literature

305d

Ethnomusicologist, photographer, folklorist, & scholar Margaret Fay Shaw (1903–2004) was born #OTD, 9 Nov. She gave up a privileged upbringing & classical music training in 1920s New York to help build the first proper archive of traditional Hebridean song & folklore

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rmks

#Scottish #literature #music #song #folklore #Hebrides #Gaelic #Gaidhlig #ethnology #photography

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2y

British writer and soldier Sapper died #OTD in 1937.

"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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._C._McNeile

H.C. McNeile at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/26827

#books #literature

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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2y

#OTD in 1857

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.

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frozen_Deep

The Frozen Deep at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1625

#books #literature

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

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2y

#OTD in 1939.

The Wizard of Oz premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California.

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55

#books #literature #movies

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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2y

French scholar, translator, commentator and editor of the classics Anne Dacier died #OTD in 1730.

She is best known for her translations of classical works from Greek and Latin into French. Anne Dacier's most famous works include her translations of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey". In addition to Homer, Dacier also translated works by other classical authors, such as Terence and Aristophanes, and wrote commentaries and essays on classical literature.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Dacier

#books #literature

Portrait dit d'Anne Dacier, peint sur porcelaine par Marie-Victoire Jaquotot. L'identité du modèle n'est pas certaine, non plus que l'auteur de l'oeuvre originale qui a été longtemps attribuée à Roger de Piles mais qui, selon la fiche d'inventaire du Louvre, serait plus probablement par François de Troy.

Voir Portrait d'une inconnue, sur collections.louvre.fr. Numéro dans la base Joconde : 50350214524.

In the portrait, Anne Dacier is presented with an air of intellectual grace. She is shown wearing attire typical of the late 17th or early 18th century, with a modest, elegant dress. Her expression is composed and thoughtful, befitting her reputation as a learned woman of letters. The porcelain medium gives the portrait a smooth, refined finish, with Jaquotot's skillful brushwork emphasizing the delicate features of Dacier's face.

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2y

#OTD in 1918.

The poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon meet for the last time, in London, and spend what Sassoon will recall as "the whole of a hot cloudless afternoon together."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owen#Relationship_with_Sassoon

Books by Wilfred Owen at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/517

Books by Siegfried Sassoon at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/2934

#books #literature

Portrait of Wilfred Owen, found in a collection of his poems from 1920.

Owen is depicted with a serious, introspective expression, reflecting the weight of his experiences during World War I. The portrait, likely a photograph or an engraving, shows him in military uniform, which serves as a poignant reminder of his service and the subject matter of his poetry. His eyes are intense, perhaps hinting at the trauma and disillusionment that characterized his work.

Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (1886-1967), poet and novelist, platinum print, wearing military uniform with the collar badges of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and hat, Beresford's stamp and copyright line on verso, 6 x 4½ in (15.2 x 11.5 cm).

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86d

The programme for the 2026 Edinburgh International Book Festival is now online, with over 600 events: talks, interviews, gigs, podcasts, workshops, food events, book signings & more, for Adults, Young Adults, and Children & Families. Tickets on sale from 25 June.

https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events

#Scottish #literature #Edinburgh #books #bookfestival #EdinburghBookFestival #EdinburghInternationalBookFestival #EIBF

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2y

English author and bookseller Christopher Robin Milne was born #OTD in 1920.

He was the only child of author A. A. Milne. As a child, he was the basis of the character Christopher Robin in his father's Winnie-the-Pooh stories and in two books of poems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Robin_Milne

Watch our video about Winnie-the-Pooh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWZxwuam5Iw&t=155s

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne is available at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67098

#books #literature

A. A. Milne, with his son Christopher Robin and the original Pooh Bear, photographed in the year that Winnie-the-Pooh was first published.

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272d

Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Was Initially Rejected by a Publisher. It Later Became One of the World’s Most Beloved Novels

The British author wrote six novels, but it’s her second published book that has resonated the most in the 250 years since her birth in 1775

by Kayla Randall

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/jane-austens-pride-and-prejudice-was-initially-rejected-by-a-publisher-it-later-became-one-of-the-worlds-most-beloved-novels-180987807/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&lctg=93133550

Pride and Prejudice at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1342

#books #literature

A card of C. E. Brock's illustrations of Jane Austen's Novel Pride and Prejudice, (some possibly touched up by his brother) - c. 1885

A collection card of delicate pen-and-ink illustrations by C.E. Brock (with possible contributions by his brother) depicting scenes from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," circa 1885. The vintage illustrations showcase Regency-era characters in period costume, capturing key moments from the beloved novel in Brock's characteristic refined Victorian illustrative style.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice#/media/File:Scenes_from_Pride_and_Prejudice.png

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2y

#OTD in 1920.

The Salzburg Festival in Austria is inaugurated with a performance of Hugo von Hofmannsthal's play Jedermann (Everyman, 1911) in front of Salzburg Cathedral, directed by Max Reinhardt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedermann_(play)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salzburg_Festival

Jedermann: Das Spiel vom Sterben des reichen Mannes by Hugo von Hofmannsthal at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28949

#books #literature #theatre

Alexander Moissi in Jedermann

https://archive.org/details/reinhardtundsein00steruoft/page/148/mode/1up?view=theater

The photograph of Alexander Moissi in the play Jedermann by Hugo von Hofmannsthal captures the actor in one of his most iconic roles. Moissi, known for his intense and expressive performances, is depicted wearing a rich, elaborate costume that befits the play's allegorical nature.

Moissi's pose and expression in the photograph likely convey the gravity and existential dread central to the play, which deals with themes of death and salvation. His face may be marked by a profound, almost tragic intensity, capturing the emotional depth for which he was renowned. The background of the image is likely minimal, focusing all attention on Moissi, his costume, and his compelling stage presence.

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2y

Norwegian author Amalie Skram was born #OTD in 1846.

She gave voice to a woman's point of view with her naturalist writing. Skram's most famous works include the novels "Constance Ring", "Lucie", and the four-volume series "Hellemyrsfolket", which provides a stark and realistic depiction of life in 19th-century Norway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalie_Skram

Books about Amalie Skram at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68655

#books #literature

Photo portrait and signature of Amalie Skram, published 1905.

The photo portrait of Amalie Skram from 1905 depicts the Norwegian author in a formal and serious pose, reflective of her stature as a significant literary figure. She is dressed in the typical fashion of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a high-collared blouse and a dark, modest gown. Her hair is neatly styled, parted in the middle, and pulled back, revealing her strong facial features. Skram's expression is contemplative, suggesting the depth and intensity of her literary work.

Accompanying the portrait is her signature, which is written in a clear and confident hand, indicative of her authoritative presence in the literary world. The portrait and signature together convey a sense of dignity and intellectual strength, capturing the essence of Amalie Skram as a pioneering realist writer and a prominent figure in Scandinavian literature. The publication of this portrait in 1905, the year of her death, serves as a tribute to her enduring influence and legacy.

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301d

#OTD in 1850 writer Robert Louis Stevenson was born.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Art of Living (and Dying)

"Trenton B. Olsen Explores How the Author Navigated a Lifetime of Chronic Illness"

https://lithub.com/robert-louis-stevensons-art-of-living-and-dying/

Stevenson at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/35

#books #literature

Wood carving of Robert Louis Stevenson by Henry Wolf

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301d

Am I really home? A Journey Through the Literary Voices of Italian Scottish Women
25 Nov, Edinburgh – free, ticketed

Through storytelling, poetry, & prose, four widely published Italian Scottish women writers will describe their diverse journeys of navigating, rooting, & belonging

https://iicedimburgo.esteri.it/en/gli_eventi/calendario/am-i-really-home-a-journey-through-the-literary-voices-of-italian-scottish-women/

#Scottish #literature #ScottishItalian #identity #culturalidentity #belonging #womenwriters

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2y

"On a memorable morning of early December London opened its eyes on a frigid gray mist..."

#OTD in 1891.

Israel Zangwill's The Big Bow Mystery, the first classic full-length locked room mystery, begins serialization in The Star (London), before being published as a novel the following year.

It has been almost continuously in print since 1891 and has been used as the basis for three movies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bow_Mystery

The Big Bow Mystery at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28164

#books #literature

Cover page of The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill, The First Loocked Room Mystery.

The cover page of The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill is a classic example of late 19th-century book design. As the first "locked room" mystery ever written, the cover likely reflects the novel's significance and genre. The design may feature an ornate, decorative border that was typical of the period, with the title prominently displayed in bold, serif fonts. The author's name, Israel Zangwill, is also prominently featured, underscoring his importance as a literary figure.

The imagery on the cover might evoke elements of mystery or suspense, possibly incorporating dark or moody colors, symbolic representations like keys, locks, or abstract depictions of a closed door, emphasizing the "locked room" nature of the mystery.

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304d

Music and Musicians in the Medieval Persianate World

From royal courts to wine-filled gatherings, music played a vital role in medieval Persianate culture. Two remarkable texts — one practical, one theoretical — reveal how musicians lived, performed, and understood their art.

By Timur Khan

https://www.medievalists.net/2025/11/music-and-musicians-in-the-medieval-persianate-world/

Music at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/677

#books #music #literature

Sultan Mohammed. Kayumars' Court. Miniature, detail. "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi. 1525-1535. Geneva, Collection of Sadruddin Aga Khan.

At the center of the image, Kayumars sits elevated on a rocky outcrop, clothed in a robe of leopard skin. His haloed face is framed by a soft sky and floating clouds that blend seamlessly with the surrounding forms.

Below and around him, courtiers, princes, and attendants are arranged in rhythmic harmony amid rich vegetation, flowering trees, and undulating rock formations.

Among them roam wild animals and birds—leopards, monkeys, deer, and cranes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahnameh#/media/File:The_Court_of_Gayumars_(Cropped).jpg

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2y

Belgian lawyer and bibliographer Paul Otlet was born #OTD in 1868.

He developed the Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) system, an innovative and highly detailed method for cataloging information. Otlet envisioned a global network of information that could be accessed remotely, which he described in his writings as a "réseau" or network of knowledge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Otlet

Books by Paul Otlet at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/50172

#books #literature

Otlet to work in an office built at his home following the closure of the Palais Mondial in June 1937

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301d

“In crime, as in all life, nothing is fixed or certain. Put another way, it is part of the mystery of being, which has its origin in religious faith, & Stevenson’s stories abound in mysteries”

SINS & FOLLIES
Three Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

🗡️ “A Lodging for the Night”
🪞 “Markheim”
💀 “The Body-Snatcher”

Download the free ebook

@bookstodon

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https://asls.org.uk/publications/books/free-publications/sins-and-follies-2/

#Scottish #literature #RobertLouisStevenson #ShortStories #CrimeFiction #19thcentury #Victorian #gothic #RLSDay

Book cover

Sins and Follies

Three stories
by
Robert Louis Stevenson

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303d

"We who go out to die shall be remembered, because we gave the world peace. That will be our reward, though we will know nothing of it, but lie rotting in the earth - dead."

~Philips Gibbs. In : The Pageant of the Years

#OTD in 1918 - Armistice Day

The Soul of a Nation by Philip Gibbs is available at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41308

#books #armistice #literature

Armistice Day page from the New York Times.

The image shows the front page of The New York Times from Monday, November 11, 1918, the day the Armistice was signed, ending the fighting of World War I.

At the top of the page, in large, bold capital letters, the headline reads:

“ARMISTICE SIGNED, END OF THE WAR!”

This triumphant declaration spans nearly the full width of the page and dominates the layout, conveying the immense significance of the event. Beneath it, several subheadings and bulletins provide urgent details, such as the hour the cease-fire would take effect and reactions from world capitals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day#/media/File:NYTimes-Page1-11-11-1918.jpg

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301d

“It is an RLS hallmark, the quicksilver evolution of thought and the fabular turn, the victory of original perception”

—Amdrew O’Hagan stays overnight in Robert Louis Stevenson’s childhood home, 17 Heriot Row, Edinburgh – via the London Review of Books

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n01/andrew-o-hagan/diary

#Scottish #literature #RobertLouisStevenson #Edinburgh #RLSDay

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303d

Some one was singing
Up a twisty stair,
A fragment of a song,
One sweet, spring day,
When twelve o’clock was ringing,
Through the sunny square…

—Marion Angus (1865–1946), “Remembrance Day”
first published in THE LILT AND OTHER VERSES (1922)

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #warpoetry #WW1 #RemembranceDay

Remembrance Day
Marion Angus

Some one was singing
Up a twisty stair,
A fragment of a song,
One sweet, spring day,
When twelve o’clock was ringing,
Through the sunny square—

‘There was a lad baith frank and free,
Cam’ doon the bonnie banks o’ Dee
Wi’ tartan plaid and buckled shoon,
An’ he’ll come nae mair to oor toon.—

‘He dwells within a far countree,
Where great ones do him courtesie,
They’ve gien him a golden croon,
An’ he’ll come nae mair to oor toon.’—

No one is singing
Up the twisty stair.
Quiet as a sacrament
The November day.

Can’t you hear it swinging,
The little ghostly air?—
Hear it sadly stray
Through the misty square,
In and out a doorway,
Up a twisty stair—
Tartan plaid and buckled shoon,
He’ll come nae mair to oor toon.

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303d

Hamish Henderson (1919–2002) – poet, soldier, intellectual, activist, songwriter – was born #OTD, 11 Nov. A hugely important figure in Scottish culture, Henderson fought in North Africa & Italy in WW2. A 🎂🧵

There were no gods and precious few heroes…
—“Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica”

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#Scottish #literature #HamishHenderson #20thcentury #culture #poetry #poem #warpoetry #WW2 #RemembranceDay

Hamish Henderson
from Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica

FIRST ELEGY
End of a Campaign

There are many dead in the brutish desert, who lie uneasy
among the scrub in this landscape of half-wit
stunted ill-will. For the dead land is insatiate
and necrophilous. The sand is blowing about still.
Many who for various reasons, or because of mere unanswerable compulsion, came here
and fought among the clutching gravestones, shivered and sweated,
cried out, suffered thirst, were stoically silent, cursed
the spittering machine-guns, were homesick for Europe
and fast embedded in quicksand of Africa agonised and died.
And sleep now. Sleep here the sleep of the dust.

There were our own, there were the others.
Their deaths were like their lives, human and animal.
There were no gods and precious few heroes.
What they regretted when they died had nothing to do with race and leader, realm indivisible,
laboured Augustan speeches or vague imperial heritage.
(They saw through that guff before the axe fell.) Their longing turned to
the lost world glimpsed in the memory of letters:
an evening at the pictures in the friendly dark,
two knowing conspirators smiling and whispering secrets; or else
a family gathering in the homely kitchen
with Mum so proud of her boys in uniform: their thoughts trembled
between moments of estrangement, and ecstatic moments
of reconciliation: and their desire

crucified itself against the unutterable shadow of someone
whose photo was in their wallets.
Then death made his incision.

There were our own, there were the others.
Therefore, minding the great word of Glencoe’s
son, that we should not disfigure ourselves
with villainy of hatred; and seeing that all
have gone down like curs into anonymous silence,
I will bear witness for I knew the others.
Seeing that littoral and interior are alike indifferent
and the birds are drawn again to our welcoming north
why should I not sing them, the dead, the innocent?

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1y

#OTD in 1881.

Robert Louis Stevenson's children's pirate adventure novel Treasure Island begins serialization in the British magazine Young Folks as Treasure Island; or, The mutiny of the Hispaniola by "Captain George North". It was first published as a book on 14 November 1883 by Cassell & Co.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Island

Treasure Island at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/120

#books #literature

Treasure Island, illustrated by George Wylie Hutchinson (1894).

Chums serialization of “Treasure Island,” which ran from 29 Aug 1894- 2 Jan 1895.

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300d

Mary Wollstonecraft, The Woman Who Laid the Foundation for Feminism

"Think 18th-century feminism must be outdated? Think again—there is still so much to learn from the life and writing of Mary Wollstonecraft."

https://www.thecollector.com/mary-wollstonecraft-woman-laid-foundation-feminism/

Wollstonecraft at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/84

#books #literature

Mary Wollstonecraft by John Opie

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300d

Norman MacCaig (1910–1996) was born #OTD, 14 November. A self-described “Zen Calvinist”, when asked how long it took him to write a poem he would reply “one cigarette – or two for a long one”

A 🎂🧵

“Toad”
published in THE POEMS OF NORMAN MacCAIG (Birlinn, 2009)

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https://birlinn.co.uk/product/the-poems-of-norman-maccaig/

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #20thcentury #NormanMacCaig

Toad
by Norman MacCaig

Stop looking like a purse. How could a purse
squeeze under the rickety door and sit,
full of satisfaction, in a man’s house?

You clamber towards me on your four corners –
right hand, left foot, left hand, right foot.

I love you for being a toad,
for crawling like a Japanese wrestler,
and for not being frightened.

I put you in my purse hand, not shutting it,
and set you down outside directly under
every star.

A jewel in your head? Toad,
you’ve put one in mine,
a tiny radiance in a dark place.

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1y

With A Boat And Some Help, You Can Read Moby Dick In A Day

'All my means are sane, my motive and my object mad'

By Riley MacLeod

https://aftermath.site/moby-dick-marathon-mystic

Moby Dick at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2701

#Books #Literature

Moby Dick in a 1902 edition

I. W. Taber - Moby Dick - edition: Charles Scribner's Sons, New York

Illustration of the final chase of Moby-Dick.

Moby Dick, the great white whale, dominates the composition — massive, pale, and thrashing as it battles Captain Ahab's whaleboats. The whale is shown lunging or rearing from the ocean, its enormous body twisting, eyes fierce, and mouth open in defiance. The water surges violently around it, emphasizing the force of its movement.

Around Moby Dick, tiny whaleboats are depicted — fragile and dwarfed by the whale’s size. Sailors are shown in disarray; some clinging to the boats, others tossed into the sea. Captain Ahab, distinguishable by his grim posture and harpoon, caught in the fatal moment of his obsession.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick#/media/File:Moby_Dick_final_chase.jpg

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