Books Tell You Why. All About Collecting Rare Books

Famous Literary Hoaxes (Part Three)

By Kristin Masters. Sep 9, 2013. 10:00 AM.

Topics: Rare Books, Book Collecting, Book History

William Henry Ireland forged Shakespeare, and the Russian secret police fabricated records from a secret society. Literary hoaxes can be entertaining, dangerous, or humiliating. Today is our final installment on famous literary hoaxes. (Be sure to check out Part One and Part Two.)

Miseducation in Native American History

When The Education of Little Tree was published in 1976, it was an immediate success. The book was billed as the memoir of the orphaned author, who grew up with his Cherokee grandparents. It sold over nine million copies and made school reading lists across the country. The Education of Little Tree did receive some criticism from the Cherokee tribe for its inaccurate depiction of Cherokee language and tradition, but that did little to slow sales.

Famous Literary Hoaxes (Part Two)

By Kristin Masters. Sep 2, 2013. 10:00 AM.

Topics: Rare Books, Book Collecting, Book History

Back in 400 BCE, Dionysus the Renegade was a Stoic philosopher and student of Zeno of Citium. He wanted to humiliate his rival Heraclides and decided to forge a work of Sophocles. Dionysus inserted the acrostic "Heraclides is ignorant of letters," which quickly led to the discovery of Dionysus' fraud--but not before he'd achieved his aim of embarrassing Heraclides.

Famous Literary Hoaxes (Part One)

By Kristin Masters. Aug 26, 2013. 10:01 AM.

Topics: Rare Books, Book History

Literary critics frequently argue that literature is full of frauds; there are plenty of authors, after all, whose work offers little substance or artistry. But the world of letters also has its share of true frauds: cheats, liars, and forgers. In some cases, these individuals were merely mischievous pranksters, but in others they hoped to profit from their malevolent handiwork. Here's a look at some of the biggest literary hoaxes of all time.

Izaak Walton's Legacy in Fishing Literature

By Kristin Masters. Aug 9, 2013. 9:25 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Rare Books, Fine Press, Fishing

August 9 is the day we celebrate the birthday of legendary biographer, poet, and fisherman Izaak Walton. A friend of such illustrious figures as John Donne and Charles Cotton, Walton approached the art of fishing with a new sensibility in The Compleat Angler. His work was immensely popular--and it utterly changed the course of fishing literature. Multiple authors have followed in Walton's footsteps, creating a body of literature about fishing that is rich, diverse, and engaging.

Izaak Walton, Iconic Angler

By Kristin Masters. Jul 12, 2013. 4:10 PM.

Topics: Rare Books, Fishing, Rare Book Gift Ideas

In the world of fishing literature, no figure has endured as Izaak Walton has. His masterful work, The Compleat Angler, has become a true classic in the genre. A friend of famous figures like John Donne and Charles Cotton, Walton built a name for himself not only as a fisherman, but also as a poet and biographer. He's a beloved figure to this day, and collectors strive to add his works to their personal libraries.

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.

Celebrating Sixty Years of Everest Adventures

By Kristin Masters. May 29, 2013. 4:20 PM.

Topics: Rare Books, Biographies, Book News

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's arrival at the summit of Mount Everest. Both Hillary and Norgay were true adventurers, and their accomplishments have inspired generations.

Calling Young Bookish Writers and Aspiring Marketers!

By Kristin Masters. May 26, 2013. 4:35 PM.

Topics: Rare Books, Book News

We're excited to announce an awesome opportunity for college students: Books Tell You Why is currently accepting applications for two internship positions. Interns will get hands-on experience with multiple aspects of online marketing, from copywriting to tracking ROI.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Rare Book Lover

By Kristin Masters. May 22, 2013. 10:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Umberto Eco, Rare Books, James Bond, Fishing, Book News, Rare Book Gift Ideas

Next month in the US, we'll celebrate dads and all they do for us. Though Fathers Day isn't until June 16, many of us are already looking for the perfect Father's Day gift. If your dad is a lover of rare books, these items may be just the ticket.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas Perfect for Rare Book Lovers

By Kristin Masters. May 6, 2013. 2:44 PM.

Topics: Poetry, Rare Books, Rare Book Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is just around the corner in the US, and it's time to pick out the perfect gift for moms and grandmothers. Consider these Mothers Day gift ideas if your mom loves special and rare books.