Download or read book The Literary Life and Other Curiosities written by Robert Hendrickson and published by Harvest Books. This book was released on 1994-01-01 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a collection of unusual and entertaining facts and myths about writers, books, word origins, publishers, critics, grammar, and other aspects of the world of literature

Download or read book Curiosities of Literature written by John Sutherland and published by Random House. This book was released on 2010-10-31 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How much heavier was Thackeray's brain than Walt Whitman's? Which novels do American soldiers read? When did cigarettes start making an appearance in English literature? And, while we're about it, who wrote the first Western, is there any link between asthma and literary genius, and what really happened on Dorothea's wedding night in Middlemarch? In Curiosities of Literature, John Sutherland contemplates the full import of questions such as these, and attempts a few answers in a series of essays that are both witty and eclectic. His approach is also unashamedly discursive. An account of the fast-working Mickey Spillane, for example, leads to a consideration of the substances, both legal and illegal, that authors have employed to boost their creative energies. An essay on good and bad handwriting points out in passing that Thackeray could write the Lord's Prayer on the back of a stamp. As for Mary Shelley, a brief recital of the circumstances in which she wrote Frankenstein stops off to consider what impact the miserable summer weather of 1816 had on the future path of English literature. Of course, it is debatable whether knowledge of these arcane topics adds to the wisdom of nations, but it does highlight the random pleasures to be found in reading literature and reading about it. As John Sutherland rightly asks, 'Why else read?'

Download or read book Invisible Forms written by Kevin Jackson and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2014-12-30 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dedications, Titles, Epigraphs, Footnotes, Prefaces, Afterwords, Indexes... These and other "invisible" literary necessities form the skeletons of many a book, yet these unacknowledged and unexamined forms abound in wisdom, curiosities, or eccentricities. With both erudition and wit, and drawing on examples from every part of literature's history, ranging from the greats such as Shakespeare, Beckett, and T. S. Eliot to lesser known writers such as Fernando Pessoa. Jackson's mixture of serious literary analysis and jovial wit means Invisible Forms will appeal to anyone who is interested in books and in the art of writing. It is the perfect companion for literature lovers everywhere.

Download or read book The Madman s Library written by Edward Brooke-Hitching and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-10-01 with total page 373 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: * BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK * 'Anybody who loves the printed word will be bowled over by this amusing, erudite, beautiful book about books. It is in every way a triumph. One of the loveliest books to have been published for many, many years' Alexander McCall Smith 'Quite simply the best gift for any book lover this year, or perhaps ever' Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times Literary Book of the Year 'An utterly joyous journey into the deepest eccentricities of the human mind… The most cheering, fascinating book I’ve read for ages' Guardian From the author of the critically acclaimed and globally successful The Phantom Atlas, The Golden Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a stunning new work. The Madman’s Library is a unique, beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of literature, delving into its darkest territories to hunt down the very strangest books ever written, and uncover the fascinating stories behind their creation. This is a madman’s library of eccentric and extraordinary volumes from around the world, many of which have been completely forgotten. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle, books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered… and a few others that are just plain weird. From the 605-page Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, through the gorgeously decorated 15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the lost art of binding books with human skin, every strand of strangeness imaginable (and many inconceivable) has been unearthed and bound together for a unique and richly illustrated collection ideal for every book-lover.

Download or read book Invisible Forms written by Kevin Jackson and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2000-11-16 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is an innovative look at all the "invisible forms" in literature: titles, dedications, epigraphs, footnotes, and all those other parts of a book that manage to escape readers's attention even though they are seen every time a book is flipped through.

Download or read book The Madman s Library written by Edward Brooke-Hitching and published by Chronicle Books. This book was released on 2021-07-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This fascinating and bizarre collection compiles the most unusual, obscure books from the far reaches of the human imagination throughout history. From the author of the critically acclaimed bestsellers The Phantom Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a unique and beautifully illustrated journey through the history of literature. The Madman's Library delves into its darkest territories to hunt down the oddest books and manuscripts ever written, uncovering the intriguing stories behind their creation. From the Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, to the gorgeously decorated fifteenth-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the most enormous book ever created, The Madman's Library features many long forgotten, eccentric, and extraordinary volumes gathered from around the world. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle and books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered. Spell books, alchemist scrolls, wearable books, edible books, books to summon demons, books written by ghosts, and more all come together in the most curiously strange library imaginable. Featuring hundreds of remarkable images and packed with entertaining facts and stories to discover, The Madman’s Library is a captivating compendium perfect for bibliophiles, literature enthusiasts, and collectors intrigued by bizarre oddities, obscure history, and the macabre. • MUST-HAVE FOR BOOKLOVERS: Anyone who appreciates a good read will love delving into this weird world of books and adding this collection to their own bookshelf. • DISCOVER SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE: The Madman's Library will let you in on the secret and obscure histories of the strangest books ever made. • EXPERT AUTHOR: Edward Brooke-Hitching is the son of an antiquarian book dealer, a lifelong rare book collector, and a master of taking visual deep dives into unusual historical subjects, such as the maps of imaginary geography in The Phantom Atlas or ancient pathways through the stars in The Sky Atlas.

Download or read book Handy Book of Literary Curiosities written by William S. Walsh and published by . This book was released on 1892 with total page 1104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Literary curiosities written by Henry Mason Brooks and published by . This book was released on 1886 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Bibliotopia Or Mr Gilbar s Book of Books Catch all of Literary Facts Curiosities written by and published by David R. Godine Publisher. This book was released on 2005 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is the origin of the word "book"? What is the oldest working library still in existence? What is an "enchiridion"? An "amphigory"? A "duodecimo"? Which two Nobel laureates refused the prize in literature? How many trees must sacrifice their lives to produce a thousand copies of a 96-page volume of verse? These are some of the questions posed (and answered) in this fascinating farrago of literary trivia, a treasure trove of obscure and irresistible facts, definitions, lists, and quotations that touch on every aspect of books, including their authors, publishers, printers, collectors, critics, readers, and enemies. Under headings that explore the entire history of bibliomania from "The Invention of Paper" to "Some Horror Writers' Offcial Websites," the entries in Bibliotopia provide the insatiably curious reader a delightfully desultory literary education, the kind one might pick up at a cocktail party on Parnassus.

Download or read book Historical and Literary Curiosities written by and published by . This book was released on 1840 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Literary Curiosities and Notes written by Alice Bertha Gomme and published by . This book was released on 1888 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book American Historical and Literary Curiosities written by John Jay Smith and published by . This book was released on 1861 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Handy book of Literary Curiosities written by William S. Walsh and published by . This book was released on 1925 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Curiosities of Literature written by Isaac Disraeli and published by . This book was released on 1849 with total page 646 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities written by J. C. McKeown and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A miscellany of odd stories and facts about the ancient Greeks, demonstrating how much they were--and were not--like us.

Download or read book Curiosities of Literature written by Isaac Disraeli and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2024-04-24 with total page 550 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reprint of the original, first published in 1881.

Download or read book Handy Book of Literary Curiosities Classic Reprint written by William S. Walsh and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2017-01-10 with total page 1112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Handy-Book of Literary Curiosities In. Conclusion, I must record my indebtedness to Mr. Stephen Pfeil, who contributed the articles on Epigrams, Impromptus, and Quodlibets, as well as a number of the shorter articles embodying political Americanisms, etc. And a special debt of gratitude is due to Mr. Joseph Mccreery, the scholarly proof-reader in the establishment of Messrs. J. B. Lippincott Co., whose corrections and suggestions went far beyond the limits. Of mere proof-reading. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.