Literature

Today in History
“When I want to read a novel,” said Benjamin Disraeli, “I write one.” Here, read about writers of novels, non-fiction and poetry, and the stories they told.

16 Things We Love about Shakespeare star
The greatest playwright in history shuffled off his mortal coil on his 52nd birthday: April 23, 1616. Exactly 400 years on, this eventful day still arouses excitement in all corners of the world. What merit lived in Shakespeare that we should love after his death?

A Tolkien Book and a Birthday Coincidence star
The final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, was published on this date in history. But there’s more: an actor from the film versions also celebrates his birthday on October 20.

Agatha Christie - Most Successful Novelist Ever star
September 15, 1890: Agatha Christie is born. Her mystery novels are said to be outsold only by the Bible and the works of Shakespeare. In 2015, fans around the world are celebrating her 125th birthday anniversary.

First Day of George Orwell’s 1984 star
Published in 1949, George Orwell’s most famous novel starts on April 4, 1984. Thankfully, the postwar world did not coalesce into totalitarian superstates, and thoughtcrime is mostly fictional. Yet why is Nineteen Eighty-Four still relevant today? What Orwellian future do we still fear?

Mark Twain - Father of American Literature star
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born November 30, 1835. He later became the famous literary icon Mark Twain. Twain found himself in successful in many careers throughout his lifetime, but achieved true stardom with his writing career. And yet, despite all of his hard work he was always in debt.

The Last Days of Edgar Allan Poe star
“There at length they found me lying, weak and ’wildered, sick and dying, / And my shattered wreck of being to a kindly refuge bore … ” These are just a few lines from a poem entitled “The Streets of Baltimore.” Hauntingly, they evoke the mysterious death of its purported author on October 3, 1849.

Uncle Tom´s Cabin - March 20, 1852 star
Uncle Tom´s Cabin, probably one of the most significant abolitionist books in American History, was published March 20, 1852...

Wordsworth Writes a Sonnet - September 3 star
It’s in the title - September 3, commemorated forever in William Wordsworth’s Romantic poem. Did you know it was written on the roof of a carriage? Discover the surprising story behind the poem.

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