Tag Archives: World War II

Hemingway the Hoarder

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Ernest Hemingway was one of the 20th century’s greatest writers, but he was also a big time hoarder. A new exhibition, “Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars”, at New York City’s grand Morgan Library and Museum is packed with examples of … Continue reading →

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Memorial Library

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Standing incongruously amidst the graves and memorials of the Jüdischer Friedhof Krems are three wooden bookcases. This library was created ten years ago by artists Martin Guttmann and Michael Clegg as a memorial to the destroyed Jewish community of Krems, … Continue reading →

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Anne Frank’s Amsterdam

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

On June 12, 1942 Anne Frank celebrated her 13th birthday in Amsterdam. Her parents gave her a diary with a red and white checkered cover. “I hope I wll be able to confide everything to you, as I have never … Continue reading →

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Rotterdam Tries Harder

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Let’s be honest, Rotterdam is not the Netherland’s most attractive city or prime tourist attraction. It’s a vibrant and exciting cultural center, but it lost most of its historic buildings due to World War II bombings. These days, however, Rotterdam … Continue reading →

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Churchill in NYC

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

 Winston Churchill is considered by many historians to be among the finest orators and writers of the twentieth century. His speeches galvanized Great Britain at its darkest hour during World War II, and his letters to President Franklin D. Roosevelt … Continue reading →

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Homage to George Whitman

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Way back in 2005, the Sundance Channel aired Portrait of a Bookstore as an Old Man, a documentary that pays homage to George Whitman, the American founder of the most famous independent bookstore in Paris, Shakespeare and Company. Whitman died … Continue reading →

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Keep Calm and Carry On

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

During World War II, Britons were encouraged to “Keep Calm and Carry On”, but it seems that the original poster imprinted with the stiff upper lip slogan has ignited a minor war of its own. The WW II British Ministery … Continue reading →

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Alone In Berlin…Again

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Topography of Terror Museum Earlier this month, I posted a short review of Hans Fallada’s riveting saga Alone In Berlin (Every Man Dies Alone) which generated some interesting comments and emails. One of these led me back to my travel … Continue reading →

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Keeping History Alive : D-Day

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

The following post was provided by photographer Valerie Jardin. It’s an excerpt from her moving photo essay, Keeping History Alive. It was in July 2009, in the town of St Lô in Normandy, that I met the Carentan Liberty’s Group.  The … Continue reading →

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In Memorium

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

“Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.” Emily Dickinson Photograph contributed by Bjarki Sigursveinsson.

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