books

1y

<p>"Heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke sobbing for joy."</p><p>Wuthering Heights (ed. 1858)</p><p>~Emily Brontë (30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848)</p><p>Books by Emily Brontë at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/405" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/405"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/405</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

The only undisputed portrait of Brontë, from a group portrait by her brother Branwell, c. 1834.

The portrait is part of a larger group painting that includes her siblings, Emily, Anne, and Branwell Brontë himself. The setting is likely indoors, possibly in a domestic or studio environment reflective of their home at the Parsonage in Haworth.

Emily's expression is serene and introspective, suggesting her thoughtful nature.

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214d

<p>What really happened on Easter Island? Ancient sediments rewrite the 'ecocide' story</p><p>edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan</p><p><a href="https://phys.org/news/2025-11-easter-island-ancient-sediments-rewrite.html" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="phys.org/news/2025-11-easter-island-ancient-sediments-rewrite.html"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">phys.org/news/2025-11-easter-i</span><span class="invisible">sland-ancient-sediments-rewrite.html</span></a></p><p>Easter Island at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subject/38560" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subject/38560"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subje</span><span class="invisible">ct/38560</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/earth/" rel="tag">#earth</a> <a href="/tags/environment/" rel="tag">#environment</a></p>

RANO RARAKU FROM THE SEA.

Title: The mystery of Easter island: the story of an expedition

Author: Katherine Routledge

Original publication: United Kingdom: Printed for the author by Hazell, Watson and Viney, 1919.

The composition features the island’s rugged volcanic formation rising from the shore, rendered in delicate grayscale tones. Two distinct peaks dominate the center of the image: the left slope descends smoothly toward the sea, while the right peak is more sharply defined, showing vertical rock faces and shadowed ridges that emphasize its steepness and texture.

The foreground suggests the calm surface of the sea, drawn in gentle horizontal strokes that contrast with the dark, angular shading of the mountainside. The sky is lightly toned, with minimal cloud detail, providing an open and atmospheric backdrop that enhances the sense of isolation and scale.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/69807/pg69807-images.html#Page_124

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213d

<p>From Tablets to Papyrus: When Was Paper Invented?</p><p>The invention of paper as a medium for writing was a revolutionary breakthrough that altered the course of human culture.</p><p>by Matt Whittaker</p><p><a href="https://www.thecollector.com/when-was-the-invention-of-paper/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.thecollector.com/when-was-the-invention-of-paper/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.thecollector.com/when-was-</span><span class="invisible">the-invention-of-paper/</span></a></p><p>Papyrus at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=papyrus" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=papyrus"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/searc</span><span class="invisible">h/?query=papyrus</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/culture/" rel="tag">#culture</a></p>

The Heracles Papyrus (Oxford, Sackler Library, Oxyrhynchus Pap. 2331), a fragment of 3rd century Greek manuscript of a poem about the Labors of Heracles.

The image shows a fragmentary piece of ancient papyrus, light brown in tone and worn with age, containing both text and illustrations. The papyrus surface is irregularly shaped, with rough, frayed edges and several missing sections that interrupt the writing and drawings.

Across the fragment, lines of Greek script are written in dark ink, now faded to brown.

Between the lines of text are small painted scenes depicting episodes from the Labors of Heracles (Herakles), rendered in a simple and expressive linear style.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus#/media/File:P._Oxy._XXII_2331.jpg

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213d

<p>A Fierce Devotion to the “Empress of Hell”</p><p>Medieval dramatizations of the confrontation between the Virgin Mary and King Herod offered a symbolic resistance to tyranny.</p><p>By: H.M.A. Leow </p><p><a href="https://daily.jstor.org/a-fierce-devotion-to-the-empress-of-hell/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="daily.jstor.org/a-fierce-devotion-to-the-empress-of-hell/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">daily.jstor.org/a-fierce-devot</span><span class="invisible">ion-to-the-empress-of-hell/</span></a></p><p>Theater history at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subjects/search/?query=theater+history" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subjects/search/?query=theater+history"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subje</span><span class="invisible">cts/search/?query=theater+history</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

In an attempt to thwart the prophecy about Christ's rise to power, King Herod orders his soldiers to kill all the male infants under the age of two living in Bethlehem. They do this with ruthless efficiency.

Bartolo's color scheme uses naturalistic details to enhance the drama of the scene. Note the contrast between the rosy coloring of the infants who are still alive and the green pallor of those already dead.

This painting, which is beautifully preserved, was part of a monumental altarpiece commissioned for the Church of San Agostino in San Gimignano and was placed atop a large painting of the Presentation in the Temple now in the Louvre Museum, Paris.

The Massacre of the Innocents might have been executed by both Bartolo and Andrea di Bartolo (active 1389-1428), working collaboratively as a father and son team.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Massacre_of_the_Innocents.jpg

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180d

<p>📚 Fundamentally by: Nussaibah Younis</p><p>When Nadia Amin, a witty and bighearted PhD, publishes an article on deradicalization, everything changes. The United Nations comes calling with an opportunity to put her theory into practice and lead a rehabilitation program for women caught in the crosshairs of harmful ideology. And why n...</p><p><a href="https://bookblabla.com/book/fundamentally" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="bookblabla.com/book/fundamentally"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">bookblabla.com/book/fundamenta</span><span class="invisible">lly</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/politicalfiction/" rel="tag">#politicalfiction</a> <a href="/tags/humorous/" rel="tag">#humorous</a> <a href="/tags/generalfiction/" rel="tag">#generalfiction</a> <a href="/tags/women/" rel="tag">#women</a></p>

When Nadia Amin, a witty and bighearted PhD, publishes an article on deradicalization, everything changes. The United Nations comes calling with an opportunity to put her theory into practice and lead a rehabilitation program for women caught in the crosshairs of harmful ideology. And why not? Abandoned by her mother and devastated by unrequited love, she leaps at the chance.

In Iraq, Nadia quickly realizes she’s in over her head. The UN is a mess of competing interests, and her team consists of Goody Two-shoes Sherri who never passes up an opportunity to remind Nadia of her objections; and Pierre, a snippy Frenchman who has no qualms about perpetually scrolling through Grindr. But then Nadia meets Sara, a hilarious, foul-mouthed East Londoner who was pulled into radicalism at just fifteen. The two are kindred spirits, and Nadia vows to get Sara home.

As the rehabilitation program picks up traction, Sara reveals a secret that upends everything, forcing Nadia to make a drastic choice. In the fallout, Nadia’s brown-savior fantasies crumble, leaving her to wonder if she can save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.

A fierce, wildly funny, and razor-sharp exploration of radicalism, family, and the quest for belonging, Fundamentally boldly inspects one of the defining controversies of our age and introduces a fearless new voice in contemporary fiction.

A wickedly funny and audacious debut novel following an academic who flees from heartbreak and lands in Iraq wi

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1y

<p>"It Shouldn't Be Printed At All. It Should Be Burnt" — 23 Books Writers Regret Writing<br>The author of 'Little Women' wrote in her journal that she "never liked girls or knew many."</p><p>by Amy Glover via ⁦<span class="h-card"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@buzzfeed" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>buzzfeed</span></a></span></p><p><a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/aglover/books-writers-regret-writing" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.buzzfeed.com/aglover/books-writers-regret-writing"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.buzzfeed.com/aglover/books</span><span class="invisible">-writers-regret-writing</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Louisa May Alcott wrote that she "Never liked girls or knew many except my sisters" in her diary when asked to write Little Women.

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Penguin Clothbound Classics

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1y

<p>Irish mathematician, astronomer & physicist William Rowan Hamilton was born <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1805.</p><p>Hamilton made his discovery of the algebra of quaternions in 1843. His work is fundamental to modern theoretical physics, particularly his reformulation of Newtonian mechanics. Hamiltonian mechanics including its Hamilitonian function are now central both to electromagnetism & quantum mechanics.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rowan_Hamilton" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rowan_Hamilton"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_</span><span class="invisible">Rowan_Hamilton</span></a></p><p>Books about William Rowan Hamilton at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=William+Rowan+Hamilton&submit_search=Go%21" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=William+Rowan+Hamilton&submit_search=Go%21"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/searc</span><span class="invisible">h/?query=William+Rowan+Hamilton&submit_search=Go%21</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/mathematics/" rel="tag">#mathematics</a></p>

William Rowan Hamilton portrait oval combined.

The portrait is oval-shaped, a common style for the period, which lends a classical and elegant touch to the depiction.
Hamilton is shown from the chest up, focusing on his facial features and upper body.

Hamilton is typically portrayed wearing formal 19th-century attire, including a dark coat, waistcoat, and a white shirt with a high collar, which was fashionable at the time.

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1y

<p>German poet Sibylla Schwarz died <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1638.</p><p>Her verse reflects the difficult times in the middle of the Thirty Years' War, of which she saw neither the beginning nor the end. Her verse was published posthumously in 1650 by her teacher Samuel Gerlach under the title Deutsche Poëtische Gedichte in two parts containing over 100 poems. She was famous as the "Pomeranian Sappho", but her work fell into oblivion in the 18th century. </p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibylla_Schwarz" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibylla_Schwarz"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibylla_</span><span class="invisible">Schwarz</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>

Sibylla Schwarz (1621–1638), image from Deutsche Poëtische Gedichte. 1650

Sibÿllen Schwarzin German Poëtic Poems (title page, 1650).

Sibyllen Schwarzin/ Vohn Greiffswald aus Pommern/ Deutsche Poëtische Gedichte/ Nuhn Zum ersten mahl/ auß ihren eignen Handschrifften/ herauß gegeben und verleget Durch M. Samuel Gerlach/ auß dem Herzogtuhm Würtemberg. und in Dantzig Gedrukt/ bey seel. Georg Rheten Witwen/ im M.DC.L. Jahr.

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212d

<p>I’ve enjoyed all of her other books, but Michelle Obama’s “The Look” was a DNF for me because fashion isn’t something I find interesting other than making sure my clothes and shoes are neat, clean, and comfortable to wear. </p><p>If you do like that topic, there are plenty of pictures of the fancy outfits she’s worn over the years in it. </p><p>There is something to be said for trying new stuff sometimes, though. </p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#Books</a> <a href="/tags/fashion/" rel="tag">#Fashion</a> <a href="/tags/michelleobama/" rel="tag">#MichelleObama</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>

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212d

<p>finished reading <a href="https://eggplant.place/search?r=1&q=https://reviewdb.app/book/5vHoPnEKgpwQNlrqpN033y" rel="nofollow">The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck</a> 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 <br>by David Spiegelhalter.</p><p>A fairly readable overview of probability & uncertainty, from the straightforward games of chance through to the deep uncertainty of future risks such as climate change & AI. Not sure who it's aimed at: some of it is too complex for the layman, but not deep enough for the technically minded. Has some good examples, especially from covid. Would have liked some worked examples of how to apply its principles to real life decision-making.</p><p><a href="/tags/bookreview/" rel="tag">#BookReview</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#Books</a> <a href="/tags/bookstodon/" rel="tag">#Bookstodon</a> <a href="/tags/nonfiction/" rel="tag">#Nonfiction</a> <a href="/tags/statistics/" rel="tag">#Statistics</a></p><p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://aus.social/@wildwoila" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>WildWoila</span></a></span> @wildwoila@wyrms.de<br></p>

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1y

<p>"I am no bird, and no net ensnares me,..."</p><p>Between 7-24 August 1847.</p><p>Charlotte Brontë completes Jane Eyre at Haworth and sends the manuscript to her publisher, who has rejected The Professor.</p><p>It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first American edition was published the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyr</span><span class="invisible">e</span></a></p><p>Jane Eyre at PG:<br><a href="https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/1260" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>gutenberg.org/ebooks/1260</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

"I am no bird, and no net ensnares me," declares Jane in this manuscript copy of Jane Eyre in Brontë's handwriting. The British Library Board

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214d

<p>This week's <a href="/tags/newbooks/" rel="tag">#NewBooks</a> at the library:<br>- a damaged copy of Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis<br>- a second-hand copy of the 1982 classic Lamarck the Mythical Precursor: A Study of the Relations Between Science and Ideology published by <span class="h-card"><a href="https://mastodon.mit.edu/@themitpress" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>themitpress</span></a></span> (there aren't that many books on Lamarck)<br>- a former library copy of The Environmental Consequences of War: Legal, Economic and Scientific Perspectives. This one came from the holdings of the JSCSC (Joint Services Command and Staff College)'s Hobson Library, one of the UK's largest military libraries (!), probably the most unusual provenance for any of the books I have.</p><p><a href="/tags/climatechange/" rel="tag">#ClimateChange</a> <a href="/tags/historyofscience/" rel="tag">#HistoryOfScience</a> <a href="/tags/sciencehistory/" rel="tag">#ScienceHistory</a> <a href="/tags/histsci/" rel="tag">#HistSci</a> <a href="/tags/history/" rel="tag">#History</a> <a href="/tags/environmentalhistory/" rel="tag">#EnvironmentalHistory</a> <a href="/tags/warfare/" rel="tag">#Warfare</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#Books</a> <a href="/tags/scicomm/" rel="tag">#Scicomm</a> <a href="/tags/bookstodon/" rel="tag">#Bookstodon</a> <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>

A photo of three books standing on a small, brown, wooden table. The out-of-focus background shows black shelves full of books, part of the beech-coloured laminate floor, and a red curtain hanging from a door.

On the left, Positive Tipping Points, showing a light blue hardback with an abstract graphic of a white cone with its tip facing upwards. Balanced on the tip is a white curved bar, curving upwards like a smile. At the top right, impossibly balanced, is a marble-sized miniature planet Earth.

In the middle, Lamarck the Mythical Precursor, showing a small moss-green hardback with several botanical line-drawings in darker green of flower and plant parts.

On the right, The Environmental Consequences of War, showing a photo of a large column of smoke rising from something that is on fire, though it is hard to make out what. The bottom half of the photo is rendered in a bright orange, the top half in grey. The whole photo is rendered hard to decipher by having been printed in coarse screentone (the pattern of dots you will recognise from how photos were printed in newspapers).

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214d

Entry Stephen King book for a kid?

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214d

<p>📚 Run for the Hills by: Kevin Wilson</p><p>Ever since her dad left them twenty years ago, it’s been just Madeline Hill and her mom on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee. While it’s a bit lonely, she sometimes admits, and a less exciting life than what she imagined for herself, it’s mostly okay. Mostly.</p><p>Then one...</p><p><a href="https://bookblabla.com/book/run-for-the-hills" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="bookblabla.com/book/run-for-the-hills"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">bookblabla.com/book/run-for-th</span><span class="invisible">e-hills</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/literaryfiction/" rel="tag">#literaryfiction</a> <a href="/tags/southernfiction/" rel="tag">#southernfiction</a> <a href="/tags/familylife/" rel="tag">#familylife</a> <a href="/tags/generalfiction/" rel="tag">#generalfiction</a></p>

Ever since her dad left them twenty years ago, it’s been just Madeline Hill and her mom on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee. While it’s a bit lonely, she sometimes admits, and a less exciting life than what she imagined for herself, it’s mostly okay. Mostly.

Then one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and informs Madeline that he believes she’s his half sister. Reuben—left behind by their dad thirty years ago—has hired a detective to track down their father and a string of other half siblings. And he wants Mad to leave her home and join him for the craziest kind of road trip imaginable to find them all.
As Mad and Rube—and eventually the others—share stories of their father, who behaved so differently in each life he created, they begin to question what he was looking for with every new incarnation. Who are they to one another? What kind of man will they find? And how will these new relationships change Mad’s previously solitary life on the farm?

A touching and generous romp of a novel... Wilson makes a bold and convincing case that every real family is one you have to find and, at some point, choose, even if it’s the one you’re born into. New York Times Book Review.

An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together, in this raucous and moving new novel from the bestselling author of Nothing to See Here.

Infused with deadpan wit, zany hijinks, and enormous heart, Run for the Hills is a sibling story like no other—a

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181d

<p>Book Review: Babylonia by Constanza Casati<br>Imagining the life of a historical figure whose life has been imagined and reimagined far more than the actual historical facts about her: Semiramis.<br><span class="h-card"><a href="https://wandering.shop/@Princejvstin" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>Princejvstin</span></a></span> has the review at the NOAF blog<br><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/12/book-review-babylonia-by-constanza.html" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.nerds-feather.com/2025/12/book-review-babylonia-by-constanza.html"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.nerds-feather.com/2025/12/</span><span class="invisible">book-review-babylonia-by-constanza.html</span></a></p><p>@bookstodon <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/review/" rel="tag">#review</a> <a href="/tags/fantasy/" rel="tag">#fantasy</a></p>

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213d

<p>Did Odysseus Really Travel All Around the Mediterranean?</p><p>"The traditional view of the Odyssey is that Odysseus traveled all over the Mediterranean. Is that really what Homer described?"</p><p><a href="https://www.thecollector.com/odysseus-travels-mediterranean/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.thecollector.com/odysseus-travels-mediterranean/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.thecollector.com/odysseus-</span><span class="invisible">travels-mediterranean/</span></a></p><p>The Odyssey at PG:</p><p><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727</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>

" ODYSSEUS LOOKED DOWN AT THE WOODS AND THE SEA." - picryl.com

Edited 213d ago

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1y

<p>British writer George Griffith was born <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1857.</p><p>He was active mainly in the science fiction genre—or as it was known at the time, scientific romance—in particular writing many future-war stories and playing a significant role in shaping that emerging subgenre. He was a contemporary of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, and his works contributed to the development of the science fiction genre.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Griffith" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Griffith"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_G</span><span class="invisible">riffith</span></a></p><p>Books by George Griffith at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/8557" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/8557"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/8557</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Griffith pictured on the frontispiece of his book In an Unknown Prison Land (1901)

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216d

<p>David G. Wells’ “The Penguin dictionary of curious and interesting…” books are excellent and have been great source of inspiration for me.</p><p>They are now are almost 30 years old. </p><p>What new entries would you put in these books—either because they’re new after publication, or could have (should have) been included at the time? </p><p><a href="/tags/mathematics/" rel="tag">#mathematics</a> <a href="/tags/geometry/" rel="tag">#geometry</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/bookstodon/" rel="tag">#bookstodon</a> <a href="/tags/askfedi/" rel="tag">#askfedi</a></p>

The Penguin dictionary of curious and interesting numbers. Revised edition.
The cover uses green and blue text on white. The lower third of the cover has a various green numbers on a blue backgroup.

The Penguin dictionary of curious and interesting geometry (illustrated by John Sharp)
The cover is dominated by an old monochrome stock photograph of a man pulling a face and pointing at a lightbulb that has ‘v + f = e + 2’ written on it.

The Penguin book of curious and interesting puzzles.
The cover uses green text on white. The lower third of the cover has a various puzzles drawn in white outline on a blue backgroup, e.g. a cubic trefoil knot and a Chinese magic knot.

$The Penguin book of curious and interesting mathematics. The cover uses green and yellow text on white. The lower third of the cover has a various geometric figures in yellow outline on a blue background, e.g. Dudeney’s square to triangle dissection and a fractal figure.$

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1y

<p>English painter and illustrator John Everett Millais died <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1896.</p><p>He was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He became the most famous exponent of the style, his painting Christ in the House of His Parents (1849–50) generating considerable controversy, and he produced a picture that could serve as the embodiment of the historical & naturalist focus of the group, Ophelia (1851–52).</p><p>Books about John Everett Millais at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=John+Everett+Millais&submit_search=Go%21" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=John+Everett+Millais&submit_search=Go%21"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/searc</span><span class="invisible">h/?query=John+Everett+Millais&submit_search=Go%21</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/art/" rel="tag">#art</a> <a href="/tags/painting/" rel="tag">#painting</a></p>

Ophelia (1852)
John Everett Millais

"Ophelia" (1852) by John Everett Millais is a captivating portrayal of the tragic character from Shakespeare's "Hamlet." The painting depicts Ophelia floating in a river, surrounded by flowers and lush greenery. Her face, serene and pale, contrasts with the vibrant and detailed natural setting. Millais captures the moment of her madness and impending death, her body partially submerged in the water, her hands delicately holding flowers. The meticulous attention to botanical detail and the luminous quality of the water create a hauntingly beautiful and melancholic scene, evoking a sense of loss and innocence.

The Princes in the Tower (1878)
John Everett Millais

"The Princes in the Tower" (1878) by John Everett Millais portrays the young Edward V and his brother Richard of Shrewsbury, who were famously imprisoned in the Tower of London. The painting captures the brothers' vulnerability and the foreboding atmosphere of their confinement. The boys are depicted huddled together on a bed, dressed in richly detailed clothing, with expressions of innocence and concern. The dimly lit room and the shadowy background emphasize the ominous fate that awaited them. Millais' use of light and shadow enhances the emotional intensity of the scene, highlighting the tragic historical narrative.

An Idyll of 1745. The three female artists models on the right were the sisters Lily Pettigrew [1870-1920]; Hetty Pettigrew [1867-1953] and Rose Pettigrew [1872-1905]

"An Idyll of 1745" by John Everett Millais captures a charming, serene scene with three women as the focal point. The painting features the Pettigrew sisters, Lily, Hetty, and Rose, elegantly posed on the right side. The women are depicted in period clothing, their dresses detailed and indicative of 18th-century fashion. Millais' attention to the sisters' expressions and interactions adds a sense of intimacy and connection between them. The lush, pastoral background enhances the idyllic and tranquil atmosphere, making the painting a beautiful portrayal of the elegance and grace of the era.

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220d

<p>Giving Up is Unforgivable – A Manual for Keeping Democracy (Highly Recommended)</p><p>Giving Up is Unforgiveable by Joyce Vance. Cuts through noise to power we still have, and responsibilities. Note: Could be the most important book you and your friends, family, and red-hat American relatives ever read. <a href="/tags/bookstodon/" rel="tag">#bookstodon</a> <a href="/tags/booklovers/" rel="tag">#booklovers</a> <a href="/tags/bookreviews/" rel="tag">#bookreviews</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a></p><p><a href="https://bookreviewsintenwords.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/giving-up-is-unforgivable-a-manual-for-keeping-democracy-highly-recommended/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="bookreviewsintenwords.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/giving-up-is-unforgivable-a-manual-for-keeping-democracy-highly-recommended/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">bookreviewsintenwords.wordpres</span><span class="invisible">s.com/2025/11/02/giving-up-is-unforgivable-a-manual-for-keeping-democracy-highly-recommended/</span></a></p>

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156d

<p><a href="/tags/thebolivarianrevolution/" rel="tag">#TheBolivarianRevolution</a>, a collection of writings by <a href="/tags/símonbolívar/" rel="tag">#SímonBolívar</a> with an introduction by <a href="/tags/hugochávez/" rel="tag">#HugoChávez</a>, is now available in free ebook format via <a href="/tags/versobooks/" rel="tag">#VersoBooks</a>. (NB that the posted price for the ebook is discounted to zero once it's placed in the cart. It costs nothing to set up a Verso account): </p><p><a href="https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/2093-the-bolivarian-revolution" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/2093-the-bolivarian-revolution"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.versobooks.com/en-gb/produ</span><span class="invisible">cts/2093-the-bolivarian-revolution</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/venezuela/" rel="tag">#Venezuela</a> <a href="/tags/latinamericanhistory/" rel="tag">#LatinAmericanHistory</a> <a href="/tags/bolívar/" rel="tag">#Bolívar</a> <a href="/tags/bolivarianrevolution/" rel="tag">#BolivarianRevolution</a> <a href="/tags/revolutions/" rel="tag">#revolutions</a> <a href="/tags/historyoftheamericas/" rel="tag">#historyOfTheAmericas</a> <a href="/tags/decolonialstruggles/" rel="tag">#decolonialStruggles</a> <a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <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>

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181d

<p>📚 The Names by: Florence Knapp</p><p>It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. ...</p><p><a href="https://bookblabla.com/book/the-names" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>bookblabla.com/book/the-names</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/generalfiction/" rel="tag">#generalfiction</a> <a href="/tags/familylife/" rel="tag">#familylife</a> <a href="/tags/multigenerationalfiction/" rel="tag">#multigenerationalfiction</a> <a href="/tags/worldliterature/" rel="tag">#worldliterature</a></p>

It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.

Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image - but is there still a chance to break the mould?

Powerfully moving and full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family, and love's endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.

********

A once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent, The Names is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark.
'I've just been blown away by the best debut novel in years... A genius idea for a book'
Sunday Times

'Wildly original and emotionally profound'
O

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1y

<p>British writer and soldier Sapper died <a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1937.</p><p>"Sapper" was the pen name of Herman Cyril McNeile, known primarily for his popular series of adventure novels featuring the character Bulldog Drummond. He began his writing career by contributing stories to magazines and newspapers while still in the army. After the war, he adopted the pseudonym "Sapper," derived from his service in the Royal Engineers. </p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._C._McNeile" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._C._McNeile"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._C._Mc</span><span class="invisible">Neile</span></a></p><p>H.C. McNeile at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/26827" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/26827"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho</span><span class="invisible">r/26827</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

McNeile, 1930s Portrait by Howard Coster.

The 1930s portrait of Herman Cyril McNeile, better known by his pen name "Sapper," was taken by renowned photographer Howard Coster. In the portrait, McNeile is presented in a formal and composed manner, reflecting the dignified style of the era. He is typically depicted wearing a suit, possibly with a tie, indicative of his professional stature as a popular British writer. The lighting and composition are characteristic of Coster's style, focusing on the subject's facial features and expression to convey depth and character. The backdrop is minimalistic, drawing attention to McNeile's presence and his thoughtful gaze, embodying the persona of a respected and influential literary figure of his time.

First US edition cover of No Man's Land, published in the US in 1917.

The first U.S. edition cover of "No Man's Land," published in 1917, features a design typical of early 20th-century wartime literature. The cover likely displays the book's title prominently at the top, with the author's name, Sapper (H.C. McNeile), positioned below or above the title. The artwork might include a somber or dramatic depiction of a battlefield or soldiers, resonating with the themes of the Great War. The colors used are generally muted, reflecting the grim and serious nature of the content, with emphasis on earthy tones like browns, grays, or dark greens. The overall design conveys the gravity and intensity of the wartime experience depicted within the book.

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1y

<p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1857</p><p>Performances of Wilkie Collins' drama The Frozen Deep at the Free Trade Hall for the benefit of the widow of writer Douglas W. Jerrold, during which Charles Dickens, becomes infatuated with the professional actress Ellen Ternan.</p><p>Dickens's hand was so prominent—beside acting in the play for several performances, he added a preface, altered lines, & attended to most of the props and sets.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frozen_Deep" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frozen_Deep"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Froz</span><span class="invisible">en_Deep</span></a></p><p>The Frozen Deep at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1625" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1625</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a></p>

Cover of play "The Frozen Deep" by Wilkie Collins & Charles Dickens.

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1y

<p><a href="/tags/otd/" rel="tag">#OTD</a> in 1939.</p><p>The Wizard of Oz premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California.</p><p>It stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, while others made uncredited contributions.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiza</span><span class="invisible">rd_of_Oz</span></a></p><p>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum at PG:<br><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55</a></p><p><a href="/tags/books/" rel="tag">#books</a> <a href="/tags/literature/" rel="tag">#literature</a> <a href="/tags/movies/" rel="tag">#movies</a></p>

Wizard of OZ movie poster.

The movie poster for "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) is a vibrant and iconic piece of film memorabilia. The poster typically features the main characters—Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion—walking down the Yellow Brick Road towards the distant, glowing Emerald City. Dorothy, often depicted in her blue gingham dress and red ruby slippers, is at the forefront, holding Toto, her small black dog. The background showcases a fantastical landscape with bright, lush colors, underscoring the movie's transition from black and white to Technicolor. The title, "The Wizard of Oz," is prominently displayed, often in bold, stylized lettering. Additionally, the poster may include the names of the film's stars, such as Judy Garland, and the tagline emphasizing the wonder and adventure of the movie. The overall design captures the magical and timeless essence of this beloved classic.

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