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RICHARD KURIN

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RICHARD KURIN is the Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution. A former Fulbright fellow with a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, he is the author of The Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects; Madcap May: Mistress of Myth, Men, and Hope; and Reflections of a Culture Broker: A View from the Smithsonian. Kurin has been awarded the Smithsonian Secretary’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Service and the American Folklore Society’s Botkin Prize for lifetime achievement.

Books by RICHARD KURIN

Hope Diamond

An entertaining and well-researched history of the Hope diamond

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Madcap May

The life story of the outrageous May Yohe (1866-1938), a popular entertainer of humble American origins who charmed her way to international acclaim despite tragic losses.

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