books

107d

<p>Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure criticised university elitism – it still rings true today</p><p>by Shelley Galpin</p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/thomas-hardys-jude-the-obscure-criticised-university-elitism-it-still-rings-true-today-266009" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="theconversation.com/thomas-hardys-jude-the-obscure-criticised-university-elitism-it-still-rings-true-today-266009"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">theconversation.com/thomas-har</span><span class="invisible">dys-jude-the-obscure-criticised-university-elitism-it-still-rings-true-today-266009</span></a></p><p>Jude the Obscure at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/153" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/153</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Hardy - Jude the Obscure, 1896.

The illustration depicts a dramatic indoor scene with three figures. On the left, partially visible through what appears to be a doorway, is a man in formal Victorian attire with a bow tie, holding what looks like a candle or lamp, illuminating the scene. In the center and right of the composition stand two other figures - a man in dark clothing and a woman in a light-colored blouse or dress with a dark skirt, both dressed in typical late 19th-century fashion.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Jude_the_Obscure#/media/File:Hardy_-_Jude_the_Obscure,_1896_(page_135_crop).jpg

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>"Thus, after pursuing those images, I overtook them. Now I know that I invented them. But inventing is a creation, not a lie."<br>La coscienza di Zeno (1923)</p><p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1928.</p><p>Italo Svevo (Aron Schmitz), returning from an Alpine resort to Trieste, suffers a car accident. He dies next day leaving his novel Il Vegliardo (The Old Man) unfinished in mid-word.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_Svevo" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_Svevo"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_Sv</span><span class="invisible">evo</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Italo Svevo with the preliminary draft of A Life (1892).

Svevo is depicted as a refined, intellectual figure. He has a well-groomed mustache and an intense, thoughtful gaze, reflective of his literary persona and introspective writing style.

Svevo is dressed in formal, period-appropriate clothing, including:
A dark suit jacket and waistcoat.

A white shirt and bow tie, which enhance the formality of his appearance.

A stylish boater hat, which adds a touch of elegance and aligns with late 19th-century European fashion trends.

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

107d

MLM Shipping for Modern Direct Selling

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1864 (until April 16).</p><p>James Payn publishes his most popular story, Lost Sir Massingberd, in Chambers's Journal. He follows it in the magazine (August 6 – December 24) by Married Beneath Him. Lost Sir Massingberd was published as a book in two volumes in 1864.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Sir_Massingberd" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Sir_Massingberd"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Sir</span><span class="invisible">_Massingberd</span></a></p><p>Lost Sir Massingberd at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37170" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37170</a><br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37171" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37171</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Title page of Lost Sir Massingberd.

The book is in two volumes, with this being Volume I.
Published in London by Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, located at 14, Ludgate Hill, in 1864.
It includes the note: "[The Right of Translation is Reserved.]".

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

12d

<p>Another notable & interesting title mentioned in our April's newsletter:</p><p>A brief outline of the history of libraries by Justus Lipsius<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78256/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78256/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78256</span><span class="invisible">/</span></a></p><p>Written in 1602, Lipsius's Syntagma de Bibliothecis is a short Latin scholarly treatise tracing the history of libraries from antiquity. It surveys the great libraries of the ancient world — Egyptian, Greek, and Roman — describing their origins, collections, and fates.</p><p>PG's April newsletter:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/newsletter/" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/newsletter/</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/bibliography/" rel="tag">#bibliography</a></p>

A decorative title page printed in red and black. An architectural frame is flanked by two classical draped female figures holding garlands with tassels. At the top, a medallion contains a bust of Athena wearing a helmet. At the bottom, stacks of books flank an oval cartouche bearing the publisher's details.
The title reads: Literature of Libraries in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, V, edited by John Cotton Dana and Henry W. Kent, published by A. C. McClurg and Company, Chicago, 1907.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/78256/pg78256-images.html

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>"Every human institution (Justice included) will stretch a little, if you only pull it the right way."</p><p>From January 4 till August 8 1868.</p><p>Wilkie Collins' epistolary novel The Moonstone: a Romance is serialised in All the Year Round (U.K.), being published in book format in July by Tinsley Brothers of London. It is seen as a precursor of full-length mystery fiction and the psychological thriller.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moonstone" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moonstone"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon</span><span class="invisible">stone</span></a></p><p>The Moonstone at PG:<br><a href="https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/155" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>gutenberg.org/ebooks/155</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

First edition title page.

The title, The Moonstone, prominently displayed in a serif typeface, with the author's name, Wilkie Collins, positioned below.

It includes a subtitle describing the novel, such as "A Romance".

Details of the original publisher, Tinsley Brothers, are found at the bottom of the title page, indicating the publication city, London, and sometimes the publication year.

The layout and typography are straightforward, avoiding elaborate ornamentation, characteristic of 19th-century literature.

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

107d

What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? January 13

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1893.</p><p>The first story featuring the private detective character Sexton Blake, "The Missing Millionaire", appears in Alfred Harmsworth's new boys' story paper The Halfpenny Marvel, written by Harry Blyth under the pen-name Hal Meredeth.</p><p>Sexton Blake adventures were featured in a wide variety of British and international publications from 1893 to 1978, comprising more than 4,000 stories by some 200 different authors.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexton_Blake" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexton_Blake"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexton_B</span><span class="invisible">lake</span></a></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Blyth" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Blyth"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Bl</span><span class="invisible">yth</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/pulpfiction/" rel="tag">#pulpfiction</a></p>

The cover of the first Sexton Blake tale, published in The Halfpenny Marvel in 1893, introduces the iconic detective Sexton Blake to readers, presenting an aesthetic typical of late 19th-century pulp fiction.

The title prominently features "The Halfpenny Marvel" in bold, eye-catching font at the top, emphasizing the magazine's affordability and accessibility.

Below the publication name, the story’s title—likely something dramatic like The Missing Millionaire—is highlighted, immediately drawing attention to the thrilling nature of the tale.

Taglines or subtitles, such as “A Sensational Detective Story,” may be included to emphasize the excitement and mystery.

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>"What remains?" cried Ivanhoe; "Glory, maiden, glory! which gilds our sepulchre and embalms our name."</p><p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1819.</p><p>Walter Scott's popular Waverley Novel Ivanhoe is published anonymously in 3 volumes by Archibald Constable in Edinburgh, dated 1820. A chivalric romance set in 12th-century England, it represents a move away from Scott setting his fiction in Scotland.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanhoe" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanhoe</a></p><p>Ivanhoe at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/82" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/82</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Title page of Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, 1st edition.

The text is presented in an elegant serif font, reflecting the formal and refined style of the period.

The title, Ivanhoe, appears prominently at the top, likely in larger font to draw attention, followed by the subtitle A Romance, emphasizing the book's genre.

Walter Scott's name does not appear on the title page because, at the time of publication, the novel was released anonymously. Instead, it is attributed to "The Author of Waverley", connecting it to Scott's earlier works.

Figure caption:
Whether from love of form, or from curiosity, the marshals paid no attention to his expressions of reluctance, but unhelmed him by cutting the laces of his casque, and undoing the fastening of his gorget.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/82/pg82-images.html

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>The Ebook of Sky Children is now available for purchase! Print copies will be available on Friday, January 3rd!</p><p>You can learn more at my website:<br><a href="https://owentyme.us/books/sky-children/sky-children.html" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="owentyme.us/books/sky-children/sky-children.html"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">owentyme.us/books/sky-children</span><span class="invisible">/sky-children.html</span></a></p><p>Or go straight to the store links:<br><a href="https://books2read.com/SkyChildren" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>books2read.com/SkyChildren</a></p><p><a href="/tags/author/" rel="tag">#author</a> <a href="/tags/indieauthor/" rel="tag">#indieauthor</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/writing/" rel="tag">#writing</a> <a href="/tags/fantasy/" rel="tag">#fantasy</a> <a href="/tags/scifi/" rel="tag">#scifi</a> <a href="/tags/sciencefiction/" rel="tag">#sciencefiction</a> <a href="/tags/actionadventure/" rel="tag">#actionadventure</a> <a href="/tags/fiction/" rel="tag">#fiction</a></p>

The cover of the novel Sky Children, by Owen Tyme.

The cover shows the dark silhouette of a man against a night sky consisting of a view of the Milky Way, in more stunning detail than it's usually seen.

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1895.</p><p>The première of Oscar Wilde's comedy An Ideal Husband takes place at the Haymarket Theatre in London. In April, on the last day of the Haymarket run, Wilde was arrested for gross indecency; his name was removed from the playbills and programmes when the production transferred to the Criterion Theatre, where it ran for a further 13 performances, from 13 to 27 April.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Ideal_Husband" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Ideal_Husband"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Ideal</span><span class="invisible">_Husband</span></a></p><p>An Ideal Husband at PG:<br><a href="https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/885" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>gutenberg.org/ebooks/885</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a> <a href="/tags/theatre/" rel="tag">#theatre</a></p>

Act II: Mrs Cheveley, centre, denounces Sir Robert Chiltern to his wife, 1895 premiere

Henry Wright (artist) - Illustrated London News, p. 44

"Mr. Oscar Wilde's New Play, 'An Ideal Husband', at the Haymarket Theatre": Mrs Chevely accuses Sir Robert

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

104d

<p>New <a href="/tags/bookreview/" rel="tag">#BookReview</a> on my <a href="/tags/blog/" rel="tag">#blog</a>: "Diary of a Bookseller." <br><a href="https://itinerantlibrarian.blogspot.com/2026/01/book-review-diary-of-bookseller.html" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="itinerantlibrarian.blogspot.com/2026/01/book-review-diary-of-bookseller.html"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">itinerantlibrarian.blogspot.co</span><span class="invisible">m/2026/01/book-review-diary-of-bookseller.html</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/reading/" rel="tag">#reading</a> <a href="/tags/itinerantlibrarian/" rel="tag">#ItinerantLibrarian</a> <a href="/tags/reviews/" rel="tag">#reviews</a> <a href="/tags/bookstodon/" rel="tag">#bookstodon</a> <br>💙📚 </p><p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://fedigroups.social/@bookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>bookstodon</span></a></span></p>

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Kahlil Gibran was born <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1883.</p><p>He is best known as the author of The Prophet, which was first published in the United States in 1923 and has since become one of the best-selling books of all time, having been translated into more than 100 languages.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahlil_Gibran" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahlil_Gibran"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahlil_G</span><span class="invisible">ibran</span></a></p><p>Books by Kahlil Gibran at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1813" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1813"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/1813</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Self-Portrait and Muse, c. 1911 (Museo Soumaya) by Kahlil Gibran.

The painting features Gibran's self-portrait on one side, rendered with introspective and solemn expression.

Opposite him is the figure of a muse, often interpreted as an embodiment of inspiration or creativity, exuding a sense of calm and mystery.

Gibran employs muted, earthy tones—soft browns, creams, and touches of gold—creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>Jacob Bernoulli was born <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1655.</p><p>He was an early proponent of Leibnizian calculus; along with his brother Johann, he was one of the founders of the calculus of variations. He also discovered the fundamental mathematical constant e. However, his most important contribution was in the field of probability, where he derived the first version of the law of large numbers in his work Ars Conjectandi.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Bernoulli" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Bernoulli"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Be</span><span class="invisible">rnoulli</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/mathematics/" rel="tag">#mathematics</a></p>

Portrait of Jacob Bernoulli (also known as James or Jacques) (1654 – 1705)

2 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

18d

Question: What are the worst books on Project Gutenberg (or other terrible public domain writing)?

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1904.</p><p>The first of Virginia Woolf's published writings, "Haworth, November 1904", an account of a visit to the Brontë family home, appears anonymously in a women's supplement to a clerical journal, The Guardian. (A book review written later has appeared in the same journal a week earlier.)</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haworth" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haworth</a></p><p>Books by Virginia Woolf at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/89" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/89"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/89</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

This is the draft of the essay, which appeared in The Guardian in December 1904. Woolf opens by briefly questioning the legitimacy of literary tourism, and decides that her visit to Haworth is acceptable because it added to her understanding of the Brontës’ books. After walking the West Yorkshire moors in the bleak November weather and spending time in the family’s home and church, Woolf concludes that “however harsh the struggle, Emily, and Charlotte above all, fought to victory.” via @NYPL

https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/section-1-early-years/item/13112#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHaworth%3A%20November%2C%201904%E2%80%9C%20essay%20draft&text=Woolf's%20first%20published%20essay%20is,The%20Guardian%20in%20December%201904.

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

106d

<p>Another quarter means another list of forthcoming critical tech books!</p><p>Plus, I also discuss my own reading habits in 2025 and some of the books I most enjoyed out of the 21 I read this past year.</p><p><a href="https://disconnect.blog/a-critical-tech-reading-list-for-winter-2026/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="disconnect.blog/a-critical-tech-reading-list-for-winter-2026/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">disconnect.blog/a-critical-tec</span><span class="invisible">h-reading-list-for-winter-2026/</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/tech/" rel="tag">#tech</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/reading/" rel="tag">#reading</a></p>

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>"There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt."<br>Torvald Helmer, Act I</p><p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1879.</p><p>The first production of Henrik Ibsen's controversial "modern drama" A Doll's House takes place at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, after publication there on December 4.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%27s_House" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%27s_House"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%2</span><span class="invisible">7s_House</span></a></p><p>A Doll's House at PG:<br><a href="https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/2542" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>gutenberg.org/ebooks/2542</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a> <a href="/tags/theatre/" rel="tag">#theatre</a></p>

Adeleide Johannessen in character as Nora, from a cigarette card of c. 1880 – c. 1882.

Adeleide Johannessen is captured mid-action, holding a tambourine in her raised hand, evoking an energetic or defiant moment from her performance as Nora.

Her body language is dynamic, and her intense facial expression reflects the emotional depth and complexity of Nora's character, perhaps hinting at her journey of self-discovery and rebellion.

Johannessen wears a full-length Victorian-era dress, with detailed pleating, fitted bodice, and layered skirts that cinch at the waist with a decorative belt.

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>English author Agatha Christie died <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1976.</p><p>She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap.</p><p>Watch our podcast about The Big Four:<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKUX5a7T0Y&t=74s" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKUX5a7T0Y&t=74s"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKUX5</span><span class="invisible">a7T0Y&t=74s</span></a></p><p>Books by Agatha Chrissie at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/451" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/451"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/451</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Christie as a young woman, 1910s

Unknown author - The Christie Archive Trust

The photo typically depicts her as poised and elegant, reflecting the fashion and sensibilities of the Edwardian era transitioning into the 1910s.

Christie often appears with a gentle, confident expression, her hair styled in soft waves or an updo common at the time.

Her attire would likely consist of a high-collared blouse or dress, possibly adorned with lace, reflecting the refined yet understated elegance of the era.

3 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

104d

<p>📚 Cursed Daughters by: Oyinkan Braithwaite</p><p>When Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the day they bury her cousin Monife, there is no denying the startling resemblance between the child and the dead woman. So begins the belief, fostered and fanned by the entire family, that Eniiyi is the actu...</p><p><a href="https://bookblabla.com/book/cursed-daughters-a-read-with-jenna-pick" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="bookblabla.com/book/cursed-daughters-a-read-with-jenna-pick"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">bookblabla.com/book/cursed-dau</span><span class="invisible">ghters-a-read-with-jenna-pick</span></a></p><p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://fedigroups.social/@bookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>bookstodon</span></a></span></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/reading/" rel="tag">#reading</a> <a href="/tags/libraries/" rel="tag">#libraries</a> <a href="/tags/fiction/" rel="tag">#fiction</a> <a href="/tags/familylife/" rel="tag">#familylife</a> <a href="/tags/generalfiction/" rel="tag">#generalfiction</a> <a href="/tags/womenfiction/" rel="tag">#womenfiction</a> <a href="/tags/literary/" rel="tag">#literary</a></p>

When Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the day they bury her cousin Monife, there is no denying the startling resemblance between the child and the dead woman. So begins the belief, fostered and fanned by the entire family, that Eniiyi is the actual reincarnation of Monife, fated to follow in her footsteps in all ways, including that tragic end.

There is also the matter of the family curse: “No man will call your house his home. And if they try, they will not have peace...” which has been handed down from generation to generation, breaking hearts and causing three generations of abandoned Falodun women to live under the same roof.

When Eniiyi falls in love with the handsome boy she saves from drowning, she can no longer run from her family’s history. As several women in her family have done before, she ill-advisedly seeks answers in older, darker spiritual corners of Lagos, demanding solutions. Is she destined to live out the habitual story of love and heartbreak? Or can she break the pattern once and for all, not only avoiding the spiral that led Monife to her lonely death, but liberating herself from all the family secrets and unspoken traumas that have dogged her steps since before she could remember?

Cursed Daughters is a brilliant cocktail of modernity and superstition, vibrant humor and hard-won wisdom, romantic love and familial obligation. With its unforgettable cast of characters, it asks us what it means to be given a second chance and how

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

12d

<p>Lost Federico García Lorca verse discovered 93 years after it was written</p><p>Eight-line poem found on the back of a manuscript sheds light on Spanish poet’s preoccupation with time</p><p>by Sam Jones</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/apr/18/lost-federico-garcia-lorca-verse-discovered-93-years-after-it-was-written" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/apr/18/lost-federico-garcia-lorca-verse-discovered-93-years-after-it-was-written"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.theguardian.com/culture/20</span><span class="invisible">26/apr/18/lost-federico-garcia-lorca-verse-discovered-93-years-after-it-was-written</span></a></p><p>Lorca at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/56772" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/56772"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/56772</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a> <a href="/tags/poetry/" rel="tag">#poetry</a></p>

Self-Portrait by Federico García Lorca for *Poeta en Nueva York*

A large dreaming face dominates the centre, eyes closed, crescent moons on the cheeks. Surrounding skyscrapers are covered in alphabets and numbers. Black demon-like creatures prowl the margins. A winged figure floats above. A piano keyboard appears on the right.

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_Garc%C3%ADa_Lorca#/media/Archivo:Autorretrato_Poeta_NY.jpg

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>J. J. Thomson, who was born <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1856, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906 for his discovery of the electron, the first subatomic particle to be found.</p><p>Thomson was also a teacher, and seven of his students went on to win Nobel Prizes: Ernest Rutherford, Lawrence Bragg, Charles Barkla, Francis Aston, Charles Thomson Rees Wilson, Owen Richardson and Edward Victor Appleton.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Thomson" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Thomson"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Th</span><span class="invisible">omson</span></a></p><p>Books by J.J. Thomson at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/38322" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/38322"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/38322</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/science/" rel="tag">#science</a> <a href="/tags/physics/" rel="tag">#physics</a></p>

J.J. Thomson, Nobel Prize photograph (1906).

Nobel foundation - http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1906/thomson-bio.html

Joseph John Thomson (1856–1940), often referred to as J.J. Thomson, is shown in a candid pose, engrossed in writing or drawing, likely related to his scientific work.

He is depicted as a middle-aged man with receding hair, a neatly groomed mustache, and a composed, intellectual demeanor.

Thomson is wearing formal attire typical of the early 20th century:
A dark tweed suit jacket with a subtle texture.

A high-collared white shirt and a decorative tie or cravat.

A pocket square neatly tucked into his breast pocket, adding to the formal appearance.

He is wearing round spectacles, which were characteristic of the period and contributed to his scholarly appearance.

2 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

1y

<p>"THE times that tried men's souls," are over- and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished."</p><p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1776.</p><p>Thomas Paine publishes one of a series of pamphlets in The Pennsylvania Journal entitled "The American Crisis". Paine signed the pamphlets with the pseudonym, "Common Sense".</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Crisis" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Crisis"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amer</span><span class="invisible">ican_Crisis</span></a></p><p>The American Crisis at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3741" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3741</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

An image of the first page from the first edition of The American Crisis, a pamphlet authored by Thomas Paine.

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

106d

<p>What January taught George Orwell about control and resistance</p><p>Like many of us, George Orwell saw January as a month to be endured rather than enjoyed. You can picture him steeling himself against its cold, gloom, rain, frost and wind.</p><p>by Nathan Waddell</p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/what-january-taught-george-orwell-about-control-and-resistance-272860" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="theconversation.com/what-january-taught-george-orwell-about-control-and-resistance-272860"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">theconversation.com/what-janua</span><span class="invisible">ry-taught-george-orwell-about-control-and-resistance-272860</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Picture of George Orwell which appears in an old accreditation for the BNUJ.

Orwell has dark, neatly combed hair swept back from a high forehead, a thin moustache, and a slender face with pronounced cheekbones. His expression is serious and composed, with a direct, steady gaze. He appears to be wearing a jacket over a collared shirt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell#/media/File:George_Orwell_press_photo.jpg

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

107d

<p>Peter Kropotkin’s Memoirs of a Revolutionist (1899)</p><p>“Many a man and many a woman have accomplished a great life-work without having led a great life”, the influential Danish literary critic Georg Brandes wrote in his introduction to Peter Kropotkin’s 1899 Memoirs of a Revolutionist. “Many people are interesting, although their lives may have been quite insignificant and commonplace. Kropotkin’s life is both great and interesting”.</p><p>Book at PG:</p><p><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73882" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73882</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Drawing of Peter Kropotkin.

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

Previous Page Next Page