The Astrophysicist Who Loves the Things We Cannot Know
A conversation with “rational mystic,” physicist Marcelo Gleiser.
By Anne Strainchamps (from the archives)
Astrophysics at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subject/40414
books
A Review of Horsefly: https://lydiaschoch.com/a-review-of-horsefly/
"Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation."
Act II
#OTD in 1893.
Oscar Wilde's social comedy A Woman of No Importance receives its first performance at the Haymarket Theatre, London, with Herbert Beerbohm Tree, Mrs. Bernard Beere & Julia Neilson.
The leading female role, Mrs Arbuthnot, was intended for Madge Kendal, but for contractual reasons she withdrew and was replaced by Mrs Bernard Beere.
A Woman of No Importance at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/854
#OTD in 1818.
French physicist Augustin Fresnel signs his preliminary "Note on the Theory of Diffraction" (deposited on the following day). The document ends with what we now call the Fresnel integrals.
The Fresnel integrals have various applications in optics, such as in the calculation of the diffraction pattern produced by a single slit or a circular aperture, as well as in the study of the propagation of light through various optical systems.
English poet Lord Byron died #OTD 200 years ago.
Some of his most famous works include the epic poem "Don Juan," the narrative poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," and numerous shorter poems such as "She Walks in Beauty" and "When We Two Parted." Byron became involved in various political and social causes, including advocating for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Books by Lord Byron at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1708
Edited 2y ago
Discover Why ‘The Raven,’ Edgar Allan Poe’s Narrative Poem About a Distraught Lover and a Talking Bird, Remains an American Classic
Published in January 29 1845, the work used alliteration, internal rhyme and repetition to draw in readers, lending it a dark and melancholic tone
by Laura Kiniry
The Raven and Le Corbeau at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17192
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14082
Jane Austen’s real and literary worlds weren’t exclusively white – just read her last book, Sanditon
by Olivia Carpenter
Sanditon at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/74233
Fascinating article that gets at how translation can be a tricky business. The whole meaning can change - and often to the opposite meaning the author intended!
#books #bookstodon #translation #literature @bookstodon
From: @publicdomainrev
https://mastodon.social/@publicdomainrev/115264769615001777
What should be on a list of almost Great Books?
by Henry Oliver
https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/what-should-be-on-a-list-of-almost
A selection of this month’s notable and interesting titles posted in our May newsletter:
https://www.gutenberg.org/newsletter/
The great sea-serpent - A. C. Oudemans
The limerick up to date book - Ethel Watts Mumford Grant
Partners in crime - Agatha Christie
Essay on comets - David Milne-Home
....
![Cover image of the book Believe it or not! [1929] a modern book of wonders, miracles, freaks, monstrosities and almost-impossibilities
by Robert L. Ripley
Dark cloth cover of Believe It or Not! by Ripley, with bold red lettering and the author's distinctive signature.
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78557/](/proxy/post_attachment/1068577/63166948d4.jpg "Cover image of the book Believe it or not! [1929] a modern book of wonders, miracles, freaks, monstrosities and almost-impossibilities
by Robert L. Ripley
Dark cloth cover of Believe It or Not! by Ripley, with bold red lettering and the author's distinctive signature.
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78557/")
Portuguese poet, philosopher, and writer Antero de Quental was born #OTD in 1842.
Some of Quental's notable works include "Sonetos Completos" (Complete Sonnets), "Prosas Dispersas" (Scattered Prose), and "Odes Modernas" (Modern Odes). His poetry is characterized by its introspective and philosophical nature, often delving into the complexities of the human psyche and society.
Books by Antero de Quental at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/34296
Spanish realist author, diplomat, and politician Juan Valera y Alcalá-Galiano died #OTD in 1905.
Valera was a prolific author who wrote novels, essays, plays, & criticism. He was deeply influenced by Spanish Golden Age literature and European Romanticism. His writing style is characterized by its elegance, psychological insight, and attention to detail. One of his most famous novels is "Pepita Jiménez," published in 1874.
Books by Juan Valera at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/4923
Whet Your Appetite With Nearly 13,000 Historical Cookbooks in This Sprawling Online Archive
By Eva Baron
https://mymodernmet.com/internet-archive-cookbook-and-home-economics-collection/
Cookbooks and Home Economics at @internetarchive
https://archive.org/details/cbk?tab=collection
"The Gift & The Legacy: African American Philanthropy as Power, Purpose and Promise, Taroue W. Brooks reframes the conversation, reminding us that philanthropy is not confined to financial contributions but encompasses time, talent, ties, testimony, treasure, and trust." By Staff Heart &Soul Magazine 9.16.25
https://www.heartandsoul.com/culture/the-heart-of-philanthropy/
#bookstodon #books #Blackmastodon #BlackFedi
#OTD in 1910.
Halley's comet reappears after 76 years, and Mark Twain dies at his home, Stormfield, the day after the comet's perihelion. In his autobiography, Twain wrote, "I came in with Halley's comet in 1835. It's coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go out with it. The Almighty has said no doubt, 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.'"
American novelist, humorist, and critic Mark Twain died #OTD in 1910.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, often called "the Great American Novel," is particularly noted for its vivid depiction of people and places along the Mississippi River. Twain's other notable works include The Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, & his autobiography, which was published posthumously.
Books by Mark Twain at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/53
German philosopher Immanuel Kant was born #OTD 300 years ago!
Kant’s most famous work, the "Critique of Pure Reason", is often considered one of the most significant works in the history of philosophy. In this book, he introduced the concept of a priori synthetic judgments, arguing that our ability to perceive & understand the world is shaped by the ways our mind structures experiences.
Books by Immanuel Kant at PG:
The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
Open Book Fountain
This sculpture was created by Kelecsenyi Gergely & engineer Jozsef Szita.
The fountain uses water to create the illusion of turning pages, and serves as a reminder of the importance of physical books.
Location: Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. On Egyetem Square, in front of the university.
#Art #Arte #StreetArt #Kunst #Straatkunst #Scupture #Escultura #Scultura #Creative #Creativetoots #Book #Books #Boeken #Boek #Livre #Lezen #Design #Creativetoot #Lire
Edited 1y ago
📚 Yellowface by: Rebecca F. Kuang
Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena's a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.
So when June witnesses Athena's death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she...
https://bookblabla.com/book/yellowface
#books #reading #libraries #fiction #literaryfiction #psychologicalfiction #thrillers #generalfiction
Great piece by Ilana Masad on making art and marketing it:
#books #booksky #writing #writersofmastodon #WritingCommunity #bookstodon @bookstodon
https://electricliterature.com/artists-shouldnt-need-to-become-content-creators-to-get-fair-pay/
American philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist George Herbert Mead died #OTD in 1931.
He is considered one of the founders of social psychology and the school of thought known as symbolic interactionism. Mead’s most influential ideas revolve around the concept of the self, which he saw as arising from social interaction. Mead’s ideas were mostly published posthumously, with his students assembling his lectures and notes into books.
Edited 2y ago
I just read the two-part graphic novel "My Brother's Husband" by Gengoroh Tagame. It's set in Japan, where a single dad gets to know his deceased identical twin's Canadian husband. It's a mix of a young girl's enthusiasm over a surprise uncle and an adult's struggle with his culture's (and his own) view of gayness. Lots of layers, as he's also divorced and raising his daughter mostly on his own. They all develop a broader sense of family.