LITERATURE

The New York Public Library’s 10 Most Checked-Out Books of All Time

The New York Public Library houses millions of works, but some of the best books (especially for children) stand out above the rest.

Charles Dickens

Find out biographical facts about Charles Dickens's books, legacy, and family life—and brush up on his most memorable quotes.

A Little Free Library in Traverse City, Michigan.

Donate Books to a Little Free Library Near You

Little Free Libraries have delighted readers around the world since 2009. Discover how they began and how you can get involved, too.

Resolved to Read More? Try This Simple Hack

Your social media addiction could actually be the key to making a serious dent in your 2020 reading list.

10 Top-Selling Books of the Decade

From dystopian YA novels to a series that started as R-rated fan fiction, these were the best-selling books of the decade.

Virginia Woolf

Find out more about Virginia Woolf’s best books, quotes, and the fascinating life she led.

12 Surprising Facts About Evelyn Waugh

Evelyn Waugh was one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century, and his works are beloved by both literary critics and readers. But most people don’t know much Evelyn Waugh, the man. Here's what you need to know.

Artificial Intelligence Identifies Shakespeare's Co-Writer on 'Henry VIII'

The Bard is widely regarded as the greatest playwright in the history of the English language, but what if he had a little help?

Mark Twain

Explore the life and legacy of writer Mark Twain, one of America's most-often quoted (and misquoted) authors.

Oscar Wilde's Gold Friendship Ring Recovered Nearly 20 Years After It Was Stolen

The friendship ring that writer Oscar Wilde gave to his Oxford friend in 1876 was recovered by an art detective.

Charlotte Brontë's Final "Little Book" Returning to Haworth After $665,000 Auction Bid

The matchbox-sized item is one of five remaining miniscule books that Charlotte Brontë had written as a young teenager.

Emily Dickinson

Read about Emily Dickinson, from her famous poems about love, hope, and death, to her legacy at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst.

by James Carling, Urbancanvas // Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Watch 10 Celebrities Read Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven"

Edgar Allan Poe's classic—and kind of creepy—narrative poem has been inspiring artists for nearly 175 years.

Internet Archive Book Images, Flickr // Wikimedia Commons

12 Facts About William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

'Romeo and Juliet,' William Shakespeare’s 16th-century play about the tragic story of two star-crossed lovers, continues to intrigue readers today.

6 Puzzling Anachronisms That Made It Into Shakespeare’s Plays

From the clock in ‘Julius Caesar’ to Machiavelli in ‘Henry VI,’ the Bard made a few (possibly intentional) mistakes.

Jane Austen's Handwritten Letter About a Nightmarish Visit to the Dentist Is Up for Auction

“We heard each of the two sharp hasty screams,” the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ author wrote of her niece’s turn in the dentist’s chair.

UBC Library Communications and Marketing, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Rare First Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Sold for More Than $56,000

The first edition print of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' had been locked away for decades. Experts say it was one of the most pristine copies they had seen.

Lyceum Theatre, London, 1897, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

When Bram Stoker Adapted Dracula for the Stage

For one of literature’s most enduring works, Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' didn’t receive much of a turnout when it was first adapted for the stage: A total of two people showed up.

How Nosferatu Ripped Off Dracula and Became a Plagiarism Success Story

On March 4, 1922, spectators filtered into the Marble Hall of the Berlin Zoological Garden to witness horror movie history—and a plagiarism success story in the making.

The Reason Why The Great Gatsby Isn’t In the Public Domain (Yet)

Copyright laws in America are complicated, especially for books. Though F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 'The Great Gatsby' was published in 1925, it won’t enter the public domain until 2021.

The New York Public Library Convinced Thousands of People to Read Books in Instagram Stories

Insta Novels from the New York Public Library shows that Instagram Stories can be used as a platform for literature.

A Preview of the New Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library Is Open for Banned Books Week

After temporarily closing this year, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is back at a new address in the author's hometown.

Annotations in Copy of Shakespeare's First Folio May Have Been John Milton's

William Shakespeare had an enormous influence on "Paradise Lost" poet John Milton, and new evidence suggests that super fan Milton—who even wrote a poem called "On Shakespeare"—might have owned his idol's first folio.

William Hatherell, Shakespeare Illustrated, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Romeo And Juliet’s Balcony Scene Is A Lie

Shakespeare supposedly wrote his play about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, between 1591 and 1595. So how did the balcony become integrated into one of the greatest literary tragedies of all time?

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