Category Archives: Europe

Don’t Mention The War

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Situated on the shores of the Laacher See near Andernach in Germany, Abbey Maria Laach is a handsome 800 year-old center of devotion and learning with a gorgeous 18th century library and a dark history. During the years leading up … Continue reading →

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Small World, Little Planet

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Petite Planète is a series of iconic travel guides by the French publishing house Edition du Seuil published between 1954 and 1964.Early on, filmmaker/novelist/graphic artist/World War II resistance fighter Chris Marker was recruited as the editor for the experimental series. He was also … Continue reading →

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American Gods

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve long been an evangelist for Neil Gaiman’s outstanding 2001 novel American Gods and I’m looking forward to the TV adaptation this year. If you haven’t gotten around to reading the book, get on the stick; it’s great fun and surprisingly relevant … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam’s Primordial Soup

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

No matter how many times that I’ve visited Amsterdam, there’s always something new and exciting to discover. Just recently the old Beurspassage between the Damrak and Nieuwendijk in the heart of the city underwent an extraordinary transformation. As part of … Continue reading →

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Faux Indies

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Apparently the bookselling behemoth Waterstones has tried to pull a fast one on the British book buying public. Without notice the retailer opened three small branches under bogus names—The Rye Bookshop in East Sussex, Southwold Books in Suffolk, and Harpenden … Continue reading →

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Brussels Book Days

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Throughout the month of March, Belgium’s capital will be celebrating Brussels Book Days. The collaborative venture of the Foire du Livre de Bruxelles (Brussels Book Fair) and Passa Porta International Center for Literature celebrates the city’s passion for books and reading with … Continue reading →

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Saint Petersburg Is Packed With Surprises

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

When I was in Saint Petersburg, Russia this Fall, I did my due diligence as a tourist and visited as many museums, palaces, cathedrals, and attractions as I could manage in a week. Unfortunately, I was a few months too … Continue reading →

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Iceland Is Calling

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I know that it may seem as though I am obsessed with Iceland; it’s just because I am. So, if you are not interested in magnificent scenery and natural wonders, look away now. Otherwise, watch this stunning short film titled … Continue reading →

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You have to read this book

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

h/t to the marvelous Spanish cartoonist Laura Pecheco  (and you really do need to read Station 11 by Emily St.John Mandel.

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The World At Night

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

French photographer Genaro Bardy travels to great cities to capture them devoid of inhabitants. His single-minded project, Desert in the City, is chronicled in an upcoming book of the same name that he hopes to fund on Kickstarter. He manages … Continue reading →

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