Category Archives: Europe

Shakespeare and Company Paris

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

If you love books, and if you have ever been to Paris, it’s likely that you have also visited the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookshop. The legendary Paris bookseller recently shared a video exploring  artist Karine Diot’s book sculpture The Shakespeare … Continue reading →

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If on a winter’s night a traveler

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I have been an evangelist for the novels of the Italian author Italo Calvino since my university days. Sadly, he is underappreciated and seldom read here in North America. Over the years, I have had many copies of his better … Continue reading →

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Gross Domestic Product

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The anonymous street artist and provocateur Banksy has opened a new online store, called Gross Domestic Product. The launch was heralded  by an art  installation-come-shop in the London Borough of Croydon, which stocks Banksy-related merchandise. However, the IRL store can’t … Continue reading →

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Soon to be available in paperback

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

16th century “assassin’s cabinet” disguised as a book

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London : Food For Thought

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

My favorite London travel book store Stanfords has opened a food-themed bookshop in a joint venture with street food pioneers KERB “to showcase London’s food and cultural history through literature,” the Bookseller reported. Market Bookshop will be a permanent fixture at the newly opened Seven Dials Market in Covent … Continue reading →

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Resistance Is Not Futile

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In response to my post last week on the 10th anniversary of the American publication of Hans Fallada’s heartbreaking novel Every Man Dies Alone, TBTP reader Lincoln S. reminded me about the real life story of brother and sister Hans and Sophie … Continue reading →

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Personal Demons

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

While cataloging a medieval manuscript the Centre for Research Collections at the University of Edinburgh encountered a curious text amid various alchemy recipes and treatises: precise instructions on how to summon a demon called Baron, graph included. Very little is … Continue reading →

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Every Man Dies Alone

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Until ten years ago Hans Fallada was a forgotten German novelist who had a moderately successful career until the rise of the Nazis. When he died in a sanatorium in 1947, Fallada was struggling with a long term addiction to … Continue reading →

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Paris: Word on the Street

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Philipe Bouvier  

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Why Islandia

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I was recently asked (again) why I still encourage folks to visit Iceland even in this era of overtourism. I could reiterate all of the reasons to go, but this amazing short film by Moscow-based videographer Vadim Sherbakov explains it … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Tourism | Tagged | 5 Comments