April is National Poetry Month, and we love to feature poetry in all its forms during this celebratory period. How many forms can poetry take, you ask? Well, there’s the […]
Quartos Explained
In our recent Incredibly Helpful Hints post, we noted that “we like to keep you on your toes” with quartos. But what makes a “quarto” or a “folio” different from a regular book? […]
Adrienne Rich: a poet lost, and found
The world of American poetry, and the world of letters at large, lost a strong and unique voice on Tuesday. Adrienne Rich, a poet of enormous talent and renown, died […]
The Divine Comedy: 800 Years Young
Canon wars aside, on anyone’s list of the most important works of all times you will surely find Dante’s Divine Comedy. Written 800 years ago, this poem in 3 parts […]
The (Early) Modern Woman
During the month of March we often look at library resources that feature women, since March is Women’s History Month (the actual legislation leading to this designation was co-sponsored by […]
Literary Baltimore Part 2:
Edgar Allan Poe, check. But what other writers are known for a Baltimore connection? Someone lesser known outside of Baltimore, but revered by locals is the acerbic H. L. Mencken. […]
Flockophobic Press
“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness— Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!” That’s the well-known […]
Literary Baltimore
Once upon a time, Baltimore was known as “the city that reads.” Then Mayor Kurt Schmoke coined this moniker in 1987, and while many have derided it, Baltimore does indeed […]
Charles Dickens at 200
If you studied Charles Dickens in school, it wouldn’t be surprising if you got an unpleasant feeling whenever his name comes up. But it could be time for you to give […]
Langston Hughes: From The Weary Blues to Black Muse
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902—110 years ago today. It’s only a coincidence that his birthday inaugurates Black History Month, but to me the timing has always seemed like […]