Eggplant.place

21d

What January taught George Orwell about control and resistance

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.

by Nathan Waddell

https://theconversation.com/what-january-taught-george-orwell-about-control-and-resistance-272860

#books #literature

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

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1y

"THE times that tried men's souls," are over- and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished."

#OTD in 1776.

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".

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

The American Crisis at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3741

#books #literature

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

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1y

#OTD in 1864 (until April 16).

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.

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

Lost Sir Massingberd at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37170
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37171

#books #literature

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.]".

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22d

Peter Kropotkin’s Memoirs of a Revolutionist (1899)

“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”.

Book at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73882

#books #literature

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22d

Today, 13 January, is the Feast Day of St Mungo (AKA St Kentigern), patron saint of Glasgow. Edwin Morgan’s “Colloquy in Glaschu” imagines a conversation between St Mungo & St Columba.

From CENTENARY SELECTED POEMS (Carcanet, 2020)

1/5

https://www.carcanet.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=9781784109967

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #EdwinMorgan #Glasgow #Saints #StMungo

Colloquy in Glaschu
by Edwin Morgan

God but le son du cor, Columba sighed
to Kentigern, est triste au fond silvarum!
Frater, said Kentigern, I see no harm.
J'aime le son du cor, when day has died,
deep in the bois, and oystercatchers rise
before the fowler as he trudges home
and sermo lupi loosens the grey loam.
À I’horizon lointain is paradise,
abest silentium, le cor éclate –
– et meurt, Columba mused, but Kentigern
replied, renaît et se prolonge. The cell
is filled with song. Outside, puer cantat.
Veni venator sings the gallus kern.
The saints dip startled cups in Mungo’s well.

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1y

"Nothing is stranger to man than his own image."

#OTD in 1921.

World premiere of the science fiction play R.U.R. (Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti) by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a theater in Hradec Králové. It introduced the word "robot" to the English language and to science fiction as a whole.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.R.

R.U.R. at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/59112

#books #literature #theatre

Cover of the first edition of R.U.R. by Karel Čapek.

Unknown author - Karel Čapek: R.U.R.: Rosumovi Univerzální Roboti. Vydalo Aventinum, Prague 1920. via answcdn.com

This is the cover of the first edition of "R.U.R." (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Čapek, a Czech playwright and author. Published in 1920, this science fiction drama is famous for introducing the word "robot" to the world. The play explores themes of industrialization, artificial intelligence, and the potential dangers of technological advancement.

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1y

"Every human institution (Justice included) will stretch a little, if you only pull it the right way."

From January 4 till August 8 1868.

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.

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

The Moonstone at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/155

#books #literature

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.

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22d

Fra banc to banc, fra wod to wod, I rin
Ourhailit with my feble fantasie,
Lyk til a leif that fallis from a trie
Or til a reid ourblawin with the wind…

—“Sonet of Venus & Cupid”, by Mark Alexander Boyd (1563–1601), born #OTD, 13 Jan
published in THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF SCOTTISH VERSE, @canongatebooks 2021

https://canongate.co.uk/books/3267-the-golden-treasury-of-scottish-verse/

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #sonnet #16thcentury #17thcentury #earlymodern #Scots #Scotslanguage

Sonet of Venus and Cupid
by Mark Alexander Boyd

Fra banc to banc, fra wod to wod, I rin
Ourhailit with my feble fantasie,
Lyk til a leif that fallis from a trie
Or til a reid ourblawin with the wind.
Twa gods gyds me: the ane of tham is blind,
Ye, and a bairn brocht up in vanitie;
The nixt a wyf ingenrit of the se,
And lichter nor a dauphin with hir fin.

Unhappie is the man for evirmair
That teils the sand and sawis in the aire;
Bot twyse unhappier is he, I lairn,
That feidis in his hairt a mad desyre,
And follows on a woman throw the fyre,
Led be a blind and teichit be a bairn.

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21d

Alexander the Great, Ancient Gay Icon

Harry Tanner Explores Queerness and Homophobia in the Hellenistic Period

https://lithub.com/alexander-the-great-ancient-gay-icon/

Alexander the Great at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subject/3864

#books #literature #history

Alexander Cuts the Gordian Knot by Jean-Simon Berthélemy (1767).

At the center of the composition stands Alexander, shown as a youthful. He wears a metal breastplate, a short tunic, and a flowing blue cloak. With one arm extended, he raises a sword, poised mid-action as he decisively cuts the knot rather than attempting to untie it.

Around him, several figures react with surprise and tension. To the right, men kneel or lean forward, their bodies twisted toward the knot, hands outstretched as if caught between disbelief and awe. To the left, older figures and attendants watch intently, one bearded man appearing contemplative, while a child looks on with curiosity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great#/media/File:Alexander_cuts_the_Gordian_Knot.jpg

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1y

"What remains?" cried Ivanhoe; "Glory, maiden, glory! which gilds our sepulchre and embalms our name."

#OTD in 1819.

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.

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

Ivanhoe at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/82

#books #literature

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.

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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

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1y

On Henry James and the Enduring Lessons of Love

Katherine J. Chen Rediscovers James (and Falls in Love)

https://lithub.com/on-henry-james-and-the-enduring-lessons-of-love/

Books by Henry James at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/113

#books #literature #literarycriticism

Portrait of Henry James, charcoal drawing by John Singer Sargent (1912)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_James#/media/File:Portrait_of_Henry_James_1913.jpg

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1y

#OTD in 1895.

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.

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

An Ideal Husband at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/885

#books #literature #theatre

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

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1y

#OTD in 1846.

Fyodor Dostoevsky's first original novel, Poor Folk, is published in the St. Petersburg Collection.

The first English translation was provided by Lena Milman in 1894, with an introduction by George Moore, cover art design by Aubrey Beardsley and publication by London's Mathews and Lane. It is the first novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, written over the span of nine months between 1844 and 1845.

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

Poor Folk at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/2302

#books #literature

First English language edition of Poor Folk by Fedor Dostoiesvsky.

The first English-language edition of Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Poor Folk" was published in 1894 by Elkin Mathews and John Lane in London, and Roberts Brothers in Boston. This edition featured a distinctive cover designed by Aubrey Beardsley, a prominent English illustrator and author associated with the Aesthetic Movement.

The book was bound in original yellow pictorial cloth, a design choice reminiscent of the quarterly "Yellow Book," for which Beardsley served as art director. The cover and title page bore Beardsley's illustrations, including his "key monogram" on the spine and rear cover. This monogram, a stylized design incorporating his initials, was a signature element in many of Beardsley's works.

The yellow cloth binding, combined with Beardsley's distinctive black ink illustrations, gave the book a striking appearance that stood out among publications of the time.

This edition was part of Mathews and Lane's Keynotes Series and included an introduction by Irish novelist George Moore.

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1y

Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Kahlil Gibran was born #OTD in 1883.

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.

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

Books by Kahlil Gibran at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1813

#books #literature

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.

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1y

#OTD in 1904.

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.)

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

Books by Virginia Woolf at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/89

#books #literature

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.

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1y

"There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt."
Torvald Helmer, Act I

#OTD in 1879.

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%27s_House

A Doll's House at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/2542

#books #literature #theatre

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.

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1y

English author Agatha Christie died #OTD in 1976.

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.

Watch our podcast about The Big Four:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKUX5a7T0Y&t=74s

Books by Agatha Chrissie at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/451

#books #literature

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.

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1y

The Remarkable Life of Charles Dickens: Hard Times & Great Expectations

One of the greatest writers of English literary history, Charles Dickens’ rags-to-riches story is as incredible as any of his greatest works of fiction.

By Catherine Dent

https://www.thecollector.com/charles-dickens-remarkable-life/

Books by Charles Dickens at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/37

#books #literature

Portrait of Charles Dickens by Jeremiah Gurney, c. 1867–1868.

Dickens appears older, with his characteristic beard and somewhat tired expression, reflecting the toll of his demanding career and failing health.

The portrait is a waist-length photograph, focusing on Dickens’s face and upper torso.

He is dressed formally in a dark suit with a vest and a neatly tied cravat, typical of Victorian fashion, emphasizing his status as a literary and public figure.

Dickens's expression is serious and introspective, with his gaze directed slightly away from the camera. This contemplative look may suggest his reflective nature during this period of his life.

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1y

3 philosophy classics that are better than self-help books

Self-help often distills philosophical ideas for the modern ear. Sometimes, its better to go back to the source.

By Jonny Thomson

https://bigthink.com/thinking/3-philosophy-classics-that-are-better-than-self-help-books/

The 3 philosophy classics are available at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Nicomachean+Ethics&submit_search=Search
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3600
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49965

#books #literature #philosophy

First page of a 1566 edition of the Aristotolic Ethics in Greek and Latin

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Nicomachean+Ethics&submit_search=Search

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Title page of the Essais with notes

Michel de Montaigne († 1592) -

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3600

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A part of a Taoist manuscript, ink on silk, 2nd century BCE, Han Dynasty, unearthed from Mawangdui tomb 3rd, Chansha, Hunan Province, China. Hunan Province Museum.

Unknown author - Mawangdui Silk Manuscript Volume First, Wen Wu Publishing, Beijing, China, 1980-03

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49965

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1y

#OTD in 1872.

Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days (Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) finishes serialisation (since November 2) in the daily Le Temps, the day after the concluding date of the narrative. The story was published in installments over the next 45 days, with its ending timed to synchronize Fogg's December 21 deadline with the real world.

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

Around the World in Eighty Days at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=le+tour+du+monde&submit_search=Go%21

#books #literature

Cover of the French first edition of Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. Published on January 30, 1873,[1] printed by Gauthier-Villars, published by Pierre-Jules Hetzel & Cie, Paris. 217 pages, illustrated with B/W engravings by De Neuville and Benett. (publisher's binding).

Centered prominently is the title, "Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours," surrounded by ornate borders and motifs inspired by travel, exploration, and exotic destinations. Visual elements such as globes, compasses, and decorative frames emphasize the book's focus on global circumnavigation.

The illustrations by De Neuville and Benett, reproduced in black and white within the 217 pages, add further detail to the narrative, bringing key scenes to life with precision and dramatic flair. The overall design of the cover communicates a sense of grandeur and excitement, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of Verne’s iconic tale.

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1y

"All the glories of the sunset,
In the sunrise one may see;
That which others call the dawning
Is the night for you and me."

Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt , who died #OTD in 1919, was an American poet. She published hundreds of poems in nationally circulated newspapers, magazines, and anthologies as well as in eighteen volumes of poems, two of which she co-authored with her husband, the poet John James Piatt.

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

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25004

#books #literature #poetry

Photographic portrait of American author Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt (1836-1919). From American Women: Fifteen Hundred Biographies with Over 1,400 Portraits, Frances E. Willard and Mary A. Livermore, editors. Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick, 1897 (revised edition from 1893), vol. 2, p. 569.

Piatt is portrayed in a formal seated pose, reflecting the conventions of late 19th-century portraiture. Her attire is elegant and characteristic of the era, with intricate lacework and detailed fabric adorning her high-collared dress. Her hair is styled in a manner typical of the time, complementing her refined and composed expression. Her gaze, directed slightly away from the camera, conveys thoughtfulness and dignity.

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1y

"The trouble with this country is... that there're too many people going about saying "The trouble with this country is—"
Dodsworth, Ch. 10 (1929)

American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright Sinclair Lewis died #OTD in 1951.

Lewis wrote six popular novels: Main Street (1920), Babbitt (1922), Arrowsmith (1925), Elmer Gantry (1927), Dodsworth (1929), and It Can't Happen Here (1935).

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

Sinclair Lewis at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/278

#books #literature