BOOKS

Shirley Jackson has more stories to tell.

A Lost Shirley Jackson Story, 'Adventure on a Bad Night,' Is Being Published for the First Time

Shirley Jackson finished writing the story around 1944. It's been residing in a box at the Library of Congress since 1965.

The World's Work, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

7 Fascinating Facts About F. Scott Fitzgerald

Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the most astute American novelists of the 20th century. But his best-known work, 'The Great Gatsby,' wasn't a bestseller.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Alice Walker

From her groundbreaking essays to Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Color Purple,' Alice Walker's work explores Black American experiences.

See What the World’s Reading Habits Look Like in 2020

Many people have used the COVID-19 lockdowns to burn through their pile of books to read. Here's what reading habits look like across the globe in 2020.

Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra in The Witcher (2019).

10 Killer Facts About The Witcher

'The Witcher'—the Netflix series based on Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy book series, which spawned a popular video game franchise—became an immediate pop culture phenomenon when it debuted in December 2019.

How H.P. Lovecraft Gave Us Ancient Aliens

The similarities between H.P. Lovecraft’s ideas and those of the people who produce 'Ancient Aliens' aren’t a coincidence; in fact, they’re connected.

Kerouacs First Draft Of Seminal Book "On The Road" Displayed

10 Fascinating Facts About Jack Kerouac

Many of Jack Kerouac's novels drew details from his own life. Here's what you need to know about the author of 'On the Road.'

How Lolita Author Vladimir Nabokov Helped Ruth Bader Ginsburg Find Her Voice

Before Vladimir Nabokov gained fame for ‘Lolita,’ he helped hone the writing skills of a future Supreme Court icon.

Lily James as Mrs de Winter and Armie Hammer as Maxim de Winter in Rebecca (2020).

Remembering Rebecca: 11 Facts About Daphne du Maurier's Enduring Novel

Mention Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' to any bibliophile and they will no doubt share the many reasons why the novel has charmed and captivated so many generations of readers.

China Is Now Home to What May Be the World’s Most Stunning Bookstore

With its high arches and mirrored ceilings, Dujiangyan’s latest bookstore seems like it goes on forever.

11 of Our Favorite Horror Books

There's no better time of year to crack open a new horror book, and if you're in need of recommendations, the Mental Floss staff has you covered.

A baby Hemingway tottered through the halls of this idyllic edifice.

The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum in Illinois Might Shut Down Forever—Here’s How to Help Save It

The museum is a tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s legacy in Oak Park, Illinois, and a reflection of the salon culture of his era.

Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, and Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes in Netflix's Enola Holmes (2020).

Who Is Enola Holmes? 7 Facts About Nancy Springer’s Hit YA Book Series

Though her name may be lesser known, Enola Holmes—teenage sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes—has been around for more than a decade in the form of Nancy Springer’s young adult book series. Now she's featured in a hit Netflix movie starring Millie Bobby

The books were wrapped a little better than these.

200 Rare Books Were Stolen in a Thrilling Heist—Three Years Later, They’ve Been Found Buried in Romania

The pricey cache includes first editions by Sir Isaac Newton, Galileo, and Francisco Goya—and it wasn’t an isolated incident.

Meet Your Home's Microbes in The Great Indoors

Author Emily Anthes explores the thriving communities of bacteria and fungi with which we share our abodes—and what they reveal about us.

How Will Denis Villeneuve's Dune Compare to David Lynch’s Dune? This Shot-For-Shot Trailer Will Show You

The new ‘Dune’ trailer is here. Here’s a sneak peek at how Denis Villeneuve's adaptation might measure up to David Lynch’s cult classic.

Cozy Up With a Where’s Waldo? Fleece Blanket

Just Funky has created a new fleece throw blanket based on the 'Where’s Waldo?' book series from the '80s and '90s.

Read Roald Dahl’s Heartbreaking 1986 Letter About the Importance of Vaccinations

Two of Roald Dahl’s books are dedicated to his daughter, Olivia, who died from measles complications in 1962.

9 Travel Tips from Classical Europe

Travel writing from classical antiquity overflows with pearls of wisdom both relatable and wildly exotic.

Do Your Bowels Suddenly Spring to Life in Bookstores? You’re Not Alone—and the Japanese Even Have a Term for It: Mariko Aoki

In the ’80s, Mariko Aoki wrote to a magazine about her strange habit of having to poop in bookstores. Now, she’s the namesake for the condition.

A photograph of Alexandre Dumas by Nadar, circa 1855.

Google Pays Tribute to Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo With Doodle

Alexandre Dumas’s action-packed adventure novel is definitely a classic, but the inspiration behind it isn’t very well-known.

7 Best-Selling 19th Century Female Novelists You've Never Heard Of

Few people today know the names Mrs. Henry Wood, Charlotte Riddell, or Maria Edgeworth—yet these women all wrote immensely popular, best-selling Victorian novels that allowed them to command top dollar.

The cover of the English edition of the book.

Zabiba and the King: The 2000 Romance Novel ... Written by Saddam Hussein

It’s literally about a mighty king’s love affair with a commoner, but it’s figuratively about Operation Desert Storm.

14 Black Authors You Should Read Right Now

If you’ve found yourself purchasing 'Stamped' but not 'The Hate U Give' or 'With the Fire on High,' then you’re doing yourself a major disservice.

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