LITERATURE

Why Do We Say That Love Makes People Go “Weak at the Knees”?

In honor of Valentine’s Day, discover the origins of the phrase ‘weak at the knees,’ including its ties to ancient Rome and even astrology.

You never forget your first real heartbreak.

12 of the Most Unforgettable Books About Doomed Romances

The star-crossed lovers captured in these Gothic romance books will give you a new reason to hate Valentine’s Day.

7 Fascinating Facts About Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’

He wrote the book partially in response to European writers like Joseph Conrad, who Achebe said depicted Africa “as ‘the other world,’ the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization.”

Another excuse to plunge back into the world of Westeros.

10 Fascinating Facts About ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’

Here’s everything you need to know about the Tales of Dunk and Egg, the ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel novellas that inspired HBO’s upcoming adaptation.

A Brief History of “Auld Lang Syne”

On New Year’s Eve, after the ball has dropped, revelers queue up “Auld Lang Syne”—that song that makes you cry, even though you don’t understand it and know almost none of the words.

‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ was the first poem to names Santa’s reindeer.

The Mysterious Origins of the World’s Most Famous Christmas Poem

Clement Clarke Moore is widely believed to be the author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” But the Livingston family of New York begs to differ.

How do these two famous vampires compare?

What’s the Difference Between Dracula and Nosferatu?

Ahead of Robert Eggers’s adaptation of ‘Nosferatu,’ here’s a breakdown of the differences and similarities between the two iconic bloodsuckers.

In Iceland, Christmas Eve is one for the books.

The Christmas Book Flood: Iceland’s Literature-Loving Holiday Tradition

Jólabókaflóðið, Iceland's long-running Christmas tradition, involves books, bed, and chocolate—all our favorite things.

Charles Dickens is just one person who left a mark on the holiday season.

9 People Who Shaped Christmas

Historical figures like Charles Dickens, Thomas Nast, Washington Irving, and even Queen Charlotte all helped create Christmas as we know it.

8 Fascinating Facts About ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’

Here's how Stieg Larsson's modern classic came to be.

A whole lot of foreshadowing in these pages.

7 Obscure Literary Devices

How many have you come across?

6 Fascinating Facts About Ha Jin’s ‘Waiting’

He got the idea from a story his wife told him while they were visiting her parents: “I joked, ‘This would be good for a novel. I am going to write a novel based on this.’ ”

Bram Stoker's bibliography just got richer.

A Long-Lost Short Story by ‘Dracula’ Author Bram Stoker Has Been Rediscovered After 130 Years

The tale was composed as Stoker was working on his iconic vampire.

R.L. Stine—the father of children’s horror lit.

It Came From the Kid Lit Section: Remembering the Children’s Horror Boom of the 1990s

Series like R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps introduced '90s kids to horror at a young age.

9 Facts About Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”

“Once upon a midnight dreary” begins “The Raven,” setting the mood for one of the most recognizable poems written in English.

Looks like she's reading a novel, not a novella.

Novella vs. Short Story: What’s the Difference?

As Stephen King once said, novellas are “too long to be short and too short to be really long.”

You won’t believe what scared Alfred Hitchcock.

The Worst Fears of 7 Horror Icons

You’ll never guess what frightens these masters of horror.

These books were banned for silly reasons.

13 Books That Were Banned For Ridiculous Reasons

Each year, the American Library Association complies a list of books that are challenged and banned. There are some books that get banned because of insensitive material; however, others get banned for completely ludicrous reasons.

The 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023

In honor of Banned Books Week, the ALA published its list of 2023’s most contentious titles.

Let’s see how well you know your literature.

Can You Match the Last Line to the Famous Novel?

See if you can figure out how these celebrated works come to a conclusion.

7 Fun Facts About ‘Strega Nona’

Of all Tomie dePaola’s books, ‘Strega Nona’ is by far the most beloved. Here are seven things you might not have known about the story.

10 Books Turning 50 in 2024

Whether they’re iconic horror novels or classic kids’ lit, these books still resonate five decades after they first hit shelves.

‘Twilight’ made Stephenie Meyer a killing.

The 10 Authors With the Highest-Grossing Movie Adaptations

It pays to have a vivid imagination.

Where did this summertime trend come from?

Making Waves: A Page-Turning History of the Beach Read

There’s no tradition more satisfying than cracking open a good book on a sandy beach. Here’s how it all started.