Monthly Archives: February 2024

Strip Atlas

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

British cartographer John Ogilby created an amazing project in 1675: a road atlas of 17th-century Britain, featuring strip maps of most of the major routes in England and Wales. He wrote to Charles II: I have Attempted to Improve Our … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Maps | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

art too bad to be ignored

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years I have visited hundreds of art museums. Most of those institutions made sincere efforts to curate collections of quality art works. Sometimes there were fails and truly bad art was exhibited. But nothing compares to the extraordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Expressionist As Flâneur

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I recently stumbled on the charming video below which led me to the story of the marvelous exhibition MAX GOES FOR A WALK . “A hand-drawn Max Beckmann walks through his collection of postcards, occasionally changing outfits or morphing into … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Film, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Black History Month

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Here in the former Colonies there has been an alarming campaign by reactionary racist groups to suppress the study of American History in general and the study of the oppression of Black Americans and slavery in particular. This is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Film, History, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A House upon the Height

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Closed since 2019, the Emily Dickinson Museum has now completed a multi-year preservation effort at The Evergreens, aimed at improving environmental conditions for objects in its recently documented collection, and reducing energy consumption. Reopening on March 1, The Evergreens is an integral … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, History, Museums, USA, Writing | Leave a comment

Petit Livre d’Amour

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Your Valentine’s Day gift will have to be extraordinary to top  the Petit Livre d’Amour (Little Book of Love). This very elaborate handmade book was given by the 16th-century French poet Pierre Salas to his then lover and future wife … Continue reading →

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I prefer Grimms’ fairy tales to the newspapers’ front pages

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

POSSIBILITIES Wisława Szymborska I prefer movies. I prefer cats. I prefer the oaks along the Warta. I prefer Dickens to Dostoyevsky. I prefer myself liking people to myself loving mankind. I prefer keeping a needle and thread on hand, just … Continue reading →

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You Can Judge a Book By Its Cover

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Book Cover Review: is a website solely dedicated to reviewing book covers. David Pearson and team have put to rest that old saw “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Each cover review is a 500 word essay about … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A Wheel of Time

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

A big tip of the hat to Travel Between The Pages’ first and most loyal follower Bonnie B. for sharing the amazing video below. I love a good bookbinding project, but this one is extraordinary by any measure. Going by … Continue reading →

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What Could Have Been

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

This video may make some folks uncomfortable, but it reflects the reality of what could have been. NB: If the video does not open in your browser, please click here.  

Posted in Asia, Film, Middle East | Tagged , | 4 Comments