Category Archives: History

Amsterdam This Summer ?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Yesterday marked the opening of the new temporary exhibition in the Anne Frank House: “We too might move on”. The exhibition sheds light on the flight of the Frank family, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer from Germany to … Continue reading →

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La Dolce Vita

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Following the devastation of World War I, and the loss of income from foreign tourism, the Italian government developed a promotional agency, ENIT, to encourage Italian tourism abroad. An integral component of the campaign was the use of fabulous advertising … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Tourism, Travel Writing | 3 Comments

Play Literary Geography

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Created in 1933 by cartographer Paul M. Paine, The Booklovers Map of America Showing Certain Landmarks of Literary Geography is a charming guide to many of our favorite literary places. Working during the 1920s and 1930s, Paine designed or co-designed  … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam DNA

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The Amsterdam City Museum has partnered with PlusOne agency to develop a fascinating series of 3D videos for their department called Amsterdam DNA—a show that provides a journey through Amsterdam’s storied history. The short film below is the introduction to … Continue reading →

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In March, Read Books You’ve Always Meant To Read

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In 1935, President Roosevelt initiated the Works Progress Administration to both create jobs and to encourage community spirit. The much respected New Deal agency recruited millions of Americans from all walks of life and launched thousands of valuable public service … Continue reading →

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Steam Returns to the Underground

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

I was dead chuffed to hear that on Saturday night Transport for London (TFL) carried out tests designed to demonstrate the feasibility of running a steam locomotive on the London Underground for its 150th anniversary next year. Locomotive Met no. … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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A Valentine’s Day Kiss

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

As today is Valentine’s Day , I thought it would be an appropriate time to bring you the story of Auguste Rodin’s erotically charged masterpiece, The Kiss. The video below from the Tate museums,  explains how The Kiss was originally … Continue reading →

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