Monthly Archives: May 2019

We Sing The Body Electric

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Today is Walt Whitman’s 200th birthday . This offers an important opportunity to reassess his tremendous contributions to American life and literature at a time when our country is so polarized. The University of Pennsylvania Libraries and the Pew Center … Continue reading →

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Writer’s Block

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Brian D. Butler
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All animals are equal…

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I recently ran across the wonderful 50th anniversary edition of the first U.S. publication of George Orwell’s Animal House. Issued in 1995, Animal House: A Fairy Story features 100 mindblowing illustrations by the inimitable Ralph Steadman. Along with the addition of the brilliant illustrations, … Continue reading →

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For Readers

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Brian D. Butler
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Alternative Literary Mapping

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Map loving bibliophiles at In The Book designed this clever alternative London Tube map, replacing actual station names with titles from novels set nearby. Covering just zones one and two, the map features book titles from authors including Zadie Smith, Arthur Conan … Continue reading →

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Some Books

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Some books leave us free and some books make us free. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Cringeworthy but on the nose

Posted on May 25, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

If you stop by this humble blog on a regular basis, you are probably aware that I love good faux book cover art. I recently ran across this selection and thought that I’d share some. While they’re all amusing, they … Continue reading →

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A view of nature in ascending regions

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

These illustrations are from Levi Walter Yaggy’s Geograpahical Portfolio – Comprising Physical, Political, Geological, and Astronomical Geography. Published by Western Publishing House of Chicago in 1887, the book features large educational geographical charts. Using chromolithography, Yaggy created stunning colors and contrasts in his … Continue reading →

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Banksy pranks Venice

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

So it seems that that lovable street art scamp known as Banksy has brought his personal commentary on overtourism, commercialism, and the art world to Venice on the heels of the pretentious Biennale.

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Copenhagen : Books and Coffee

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Although I have my quibbles with the baffling commitment to light roasts by Scandinavian 3rd wave coffeeshops and roasters, I do appreciate that there are coffee drinking opportunities everywhere—even in libraries. One of the coolest place to enjoy a good … Continue reading →

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