Category Archives: History

The (almost) Whole Whole Earth Catalog

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

It’s likely that most Americans of the so-called Baby Boomer generation at one time or another spent some quality time perusing the Whole Earth Catalog. Now “nearly” complete copies of early editions are online at wholeearth.info. Founded 55 years ago by counterculture … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, History, Tech, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Global Poster Art

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I was today years old when I learned that London Transport has been commissioning poster art since 1908. Now, the London Transport Museum’s new Global Poster Gallery will offer visitors a deep dive into the relationship between art and the … Continue reading →

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Le Petit Prince

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t think that I would be going out on a limb to speculate that almost every one reading this post has at one time read the iconic Antoine de Saint-Exupéry novel The Little Prince. In my case, I read … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Books, Europe, History, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Scotland by the book

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I am fortunate to have spent quite a bit of quality time visiting Scotland over the years and hope to return in the not too distant future. When I do, the new free app Scotland by-the-Book from Birlinn Publishers should be … Continue reading →

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Starting with Common Sense

Posted on September 17, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Books That Shaped America is a new 10-part series – a joint original feature production from C-SPAN and the Library of Congress – will trace America’s history by examining masterpieces in literature that have had, and still have today, a major … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare’s First Folio

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

There have been many celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio, including the open access website First Folios Compared. First Folios Compared has brought together more than 50 digitized copies of the First Folio owned by … Continue reading →

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Take the Train

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The New 20th Century Limited, 1939. Leslie Ragan (1897-1972). In the 1930s, technology began to reflect the sleek, aerodynamic lines of the Art Deco movement, and the New 20th Century Limited, designed by Henry Dreyfuss, was the pride of the … Continue reading →

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A Secret London

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

No matter how well you may think that you know London there are always more marvelous places to discover. Travelers interested in books and printing are well advised to seek out the fascinating St Bride Foundation and Library in the … Continue reading →

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Once upon a time there were two brothers.

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

THE HISTORY OF MY LIFE John Ashbery Once upon a time there were two brothers. Then there was only one: myself. I grew up very fast, before learning to drive, even. There was I: a stinking adult. I thought of … Continue reading →

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North Country

Posted on August 11, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

In her brilliant short film Three Thousand (2017), the Montreal-based Inuk artist Asinnajaq presents an illuminating vision of Inuit life. Her film intertwines a century of footage from the archive of the National Film Board of Canada, along with commissioned animations. … Continue reading →

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