Books Tell You Why. All About Collecting Rare Books (131)

The Inspiration Behind Herman Melville's Moby Dick

By Leah Dobrinska. Aug 21, 2015. 9:00 AM.

We often wonder at, marvel over, and debate the inspiration behind great works of literature. Is Philip Roth's work autobiographical in some cases? Was there an actual "Uncle Tom" figure who inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe? And so on. In the case of Moby Dick, Herman Melville's personal whaling experiences as well as accounts of the whale, "Mocha Dick," undoubtedly played a role in the novel's composition. However, one tale in particular must have had particular resonance. After reading the story of the doomed Essex, a whaling ship from Nantucket that came face-to-face with a seemingly deranged whale, Melville set out with fervor to pen his masterpiece. While Melville’s tale culminates with the attack of the long-sought Moby Dick, for the captain and crew of the Essex, their encounter with a massive, dangerous whale was only the beginning. The story of the Essex is a haunting one, and it’s bound to make even the heartiest of seafarers shudder.

Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Brontës?

By Andrea Koczela. Aug 20, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Quizzes

The Brontës remain one of history's most famous literary families. Of the six siblings, two died during childhood. The remaining three sisters, Anne, Charlotte, and Emily, became published authors during their lifetimes. Although all three died young, their writings have endured as literary classics. How well do you know the lives and works of this legendary family? Take a moment to test your knowledge with the following quiz:

The Quotable Ogden Nash

By Brian Hoey. Aug 19, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Poetry

“How are we to survive? Solemnity is not the answer, any more than witless and irresponsible frivolity is. I think our best chance lies in humor, which in this case means a wry acceptance of our predicament. We don't have to like it but we can at least recognize its ridiculous aspects, one of which is ourselves.” -Ogden Nash

Truly, Ogden Nash's humor is still alive and well. A look at both his written verse and some of his off-handed remarks is delightful, and it proves just how impeccable his wit and timing continue to be.

Searching for Antiquarian Books in Kyoto

By Audrey Golden. Aug 18, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Book History, Book Making

If you can’t read much Japanese, you’ll likely have some difficulty finding books of any particular authors on your list. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t wholly enjoy browsing in Kyoto’s antiquarian bookstores. Indeed, from Ukiyoe (woodblock prints) to handmade artists’ books, you’ll be amazed by the beautiful objects lining the shelves of the shops in Japan’s former imperial capital.

The Quiet Achievement of Evan S. Connell, Jr.

By Matt Reimann. Aug 17, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: American History, American Literature

In the Santa Fe nursing home in which Evan S. Connell, Jr. spent the final years of his life, he spoke so little that some residents thought him to be mute. He kept to himself, generally, granting few interviews and was perpetually turning down teaching positions. Spouseless and childless, some might say Connell lived the definition of a solitary life. It seems as if writing was where he displaced the majority of his vitality. Connell has a reputation among writers and readers for valuing his writing above all else. There’s one anecdote where the author, upon seeing two attractive girls sunbathing on the roof outside his writing room, drew the blinds. Finally able to return to writing free of distractions, he was happy.

Bernice Rubens: The Booker Prize Winner Who Was ‘Better Than Most’

By Nick Ostdick. Aug 16, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Awarded Books, Literature

When asked about what makes good writing, Bernice Rubens replied: “The acid test of good writing, even if it is of violence or cruelty, is that it must make one’s ears water.” Scientific questions about the ability of one’s ears to water aside, that’s a bold statement from the second overall and first ever female winner of the prestigious Booker Prize for Fiction, which Rubens won in 1970 for her novel The Elected Member. And yet how truthful a sentiment, wrapped around something of a visceral, bombastic image. Perhaps how true to Rubens as a writer, as well.

Five Interesting Facts About Sir Walter Scott

By Neely Simpson. Aug 15, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Poetry, Literature

Sir Walter Scott is credited with popularizing the modern novel and making it a thing of respectability. Additionally, he helped form historical fiction as a genre and put Scotland on the map as a tourist destination. Here are five more interesting facts about the man who gave us the oft quoted line, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"

Tips for Collecting Caldecott First Editions

By Katie Behrens. Aug 14, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Children's Books, Modern First Editions

Winning a Caldecott Medal is the highest achievement for an American children's book illustrator, and it comes with a huge perk: your book will be remembered. Caldecott Medal (and honor) books are in print for years, and libraries are more likely to keep them on the shelf. These books represent the best and most innovative work in children’s book illustration, which also makes them highly desirable as collector’s items.

Resistance Writers During World War II

By Audrey Golden. Aug 13, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Nobel Prize Winners, History

What is resistance literature? Many academics link the term with early work on postcolonialism. For instance, world literature scholars might point you to Barbara Harlow’s seminal work, Resistance Literature (1987), which discusses the ways in which fiction can help us to think through the struggle against colonial and imperial forces outside the narrowly defined Western world. But can we also give the term other meanings? While imaginative literature that engages with the struggle against colonialism is of great significance to any thinking about power and inequality, we might also think a bit further back to World War II. While their works might not necessarily fall under a rubric of resistance literature, we’d like to highlight some of the resistance writers who took up textual arms against the Axis powers.

Why You Shouldn't Dismiss Ian Fleming's The Man With the Golden Gun

By Leah Dobrinska. Aug 12, 2015. 9:00 AM.

Topics: James Bond

Upon his death in 1964, Ian Fleming’s obituary noted that he “had completed, and was revising, a new novel, The Man With the Golden Gun.” Today, we delve deeper into this posthumous publication. Although not necessarily considered Fleming’s best work, it is a necessary piece of the James Bond puzzle, a prized collectible, and it gives us a final taste of one of the greatest spy novelists of all time.