Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Happy 200th Anniversary Frankenstein

This week marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s classic science fiction novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The teenage author created the iconic tale after the poet Byron challenged her to come up with an original … Continue reading →

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Tourist Scams

If you haven’t been the target of a tourist scam, you probably haven’t been paying attention. Whether you’re visiting New York City or Rome, you are likely to be targeted by con artists and thieves. The helpful infographic below covers … Continue reading →

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Books and Bagels Berlin

In our ongoing bookstore tourism journey, today we’re taking a brief look at Shakespeare and Sons in Berlin. Owned and managed by Roman and Laurel Kratochvila. The shop has branches in trendy Prenzlauerberg and Friedrichshain. The proprietors got their start in the … Continue reading →

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Reading Resolutions 2018

H/t to Inkwood Books in historic Haddonfield, N.J. .  

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London to Cairo in 7 Days by Train

Throughout the 20th century European railway companies often incorporated route maps on their advertising posters. Due to size and design limitations, the cartographers involved in the map production often created distorted and geographically confusing maps. Still, the posters were attractive … Continue reading →

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Light Up The New Year

Amsterdam’s annual Festival of Lights is welcoming the New Year and banishing winter blahs with 36 illuminated installations around the city. This year’s theme “Existential” was interpreted by artists from a dozen countries, including the beloved human rights activist artist … Continue reading →

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Start As You Mean To Finish

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2017 In Retrospect

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Every Book Is An Adventure

The brilliant folks from Poland’s WowWow Studio street art collective recently completed a wonderful mural across from an elementary school in the historic town of Srem near Poznan in western Poland. The work is designed to encourage children to read.Works … Continue reading →

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Book Browsing Weather

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