Category: Entertainment Blogs
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Mark Twain and his Short Stories: Classic American Literature
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When one thinks of classic American literature, Mark Twain is one of the first names to come to mind. Samuel Longhorne Clemens, the man behind the pseudonym, was born on November 30, 1835 in Hannibal, Missouri. After applying for and receiving an apprenticeship with a local printing shop, Twain found…
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A Look at Joyce Carol Oates
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Joyce Carol Oates was born on June 16, 1938. She has reached literary acclaim through her novels, short stories, poetry, and essays. Her largest achievement was receiving the National Book Award for her novel, Them. Oates grew up in Lockport, New York, living a farm life that has been repeatedly described…
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The Library of Congress
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On April 24, 1800, President John Adams set aside $5,000 for “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress” as the nation’s capital was moved from Philadelphia to Washington. The first batch of these books arrived from London in 1801 and were stored in the Capitol building.…
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Happy 453rd Birthday, Mr. William Shakespeare!
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If you’ve ever been in an English classroom, you’ve most likely read a play or two by the one and only William Shakespeare. You probably know that he also wrote a series of sonnets that are still used today to woo literary hearts. What you may not be aware of…
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Poet Spotlight: Neil Hilborn
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And we’re back for another poet spotlight, and this time we’re appreciating some contemporary poets. This week’s spotlight: Neil Hilborn Neil Hilborn is an American poet known for his accomplishments in slam poetry. While attending Macalester College, he was a member of the 2011 Macalester Poetry Slam team, which ranked…
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Poet Spotlight: Walt Whitman
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This week will be featuring another one of America’s most prominent poets in American history! This week’s spotlight: Walt Whitman On May 31, 1819, Walt Whitman was born, the second of nine children. At the age of twelve, Whitman became acquainted with Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare while learning the printing…
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Poet Spotlight: Emily Dickinson
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If you’ve been reading the blog, you’ve seen that April is National Poetry Month. Here is one of the many Poet Spotlights to come! This Week’s Spotlight: Emily Dickinson On December 10, 1830, Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. She went to school at Amherst Academy, which her grandfather,…
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin
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Did you know that Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was second only to the Bible, maikng it the best-selling novel of the nineteenth century?Stowe was an active abolitionist from Connecticut, and she was surely thrilled to see that her work could help to fuel the abolition effort in the 1850s,…