Category Archives: History

Black History

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The Black History Month Map is a new collaborative and dynamic map developed by kinkofa and PamPam to honor and document the significant places, individuals, and movements that have shaped Black history. To help you explore the invaluable contributions of Black Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Freedom of Speech, History, Maps, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Trial

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the posthumous publication of Franz Kafka’s chilling novel of the nightmare world of authoritarian repression and merciless bureaucracy. I remember reading the book only after I saw Orson Welles’ chilling film production. Somehow … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Film, History, movies, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

et cetera

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

It was W.H. Auden who said: ‘there are good books which are only for adults, because their comprehension presupposes adult experiences, but there are no good books which are only for children.’ The great discipline of children’s fiction is that it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Freedom of Speech, History, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Century of The New Yorker

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The New Yorker is 100 years old this year and part of the celebrations include an exhibition at the NYPL that showcases “founding documents, rare manuscripts, photographs, and timeless cover and cartoon art” from the magazine. On February 22, 2025, A Century of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Libraries, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Why don’t we do it in the road

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

It’s one of the most famous images in pop culture: the four members of the Beatles — John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison — striding single-file over a zebra-stripe crossing on Abbey Road, near EMI Studios in … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, History, Music | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Book of Marvels

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The Book of the Marvels of the World, an illustrated guide to the globe filled with oddities, curiosities, and wonders for the medieval armchair traveler exhibition opened this week at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. Running … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Maps, Middle East, Museums, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Kafka is not buried here

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

“Frog in Prague” by Stephen Dixon They stand still. “And Kafka?” Howard says. “Kafka is not buried here.” “No? Because I thought—what I mean is the lady at my hotel’s tourist information desk—the Intercontinental over there—and also the one who … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Restaurants, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Orwell is turning in his grave

Posted on January 20, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I thought that I had stumble on something from The Onion when I saw a story about a £2 George Orwell commemorative coin being minted in the UK. Shockingly, it was a true story. The Royal Mint will honor author George … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Oh, horror upon horror!

Posted on January 19, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

No writer has the ability to evoke a sense of horror and dread more effectively than Edgar Allan Poe, born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe’s parents were actors. Their brilliant and unstable son grew up to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Libraries, Museums, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A message that sadly needs repeating

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

As 2025 dawns, here in the United States we face the prospect of a four year (or more) reign of Christo-Fascist zealots. But the world has seen it all before. The League of American Writers was formed by artists, authors … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Freedom of Speech, History, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment