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A Farewell to Arms: Ernest Hemingway's First Bestseller

HIS golden locks Time hath to silver turn’d;
         O Time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing!
His youth ‘gainst time and age hath ever spurn’d,
         But spurn’d in vain; youth waneth by increasing:
Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen;
Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green.

     
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Happy Birthday, Dan Brown!

By Matt Reimann. Jun 22, 2013. 9:36 AM.

Dan BrownToday, June 22nd, is renowned author Dan Brown’s birthday. He has much to celebrate considering Inferno, his latest book released last month, is the number-one hardcover novel on The New York Times Bestseller List.  Since publishing The Da Vinci Code in 2003, he has been one of the world’s most popular (and controversial) authors, forever ingrained into the landscape of contemporary fiction. While it seems every book he releases becomes an overnight blockbuster, it may surprise you that Dan Brown wasn’t always the King Midas of the modern thriller novel.

     
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How to Identify First Editions from G.P. Putnam's Sons

By Kristin Masters. Jun 20, 2013. 3:48 PM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Modern First Editions

Since its inception in 1838, G.P. Putnam's Sons grown into one of the most respected--and controversial--publishing houses in the United States. In 1996, the publishing house became an imprint of the Penguin Group and continues to publish the works of outstanding authors of both fiction and non-fiction.

     
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James Boswell, Samuel Johnson, and the Greatest English-Language Biography

By Kristin Masters. Jun 18, 2013. 6:57 PM.

"With some venial exceptions on the score of egotism and indiscriminate admiration, his work exhibits the most copious, interesting, and finished picture of the life and opinions of an eminent man, that was ever executed; and is justly esteemed one of the most instructive and entertaining books in the English language"

-Robert Anderson, of Life of Samuel Johnson in Works of the British Poets (1795) 

     
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Top Reads for the Road

By Kristin Masters. Jun 14, 2013. 4:08 PM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, American Literature, Literature

Summer’s the season of beaches, swimming, and leisurely drives. Whether you’re headed out on an adventure of your own, or traveling through the pages of a book from the comfort of your armchair, you’ll love these classic books that capture the spirit of the Road Trip.

     
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The Literary Sights of London

By Kristin Masters. Jun 11, 2013. 5:15 PM.

Topics: Rare Books, Book News

With the London International Antiquarian Book Fair this weekend, book lovers will descend on the illustrious city in record numbers! If you'll be among the visitors, you'll want to check out these literary hotspots!

The British Library

Containing over 150 million items from around the world, the British Library is one of the world's great repositories of knowledge.Currently on exhibition is "Propaganda: Power and Persuasion," "the first exhibition to explore international state propaganda from the 20th and 21st centuries." The exhibition has earned rave reviews. Friday's screening of Eisenstein's Strike (USSR, 1925) is the perfect complement to the exhibit.

     
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Did Charles Dickens Want a Different Ending for 'Great Expectations'?

By Kristin Masters. Jun 4, 2013. 10:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Book Collecting, Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens began writing Great Expectations in 1860. According to his friend and biographer John Forster, Dickens indicated in a letter around October 12, 1860, that he intended the new novel to be "humorous and droll."*

Clearly the book took a different turn--including a final one after Dickens had already submitted the final chapters to the printer in June 1861. At the advice of a trusted friend, Dickens changed the ending to Great Expectations, a decision that has intrigued critics and collectors ever since.

     
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Celebrating Larry McMurtry, Legendary Author and Bookseller

On June 3, 1936, Larry McMurtry was born in Archer City, Texas. Famous for his novels about the American West, McMurtry has had a rich career as a writer--and as a bookseller. Though he's since retired from both careers, McMurtry has made an indelible mark on the book collecting world.

     
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How can I identify a first edition? Where do I learn about caring for books? How should I start collecting? Hear from librarians about amazing collections, learn about historic bindings or printing techniques, get to know other collectors. Whether you are just starting or looking for expert advice, chances are, you'll find something of interest on blogis librorum.

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