Tomorrow is the birthday of Pulitzer Prize winning author Harper Lee. The reclusive author of To Kill a Mockingbird will be 86 years old. Though Lee published only one novel, this single book proved one of the seminal works of the twentieth century—and one of the most controversial.
To Kill a Mockingbird addresses race, prejudice, and class differences through the eyes of a young girl. Since the novel’s publication, it has been challenged in schools and libraries across the country. Once called a “filthy, trashy novel” by detractors in the Vernon Verona Sherill, NY School District (1980), To Kill a Mockingbird also remains a cornerstone of many English and Language Arts curricula all over the nation.
Lee is hardly the first great author to incite the ire of would-be censors. Indeed, most legendary authors of the 20th century have sparked controversy…and not only in the United States.
- JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye has long been a favorite target for censorship. One English teacher was even fired for teaching the book. Usual complaints include profanity and adult themes.
- Both The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck have garnered challenges and bans. In 1973 eleven Turkish booksellers actually stood trial for possessing copies of The Grapes of Wrath.
- As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner has been temporarily banned in several school districts, but the decision has always been overturned—once after the ACLU got involved.
- For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway was declared unmailable by the US Post Office in 1940. Meanwhile A Sun Also Rises  was banned in several countries and burned in Nazi bonfires.
- Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five has been banned for a variety of reasons, from explicit language to negative portrayals of women. One school district even had the book reviewed by top law enforcement agents.
- JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings was burned outside a church in New Mexico, along with other books in the series. Church leaders declared the work satanic.
- Ireland’s Board of Censors declared Rabbit Run by John Updike “obscene” and “indecent.” It was banned from sales throughout Ireland until 1967, when new censorship legislation was introduced.
- Ulysses by James Joyce was burned in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and England. The book was produced and distributed only in bootleg fashion in the US until 1932.
April 27th, 2012
It’s that time of year! Kids have headed back to school, and for students of all ages that means required reading is right around the corner. Perhaps you only vaguely remember The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and Lord of the Flies. But those classroom staples offer inspiration for enhancing your rare book collection.
Collecting first edition books from your school days recaptures moments from your childhood and learning history. These classic books are always in high demand from collectors, and their value has risen accordingly over time.
Rediscover Classroom Favorites
Some literary works have simply become institutions in education—and among lovers of literature. If you’ve built your collection around legendary authors and titles, consider looking past the classroom canon and adding some lesser-known works to your library. You’ll find them not only a joy to read, but also an excellent means of rounding out a collection.
Go Behind the Scenes
School only teaches you so much. Now that you’re out of the classroom, take some time to dive deeper into some of those lessons. Focus your collection around a specific time period, a hobby, or a favorite author.
- Sure, you once memorized the presidents’ names and the years of all the major wars. Now get the real story behind historical events and figures with a biography or two.
- Move beyond your own high-school reading lists. Look to the libraries of presidents and other world leaders. Imagine replicating George Washington’s or Abraham Lincoln’s library in your own home.
- Golf: we like to think of it as gym class for grown-ups. Get insider tips and details from the pros, whose iconic voices add depth and interest to your collection.
- As a rare book collector, you’ll need to know more about your favorite authors and genres. Peruse a great bibliography to get an in-depth look at ways to expand your collection.
How have the experiences and lessons of your youth shaped your choices as a rare book collector?
September 7th, 2011
Few activities offer the sport and serenity of fishing. That unlikely combination has made fishing a popular pastime for people of all ages and backgrounds. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover did it. So did literary giant Ernest Hemingway.
Fly fishing elevates this rather humble sport to a true art form. A fly fisherman must develop a rhythm and style for his cast, and then practice unending patience. That’s why Izaac Walton called fly fishing “The Contemplative Man’s Recreation.”
Fly Fishing Factoids
Fishing has long been a means of sustenance, but it has also grown into a competitive sport and a relaxing pastime. Here are a few little-known facts about fly fishing.
- Roman Claudius Aelianus was the first to record fishing with an artificial fly. That was toward the end of 200 AD.
- Shakespeare was a fly fisherman. His fishing companion, John Dennys, wrote six verses on angling that Izaac Walton later quoted in The Compleat Angler.
- The Compleat Angler is the second most reprinted book in the world, after the Bible.
- Charles F. Orvis, an American fly fisherman, crafted the first modern fly reel. Reel historian Jim Brown called Orvis’ design “the benchmark of American reel design.”
- Brown trout were originally exported to Australia in 1864–solely for the purpose of giving young men access to a “manly sport” that would keep them from seeking entertainment in casinos and bars.
- Early fly rods were made of greenheart wood. Eventually bamboo replaced greenheart, but fiberglass replaced wood in the 1950’s. Similarly, flies once made of fur and other natural materials are now generally made of synthetics.
If you love to fish, what is your favorite part of the sport?
Further Reading:
The American Museum of Fly Fishing
May 18th, 2011
