Top 10 Hottest Poets of the 19th CenturyThis list is for fun, and it is meant to be to tongue-in-cheek. We hope to honor the women on this list, and by writing it we hope to draw more attention to their works. Imagine for a moment that these women lived today, in our culture. With names in "entertainment" like these, it would not be long before they made Star magazine's … [Read more...] about Top 10 Hottest Female Poets of the 19th Century
Entertainment
On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain
On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain An Essay for Discussion, read at a meeting of the historical and Antiquarian Club of Hartford, and offered for the Thirty-Dollar Prize. Now First Published [Did not take the prize]Observe, I do not mean to suggest that the custom of lying has suffered any decay or interruption—no, for the Lie, as a Virtue, a Principle, is … [Read more...] about On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain
Poetry as a Study by William Wordsworth
With the young of both sexes, Poetry is, like love, a passion; but, for much the greater part of those who have been proud of its power over their minds, a necessity soon arises of breaking the pleasing bondage; or it relaxes of itself;—the thoughts being occupied in domestic cares, or the time engrossed by business. Poetry then becomes only an occasional recreation; while to … [Read more...] about Poetry as a Study by William Wordsworth
The Short Story by Robert Saunders Dowst (1918)
Definition—Two Types—Dramatic Short Story—Atmospheric Short Story—Origins—Assumed Unity and Singleness of Effect of Dramatic Short Story—General Technique of Form—Characterization—Interest and Too Great Simplicity—Limitation upon Complexity—Length—Coherence of Form—Compression.A story is a fiction with a plot, as distinguished from a tale, which is a string of incidents … [Read more...] about The Short Story by Robert Saunders Dowst (1918)
Top 10 Horrible B-Horror Movies
Here are out Top 10 Horrible B-Horror Movies. I created this list a long time again, basically for fun, but you have to admire all of these for how truly bad they really are. I guess, for writers, they are a good example of what happens when the writing and everything else is bad. These are very entertaining movies and certainly worth a watch. 1. Rawhead Rex (1986) Sadly one … [Read more...] about Top 10 Horrible B-Horror Movies
On The Physiology of Laughter by Herbert Spencer
On The Physiology of Laughter by Herbert Spencer Why do we smile when a child puts on a man's hat? or what induces us to laugh on reading that the corpulent Gibbon was unable to rise from his knees after making a tender declaration? The usual reply to such questions is, that laughter results from a perception of incongruity. Even were there not on this reply the obvious … [Read more...] about On The Physiology of Laughter by Herbert Spencer
Writer’s Birthdays
3/12 Jack Kerouac3/13 L. Ron Hubbard3/14 Pam Ayers 3/18 John Updike 3/22 James Patterson 3/26 Tennessee Williams 3/26 Robert Frost 3/27 Maxim Gorky … [Read more...] about Writer’s Birthdays
What is Genius by Joseph Addision
—Cui mens divinior, atque os Magna sonaturum des nominis hujus honorem. Hor., Sat. i. 4, 43.On him confer the poet’s sacred name, Whose lofty voice declares the heavenly flame.There is no character more frequently given to a writer than that of being a genius. I have heard many a little sonneteer called a fine genius. There is not a heroic scribbler in the nation … [Read more...] about What is Genius by Joseph Addision
Of Fools by Daniel Defoe
Of all persons who are objects of our charity, none move my compassion like those whom it has pleased God to leave in a full state health and strength, but deprived of reason to act for themselves. And it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest scandals upon the understanding of others to mock at those who want it. Upon this account I think the hospital we call Bedlam to be a … [Read more...] about Of Fools by Daniel Defoe
The Dignity of Dollars by Jack London
Man is a blind, helpless creature. He looks back with pride upon his goodly heritage of the ages, and yet obeys unwittingly every mandate of that heritage; for it is incarnate with him, and in it are embedded the deepest roots of his soul. Strive as he will, he cannot escape it—unless he be a genius, one of those rare creations to whom alone is granted the privilege of doing … [Read more...] about The Dignity of Dollars by Jack London
From Mark Twain’s Autobiography (1906)
I was always heedless. I was born heedless; and therefore I was constantly, and quite unconsciously, committing breaches of the minor proprieties, which brought upon me humiliations which ought to have humiliated me but didn't, because I didn't know anything had happened. But Livy knew; and so the humiliations fell to her share, poor child, who had not earned them and did not … [Read more...] about From Mark Twain’s Autobiography (1906)
Percy Bysshe Shelly on Beatrice Cenci by Guido Reni
On my arrival at Rome I found that the story of the Cenci was a subject not to be mentioned in Italian society without awakening a deep and breathless interest: and that the feelings of the company never failed to incline to a romantic pity for the wrongs, and a passionate exculpation of the horrible deed to which they urged her who has been mingled two centuries with the … [Read more...] about Percy Bysshe Shelly on Beatrice Cenci by Guido Reni
A Mountain Town in France (1879) by Robert Louis Stevenson
Le Monastier is the chief place of a hilly canton in Haute Loire, the ancient Velay. As the name betokens, the town is of monastic origin; and it still contains a towered bulk of monastery and a church of some architectural pretensions, the seat of an arch-priest and several vicars. It stands on the side of hill above the river Gazeille, about fifteen miles from Le Puy, up a … [Read more...] about A Mountain Town in France (1879) by Robert Louis Stevenson
Review Stephen Crane’s War is Kind by Willa Cather
This truly remarkable book is printed on dirty gray blotting paper, on each page of which is a mere dot of print over a large I of vacancy. There are seldom more than ten lines on a page, and it would be better if most of those lines were not there at all. Either Mr. Crane is insulting the public or insulting himself, or he has developed a case of atavism and is chattering the … [Read more...] about Review Stephen Crane’s War is Kind by Willa Cather
Opportunity By Ambrose Bierce
THIS is not a country of equal fortunes; outside a Socialist's dream no such country exists or can exist. But as nearly as possible this is a country of equal opportunities for those who begin life with nothing but nature's endowments—and of such is the kingdom of success.In nine instances in ten successful Americans—that is Americans who have succeeded in any worthy … [Read more...] about Opportunity By Ambrose Bierce
Of Friendly Societies by Daniel Defoe
Another branch of insurance is by contribution, or (to borrow the term from that before mentioned) friendly societies; which is, in short, a number of people entering into a mutual compact to help one another in case any disaster or distress fall upon them.If mankind could agree, as these might be regulated, all things which have casualty in them might be secured. But one … [Read more...] about Of Friendly Societies by Daniel Defoe
The Ideal House by Robert Louis Stevenson
Two things are necessary in any neighbourhood where we propose to spend a life: a desert and some living water.There are many parts of the earth’s face which offer the necessary combination of a certain wildness with a kindly variety. A great prospect is desirable, but the want may be otherwise supplied; even greatness can be found on the small scale; for the mind and the eye … [Read more...] about The Ideal House by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Turning-Point of My Life by Mark Twain
I understand the idea, the BAZAR invites several of us to write upon the above text. It means the change in my life's course which introduced what must be regarded by me as the most IMPORTANT condition of my career. But it also implies—without intention, perhaps—that that turning-point ITSELF was the creator of the new condition. This gives it too much distinction, too much … [Read more...] about The Turning-Point of My Life by Mark Twain
My Letter to Thomas Nast Sells! by Mark Twain
This is from this morning's paper: Mark Twain Letter Sold.Written to Thomas Nast, it Proposed a Joint Tour.A Mark Twain autograph letter brought $43 yesterday at the auction by the Merwin-Clayton Company of the library and correspondence of the late Thomas Nast, cartoonist. The letter is nine pages note-paper, is dated Hartford, Nov. 12, 1877, and it addressed to … [Read more...] about My Letter to Thomas Nast Sells! by Mark Twain
Home-made Music Walt Whitman
August 8th.—To-night, as I was trying to keep cool, sitting by a wounded soldier in Armory-square, I was attracted by some pleasant singing in an adjoining ward. As my soldier was asleep, I left him, and entering the ward where the music was, I walk'd halfway down and took a seat by the cot of a young Brooklyn friend, S. R., badly wounded in the hand at … [Read more...] about Home-made Music Walt Whitman