The Wow Factor: A Visit to Mark Twain’s Grand Mansion in Hartford
“This entry hall really has the ‘wow factor,’” our tour guide drily announces, gesturing at [...]
Nov
In the Footsteps of Louisa May Alcott
During a literary pilgrimage to Concord, Massachusetts a few years ago, I visited Orchard House, [...]
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Nov
Writing the American Immigrant Experience: Isaac Bashevis Singer
On every street in every city in America, there is a story on every face [...]
Laura Ingalls Wilder
“From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put foot in front [...]
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Nov
“Such Friends”: Maxwell Perkins and Ernest Hemingway
As with F. Scott Fitzgerald, his first major author, Scribner’s editor Maxwell Perkins [1884-1947] found [...]
Recreated People
Writers frequently chose to create stories that are inspired by or directly based on actual [...]
Filling in the Blanks
Silicon Valley obsesses over automation and efficiency. If you have the money, the tech industry [...]
Nov
Exploring American Cities Through True Crime
America’s most notorious crimes tend to remain in the public memory not only for particular [...]
Halloween Books: Creepy Crawly Short Reads
Halloween Books: Creepy Crawly (Short) Reads Looking for some Halloween books that provide deliciously-dark tales [...]
Oct
The Wonderful Wizardry of Children’s Books
Recently, my sons and I enjoyed the unique pleasure of losing ourselves for a few [...]
Oct