Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Original Stories from Real Life

Original Stories from Real Life

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of the TFAR nomination of the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add   to the top of the discussion and   at the bottom, then complete a new TFAR nom underneath.

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/April 26, 2014 by BencherliteTalk 20:25, 20 April 2014 (UTC)



Original Stories from Real Life is the only complete work of children's literature by the 18th-century British feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Original Stories begins with a frame story that sketches out the education of two young girls by their maternal teacher Mrs. Mason, followed by a series of didactic tales. The book was first published by Joseph Johnson in 1788; a second, illustrated edition, with engravings (pictured) by William Blake, was released in 1791 and remained in print for around a quarter of a century. Wollstonecraft employed the then burgeoning genre of children's literature to promote the education of women and an emerging middle-class ideology. She argued that women would be able to become rational adults if they were educated properly as children, which was not a widely held belief in the 18th century, and contended that the nascent middle-class ethos was superior to the court culture represented by fairy tales and to the values of chance and luck found in chapbook stories for the poor. Wollstonecraft, in developing her own pedagogy, also responded to the works of the two most important educational theorists of the 18th century: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
 * Most recent similar articles: Rambles in Germany and Italy (February 13, 2014) and perhaps Nancy Mitford (April 7, 2014)
 * Main editors: User:Wadewitz
 * Promoted: 2007
 * Reasons for nomination: Adrianne Wadewitz, known here as User:Wadewitz and previously as User:Awadewit, edited Wikipedia for nearly a full decade. In that time, she wrote three dozen featured articles, many of which were about her academic specialty (British children's literature, which, in 2011, she received her doctorate in). Sadly and far too prematurely, Adrianne passed away in a climbing accident this week. According to her partner, two memorial services are being held, one on April 14 and the other on April 26. I think it would be very nice if we could run one of Adrianne's articles as that day's Featured Article on one of those two days. I understand that those articles have already been picked, but if the nominators/principal editors wouldn't mind switching, that would be very kind (Ping: User:Wehwalt, User:Wizardman). NW ( Talk ) 19:05, 11 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support as nominator. NW ( Talk ) 19:05, 11 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. There are two FAs that I was the primary contributor to running as TFA this month: Beorhtwulf of Mercia and Startling Stories, though not on those dates.  If it would help, I'd be honoured to give up one of those slots to make room for an article of Adrianne's. Mike Christie (talk - contribs -  library) 19:29, 11 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support No objection to Franklin Peale being removed from the 14th.--Wehwalt (talk) 19:41, 11 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support, same as Wehwalt, am fine with a removal for my Apr 26th nom. Wizardman  23:05, 11 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Shocked to hear this news. Support running one of Wadewitz's articles as proposed. Espresso Addict (talk) 23:37, 11 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support either date, and I hope that we will put a hatnote on the article directing people to the scholarship or memorial scholarship that is being set up in her name. (pinging User:Fuzheado for more information, as he is helping to organize this) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 03:49, 12 April 2014 (UTC)
 * And if a scholarship isn't put up, we should put a hatnote anyway to honor her memory. The Ukrainian Wikipedia put a black ribbon on their entire site's logo when they faced a contributor's untimely death; we can put a hatnote at the very least. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 01:35, 13 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support either date and any switching or swapping that has to occur. Happy to delay/move/drop Banksia grossa which is scheduled for April 19 too. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 05:41, 12 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. I note NW left a note for Wadewitz's partner Peter, checking that he has no concerns about this. On the presumption that he is content with this proposal, it seems the least we can do as a community to honour such a wonderful editor. Also, agree with Ed re the hatnote, if it is possible. hamiltonstone (talk) 13:12, 12 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Editing from a phone on holiday - have seen the dreadfully sad news and obvious agree that we ought to honour her in this way for whatever date seems best in consultation with her loved ones. If 14th is best, someone else will need to shuffle (instructions at the /emergency subpages). Will be back before 26th. BencherliteTalk 18:02, 12 April 2014 (UTC)
 * I suggest the 26th, because that would give more time to let people know about it, and perhaps ensure that more of her friends and family will see it. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 19:03, 12 April 2014 (UTC)
 * I'd prefer the 14th, but you are right in saying that the timeframe is very compressed here. I have the day off, so I'll make the switch if more participants chime in and support that date. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 01:37, 13 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. I think that the 26th is a better date, to allow time to consider the scholarship.  It is quite possible that it will also reflect the passing of Cindamuse, as both of our respected colleagues worked in many of the same areas (education, gendergap, etc). Risker (talk) 03:38, 13 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. I don't understand why anyone would prefer either date inherently, so as far as I can see, the only relevant thing is the fact that the 26th will give a lot more time for any necessary preparations and for de-compressing the timeframe.  Nyttend (talk) 03:49, 13 April 2014 (UTC)
 * I agree. The 26th seems preferable to me for that reason. NW ( Talk ) 22:05, 13 April 2014 (UTC)


 * Support Stunned that an article has been Featured since 2007 and has not run yet. Hawkeye7 (talk) 04:05, 13 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support - Great article showcasing the range of Wadewitz's interests, especially including children's literature. Parabolooidal (talk) 22:22, 13 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:40, 14 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Snow support - very appropriate TFA. Montanabw (talk) 01:14, 15 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support, per everything stated above by . This is just such a tragic loss. &mdash; Cirt (talk) 17:58, 16 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. Appropriate for showcasing the best of Wikipedia, both as an excellent article from Adrianne's stellar Featured Topic on Mary Wollstonecraft and as a lovely tribute to one of Wikipedia's best editors ever. Willow (talk) 18:05, 16 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Support - I was fortunate enough to attend the memorial tribute at Occidental College, but missed out on one of the questions I had been wondering in the back of my mind, as to how many articles of Adrianne's, had been featured on the main page before? Adrianne was a Prolific writer: abundantly; producing in large quantities and with great frequency. I'd add Prolific friend to everyone on Wikipedia as well, wonderful nomination.Tinkermen (talk) 20:37, 16 April 2014 (UTC)