Category Archives: Writing

London: A Guide for the Naive

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Feeling a tad bit overwhelmed by London, then follow along with late night tv host and part-time beekeeper “Vincent Mahoney” as he leads a half hour video tour of the UK capital for the untutored visitor. Packed with outrageous lies, … Continue reading →

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Is Your Library Mysterious

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Well-timed to coincide with the National Archives’ release of the 1940 Census, the Milstein Division of the New York Public Library has posted this charming video teaser about the library’s research facilities. The Milstein Division collects materials documenting American History … Continue reading →

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Birth of a Book

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

I absolutely love this short film, Birth of a Book, which is a brief vignette on the actual creation of a real book using traditional printing methods. The film was shot, directed and edited by Glen Milner for the Daily … Continue reading →

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Nearly Orwellian

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The Orwell Prize is Britain’s most prestigious award for writing. Each year a select committee awards the prize—actually four prizes—for work that aims to achieve George Orwell‘s goal “to make political writing into an art”. The long lists for the … Continue reading →

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When I Come to be Old

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In 1699 when author Jonathan Swift was just 32 years old he created this list of personal resolutions that he titled When I come to be Old. Thanks to Lists of Note for the transcript. “When I come to be … Continue reading →

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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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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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And the winner is…

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

First awarded in 1978 to the Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice, the Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year has released the shortlist for this year’s prize. The winner will be announced by … Continue reading →

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Mapping Moby Dick

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The Voyage of the Pequod is one in a marvelous series of twelve literary maps based on American and British classics produced by the Harris-Seybold Company of Cleveland, Ohio between 1953 and 1964. The Map of Moby Dick was created … 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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