Category Archives: Writing

Free Books in Translation

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Archipelago Books is giving away 30 e-books (in ePub or PDF format) from their back catalogue. Most are translated works of fiction, though you’ll also find poetry, such as by the Cuban Dulce María Loynaz (tr. James O’Connor), and the hard-to-categorize Novices of Sias … Continue reading →

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All is vanity

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“Herman Melville” by W.H. Auden Towards the end he sailed into an extraordinary mildness, And anchored in his home and reached his wife And rode within the harbour of her hand, And went each morning to an office As though … Continue reading →

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Free Reading Materials (really pt.2)

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

While millions of people are staying home to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Scribd is making their digital library of ebooks and audiobooks free for everyone: scribd.com/readfree  

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Million Cat Caturday

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“Millions of Cats” is a picture book written and illustrated by artist Wanda Gag in 1928. The book won a Newberry award in 1929 and is the oldest American picture book still in print.            

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Library of Exile

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I first discovered the ceramic artist and writer Edmund de Waal through his best-selling book The Hare with the Amber Eyes. If you are not familiar with the memoir, it’s a compelling read that encompasses not only de Waal’s family history, … Continue reading →

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Conquest of Mars

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Here is copy number 55 of the first edition of Edison’s Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss. There were only 1,500 copies in the first edition, and only 1,450 of those were offered for general distribution. Serviss, an astronomer, wrote Conquest in 1898; … Continue reading →

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but oh the museums

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

At the End of the Endless Decade Mark Bibbins For years had anyone needed me to spell the word commiserateI’d have disappointed them. I envy people who are more excitedby etymology than I am, but not the ones who can … Continue reading →

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Free Books (really)

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

h/t to Stanislav and Milen for the extensive links FAMOUS AUTHORS Classic Bookshelf: This site has put classic novels online, from Charles Dickens to Charlotte Bronte. The Online Books Page: The University of Pennsylvania hosts this book search and database. … Continue reading →

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We Are The People

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Iggy Pop’s video “We Are the People” is based on a poem written in 1970 by the late, great Lou Reed. Of the poem, Pop told the BBC last year, “My God, this is the country today as I understand … Continue reading →

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Or will we all have to move to Canada ?

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“Banal Story” by Ernest Hemingway So he ate an orange, slowly spitting out the seeds. Outside, the snow was turning to rain. Inside, the electric stove seemed to give no heat and rising from his writing-table, he sat down upon … Continue reading →

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