History so often hinges upon accidents, such as the time Gutenberg was forced to invent the printing press because he missed an important date by an entire year, or the time Constantinople […]
How Marco Polo Owes His Fame to an Inquisitive Inmate
Tolkien’s Advice on Minding Your Own Business
“Don’t go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you’ll land in trouble too big for you.” — J.R.R. Tolkien Read more great quotations. Read more fun facts about […]
Words Created by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was unquestionably one of the greatest influencers of English literature. He was also an unequaled contributor to the English language itself. Many of the words you have used in the […]
The Only Certain Way to Avoid Making Mistakes
“It’s only those who do nothing that make no mistakes, I suppose.” — Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), British-Polish novelist. Read more great quotes. Read more fun facts about literature.
A Tale of Two Boys and Their Fathers’ Creations That Ruined Their Lives
Chris and Denny might as well have been brothers. They had so much in common — particularly their conflict with their fathers — that it almost looks as if they had the […]
Oscar Wilde’s Final Battle With Wallpaper
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was famous for his humorous, ironic observations. This quality stayed with him right up to the end. The final words attributed to the Irishman, as he lay on his […]
It Took a Century, But The Dublin Pub Brain Teaser Has Been Solved
James Joyce’s novel Ulysses first appeared as a serial from March 1918 to December 1920. The primary character, Leopold Bloom, makes a seemingly-offhanded remark that spun into one of history’s most intriguing brain […]
Mark Twain’s Fashion Tips
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” — Mark Twain Read more Mark Twain fun facts and funny quotes. Learn about fun and interesting customs.
Efficiency Through Ignorance
“Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.” — E.B. White Read more fun facts about authors. Read more great quotations.
Skeptical Sagittarians
“I don’t believe in astrology; I’m a Sagittarius and we’re skeptical.” — Arthur C. Clarke Read more funny quotes. Read Clarke’s Laws and other eponymous laws.
What Is Missing From This Famous Literary Work?
When Ernest Vincent Wright published his novel Gadsby in 1939, it was an immediate sensation. The plot centers around the life of a man who is committed to transforming his community through […]
A Whale of a Lot of Fun Facts about Whales
Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick was published in 1851. The notorious white whale that compelled Captain Ahab to dedicate his life to finding it was famously described by Melville as being the […]
20 Quirks and Strange Habits — The Weird Side of Famous Writers
Readers of this site will not be surprised that famous writers have their own niche in the realm of eccentricity. Whether it be their unusual jobs, their acerbic wit, or creepy predictions, […]
The Dragon that Almost Ended the Lord of the Rings
English is a language of exceptions, with few concrete rules. When it comes to adjectives, however, there is a very specific hierarchy most English speakers know, instinctively, must be followed to avoid utter confusion. […]
From the Hand of the Bard
Some of the most beautiful and inspiring words in the English language have come from the hand of William Shakespeare. 422 words were added to English by his fertile and creative mind. […]
