Titles. They're easy enough to overlook—you see them every time you pick a book up, but as soon as you crack its spine open, it disappears. But as your English teacher has likely explained a hundred times over, titles contain more significance than you might expect. They add nuance, they complicate, and they reveal subtlety.…
Read More "“The Homecoming” by Rabindranath Tagore: What’s in a Title?"
The 18th century was a period of profound literary innovation in England and other English-speaking lands and time of genuine cultural transformation. In fact, much of what we consider to be “modern” literature actually emerged in this period in one form or another, at least in a primordial sense. Coming out of the Enlightenment, this…
Read More "Top 5 (English Language) Authors of the 18th Century"
Do Shakespeare’s sonnets give you the shivers? Does Austen make you anxious? If classic literature sends you careening into crisis and poetry leaves you positively petrified, fret not! You’re not alone. Today, classic literature has something of a bad reputation. And, in many ways, it has earned it. For modern readers, reading classic titles might…
Great orators have long used the powers of language to sway the hearts and minds of listeners, giving voice to broader political, social, and cultural movements. Indeed, many great pivotal moments in American history have been greatly influenced by well-known speeches. For instance, Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention—perhaps best known for the quote,…
Read More "6 Speeches Reflecting on American Politics Through the Years"
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, has been a staple of high school English classrooms for generations. Its story and characters have been broadly adapted for film, television, radio, and the stage. Indeed, the name “Dracula” has become functionally synonymous with the modern vampire mythos. Yet, despite Dracula’s enduring cultural relevance, it is unlikely that…
August is romance awareness month, and what better way is there to celebrate romance than by reading about it? We’ve always held a special fascination with the idea of falling in love, and countless authors have tried their hand at crafting a love story for the ages. From fun and playful flirtations to complex webs…
Read More "Celebrate Romance Awareness Month With These 7 Literary Couples"
Being a bookworm has its perks: Studies show that reading regularly can improve your verbal and written comprehension, boost your vocabulary, reduce your stress levels, and even increase your brain activity. However, it can also become an expensive habit to maintain—especially for those who prefer to have a physical copy of their latest literary venture…
