Category Archives: Books

And the winner is…

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

First awarded in 1978 to the Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice, the Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year has released the shortlist for this year’s prize. The winner will be announced by … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mapping Moby Dick

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The Voyage of the Pequod is one in a marvelous series of twelve literary maps based on American and British classics produced by the Harris-Seybold Company of Cleveland, Ohio between 1953 and 1964. The Map of Moby Dick was created … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Maps, USA, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Found Libraries

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Even though there are still more than 13,000 public payphones on New York City sidewalks, they are seen by most residents as dead technology, if they are noticed at all. But NY architect and civil society activist John Locke, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Libraries, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lost Libraries

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In an age of data retrieval, when just about anything ever printed can be seen online and is eternally preserved there, and when modern anxiety is fuelled by too much information, we would do well to remember that the loss … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Last Train to Urville

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Urville is the little known capital city of a seaside province of France. It has a population of almost 12 million citizens and is the largest city in Europe. Starting to wonder why you’ve never heard of Urville ? That’s because … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Europe | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lincoln in Books

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The brand new Center for Education and Leadership at Washington DC’s Ford’s Theater Museum sports a ten meter-tall tower of 6,800 books all about President Abraham Lincoln. The books are all histories or biographies about the 16th President, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Libraries, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What’s a Rare Bookman

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The exhibition “Ray Safford, Rare Bookman,”  which opened yesterday at the Grolier Club, New York City, offers a look into the famed New York firm of Charles Scribner’s Sons and the literary, publishing, and rare book worlds in turn-of-the-century New York. … Continue reading →

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

Travel Guidebook News

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Well it was inevitable, the co-stars and co-creators of the sweet and wacky sketch comedy show Portlandia Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen have a book deal. Grand Central Publishing, a Hachette imprint, will release PORTLANDIA: A Guide for Visitors this … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All the Books in the World

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This heartwarming short story by Croatian author/illustrator Darko Macan and Tihomir Celanovic will bring a tear to the eye of any bibliophile. All the books in the world, except for one:

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Writing | Leave a comment

Mapping Charles Dickens

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

If you follow this blog you are well aware of the varied events, exhibitions and publications celebrating what would have been Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday. You can discover many of the happenings surrounding the Bicentenary by visiting the Museum of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Maps, Museums, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment