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Carlos Fuentes: The Literary Giant Who Gave Voice to Mexico’s Soul
Carlos Fuentes: The Literary Giant Who Gave Voice to Mexico’s Soul
He made history sound like rumor, and in doing so turned a nation into a conversation. Few novelists worked so hard to give a country back its many voices. Carlos... Read more...
Fyodor Dostoyevsky: The Original Master of Existential Drama (And a Little Bit of Dark Humor)
Fyodor Dostoyevsky: The Original Master of Existential Drama (And a Little Bit of Dark Humor)
On November 11th, we celebrate the birthday of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the man who took existential angst to a whole new level and somehow made it sound poetic. If you’ve ever... Read more...
10 Things You Might Not Know About Fyodor Dostoevsky
10 Things You Might Not Know About Fyodor Dostoevsky
1. Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881)—the author of marvelous works such as Crime and Punishment and The Idiot—had difficulty relating to his schoolmates. From his junior years at boarding school to his... Read more...
5 Books That Prove Bertrand Russell Is the Sharpest Mind in Philosophy
5 Books That Prove Bertrand Russell Is the Sharpest Mind in Philosophy
Bertrand Russell is one of those rare thinkers who can make logic feel like a thriller and metaphysics read like sharply observed social commentary. He was a logician who helped... Read more...
5 Essential Film Scores That Prove Ennio Morricone is the Maestro of Cinema
5 Essential Film Scores That Prove Ennio Morricone is the Maestro of Cinema
Ennio Morricone wrote so much music that if you pressed play on his entire catalogue, you might age a few decades before it ended—and every note would be worth it.... Read more...
Remembering Anne Sexton: A Poet Who Bared Her Soul
Remembering Anne Sexton: A Poet Who Bared Her Soul
On November 9, 1928, poet Anne Sexton was born in Newton, Massachusetts. Sexton is remembered for her daring, deeply personal poetry that explores themes such as mental illness, femininity, motherhood,... Read more...
5 Books That Prove John Banville is a Master of Literary Fiction
5 Books That Prove John Banville is a Master of Literary Fiction
John Banville is one of the most revered authors in contemporary literature, known for his meticulously crafted prose and philosophical depth. With a career spanning over five decades, Banville has... Read more...
10 Things You Might Not Know About Plato
10 Things You Might Not Know About Plato
1. Plato (429? –347 B.C.E.), one of the most famous philosophers in the Western world, was born into a prominent family. His mother, Perictione, was a descendant of Solon, a... Read more...
10 Things You Might Not Know About Marie Curie
10 Things You Might Not Know About Marie Curie
1. Marie Curie (1867-1934) attended Warsaw’s “floating” or “flying” university, where classes were held underground in secret since women were not allowed at the University of Warsaw. 2. While earning... Read more...
Albert Camus: The Philosopher Who Found Joy in the Absurd
Albert Camus: The Philosopher Who Found Joy in the Absurd
Today, we’re celebrating the birthday of Albert Camus, the man who made feeling lost, confused, and mildly exasperated seem like deep philosophical work. Born on November 7, 1913, in Mondovi,... Read more...
5 Books That Prove Albert Camus is an Icon of Existentialism and Absurdism
5 Books That Prove Albert Camus is an Icon of Existentialism and Absurdism
Albert Camus has become shorthand for a certain mood and moral temperature: the clear, almost blinding light of North Africa; the stubborn refusal to lie about the human condition; the... Read more...
10 Things You Might Not Know About Sylvia Plath
10 Things You Might Not Know About Sylvia Plath
1. Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) published her first poem at eight years old in the Boston Herald. The poem was four lines long and simply titled, “Poem.” Plath wrote, “Hear the... Read more...