Every so often, literature appears outside of literature. The Shakespearean “sleep of death” catalyzes the major events of the film, What Dreams May Come. Homer Simpson daydreams about spending his unemployment by a Waldenesque pond (and journaling about how much he misses TV). A few recent television shows feature particularly thoughtful references to American literature. […]
Among America’s most valuable authors are a diverse set of science authors – here are excerpted insights from just a few! Rachel Carson (conservationist), Silent Spring We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is […]
Two weeks ago, we took a look at the American canon over the last century: how the unofficial ‘list’ of America’s best offerings has changed and expanded to encapsulate a variety of people who make up the country. But the canon – generally determined by scholars, educators, and policy makers – is only one way […]
The American Writers Museum is the newest institution recognizing talent and trends in American literature. But there are other ways the U.S. has commemorated and debated its authors and books. Let’s dip into the history of America’s recognition of its unique literature, beginning with a look at the informal – and hard-to-pin – canon of […]
Emily Dickinson was more than a sharp wordsmith; she also knew her way around the kitchen. To her circle in Amherst, Massachusetts, this was actually a not-so-hidden talent. Family manuscripts tell us she was generous with the fruits of her labors, sending goodies to her friends and family. In 1853 she wrote a letter to her […]
If you’re anything like me, then you are not an astrophysicist. But you might know that the universe is expanding. Or maybe you donate to an environmental organization every once in a while. Maybe you work with medicine, plants, chemicals, or technology. Maybe you took biology in high school or college, or saw Interstellar in […]
Some of the most well-known authors published their own work at some point in their career. Even in the 1800’s, it was considered both a risk and a way to maintain control of one’s work – bound to produce success stories as well as tales of caution! Henry David Thoreau Today Henry David Thoreau’s […]