We’re excited to take Books Tell You Why on the road this week! We’re heading to the 52nd Annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair at the Park Avenue Armory, April 12 – 15. Stop by Booth #A-22 to peruse our offerings.
For a sneak peek at what we’ll be bringing, check out the website. The selection includes outstanding items from our inventory in a wide variety of genres, such as fine press and modern first editions. You’ll also find works by many legendary authors from Charles Dickens to Umberto Eco, some rather rare J.R.R. Tolkien titles (e.g., The Songs for the Philologists), a small collection of signed Dalai Lama titles. A handwritten fire log of the New York Fire Department from 1889. Items are subject to prior sale, so advance reservation is suggested.
If you have questions about items, feel free to contact us! We look forward to seeing many of you in person.
April 10th, 2012
Today the winners of the 2011 Pulitzer Prizes were announced at Columbia University. These prizes recognize excellence in newspaper journalism, literature, and musical composition. They are awarded to American writers and artists.
The 2011 Winners
This year the following works earned Pulitzer Prizes in Letters, Drama, and Music:
- Novel: A Visit from the Goon Squad (Jennifer Egan)
- Drama: Clybourne Park (Bruce Norris)
- History: The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery (Eric Foner)
- Biography: Washington: A Life (Ron Chernow)
- Poetry: The Best of It: New and Selected Poems (Kay Ryan)
- General Non-Fiction: The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer (Siddhartha Mukherjee)
- Music: Madame White Snake (Zhou Long)
For a complete list of 2011’s winners, visit the Pulitzer Prizes online.
A Brief History of the Pulitzer
Named for Hungarian-American publisher Joseph Pulitzer, the awards were first awarded in 1917. Since then, categories have been added or changed to reflect the evolution of journalism, literature, and music. For example the “Novel” category was changed to “Fiction” in 1948 and now includes short stories.
The list of Pulitzer Prize winners for literature includes several legendary authors, including John Updike, Toni Morrison, and Arthur Miller. Saul Bellow, John Steinbeck, and Ernest Hemingway also earned the award.
Not every eligible literary work is automatically considered for the Pulitzer. The work must be submitted along with an application in order to be judged by the independent panel that chooses winners.
What’s your favorite Pulitzer winning work of literature? And what works of literature have been overlooked for the award?
April 18th, 2011
Here at Books Tell You Why, we love a good limerick and think sonnets are splendid. That’s why we’re happy to celebrate National Poetry Month. If you’d like to join in the festivities, here are a few ways to join in:
- Follow the Academy of American Poets on Twitter via @POETSorg. Each day in April, a different poet will compose the organization’s tweets. Today’s poet is Joshua Clover.
- Put a poem in your pocket on April 14. It’s easier than ever, now that the Academy has a mobile poetry archive—from Maya Angelou to Charles Van Sandwyk, you’ll find all your favorites right on your phone.
- Write a poem—or two. If you’re feeling really brave, post one here in the comments!
- Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Throughout the month we’ll share tidbits about poets and favorite volumes from our extensive poetry collection.
- And yes, you can of course also browse and deplete our poetry offering.
How will you be celebrating National Poetry Month? And which poets would you like to see featured?
Further Reading:
Academy of American Poets
April 6th, 2011
Police made a “small number” of arrests in Dublin where former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was due to sign copies of his autobiography Saturday, a spokesman for Ireland’s national police service said.
Despite reports that shoes and eggs were thrown at Blair, police could not confirm whether anything was thrown at him, and video from inside the store showed him unscathed, without any stains on his jacket.
A crowd of people, some of them anti-war protesters, gathered outside the shop to protest Blair’s role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A line of police wearing fluorescent yellow jackets kept them back from the street in front of the Eason bookshop in central Dublin.
Blair: Bush world view had ‘immense simplicity’
Dozens of police were on duty in the street outside the bookshop since early Saturday and sections of the main thoroughfare were cordoned off to traffic.
Blair’s book, “A Journey,” describes his time in office, including his decision to go to war in Iraq. All proceeds from the book are going to the Royal British Legion, Blair has said.
Source: cnn.com
A limited number of signed copies will be available at www.BooksTellYouWhy.com beginning October 2010.
September 4th, 2010
An early copy of Paradise Lost could be paradise found for a John Milton enthusiast as the annual Calgary book sale has unearthed a rare copy of this epic poem. The early edition, from the 1700s, is expected to fetch several hundred dollars when it goes up for sale in a couple of weeks.
Continue Reading May 31st, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — Never mind that the iPad, Apple’s much anticipated electronic reading tablet, hits stores in 20 days to strike what many say will be the death knell for books. Bibliophiles couldn’t have cared less Saturday as they combed through the stacks for rare finds at the 29th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair at the Coliseum in downtown.
Continue Reading March 14th, 2010
Visit us this weekend in St. Petersburg at the 29th Florida Antiquarian Book Fair
March 12, 5:30-9pm, March 13, 10am -5pm, and March 14, 11am -4pm.
If you cannot be on site, please browse the selection of books at Books Tell You Why – Florida selection.
Presented items include collectible books in the following areas: Antiquarian Golf and Fishing Books, Awarded Children’s Books, Books To Film, Collectible Cookbooks (incl. signed items from Julia Child, Emeril, Thomas Keller, Paula Deen), Caroliniana and a couple of Charles van Sandwyk illustrated books incl. his new title, Canadian Content.
March 11th, 2010
Please visit us at the Los Angeles ABAA Bookfair at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza between Friday, February 12, 2010 at 5:00pm and Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 5:00pm. Books Tell You Why will be in booth 419. We usually get a couple of complimentary tickets, please contact us if interested.
Continue Reading January 29th, 2010
