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The bizarre events leading up to Edgar Allan Poe’s death continue to spark debate and speculation.

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?
Marla Mackoul|
On New Year’s Eve, after the ball has dropped, revelers queue up “Auld Lang Syne”—that song that makes you cry, even though you don’t understand it and know almost none of the words.
Caitlin Schneider|
Clement Clarke Moore is widely believed to be the author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” But the Livingston family of New York begs to differ.
Stacy Conradt|
“Once upon a midnight dreary” begins “The Raven,” setting the mood for one of the most recognizable poems written in English.
Joy Lanzendorfer|
Celebrate the many contributions to literature that LGBTQ+ authors have made with these great reads by Danez Smith, Dorothy Allison, Alexander Chee, Alice Walker, and more.
Hugh Ryan|
The poem “The Rainbow Bridge” has long comforted animal lovers who are mourning a pet. But for decades, its author remained a mystery.
Lorna Wallace|
These memorable quotes from LGBTQ+ leaders—on everything from intersectionality to being an ally—will ring true all year round.
Nicolas Rivero|
‘Having an albatross around your neck’ means “facing an inescapable burden.” As for where the phrase originated, you can thank classic literature.
Michele Debczak|
Discover the controversial conspiracy theories that challenge Shakespeare’s authorship, from the Baconian Theory to the Alien Theory and beyond.
Lorna Wallace|
The origins of Ireland's ‘Emerald Isle’ nickname trace back to the 18th-century physician, poet, and activist who penned the poem “When Erin First Rose.”
Jane Alexander|
Robert Burns was voted the greatest Scot over iconic warrior William Wallace in a 2009 poll.
Lorna Wallace|
Burns Night isn't the only thing named after Robert Burns. Streets, towns, and monuments throughout the world were christened in his honor.
Indi Bains|
This all-new translation of the Homer epic is six years in the making.
Marla Mackoul|
Though their contributions were immense, many aren’t well-known outside of their nations’ borders.
Damaly Gonzalez|
The late, great American writer Henry Charles Bukowski, Jr. was once called the “human embodiment of a raised middle finger”—an analogy that Bukowski would probably have welcomed, or possibly even written about himself. Here's what you should know.
Ali Parr|
The lives, hobbies, and eccentricities of some of the world’s greatest poets made them much more than titans of the turn of phrase.
Kristy Puchko|
Phillis Wheatley was the American colonies’ first Black poet and second woman to publish a book of poems. Here are more facts about her.
Karin Crompton|
Langston Hughes was a poet, novelist, playwright, and reporter who helped define the Harlem Renaissance. Find out more about his life and work.
Danielle Broadway|
One of the most celebrated authors in history never saw a book published under her own name.
Suzanne Raga|
Dr. Maya Angelou’s verses are at the very heart of the American experience—yet she didn’t start out as a poet.
Scott Beggs|

More From the Literature Section

Ernest Hemingway may have been inspired by Cuban fisherman and his own struggles and passion for fishing when he wrote 'The Old Man and the Sea.'
Eden Gordon|
Are you an Odysseus, a Telemachus, or a Circe? Find out which character in Homer's 'Odyssey' best fits your personality with this quiz.
Eden Gordon|
Ernest Hemingway is famous for his drinking, but he never said "write drunk, edit sober." Discover the true, surprising origin of this legendary literary myth.
Nitya Rao|
Ernest Hemingway's personal library held more than 9,000 books. Discover some of the famous authors whose works earned a place on his shelves.
Chris Wheatley|
Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his earliest works at Paris café Closerie des Lilas, which remains open nearly 100 years later.
Chris Wheatley|
Here's what was really on the menu during the era that the 'Odyssey' takes place, from heavily diluted wine to honey, figs, and cheese.
Eden Gordon|
These books stand with the ‘Odyssey’ as some of the best historical fiction ever written.
Chelsea Thatcher|
Ever wondered which 'Little House on the Prairie' character you're most like? Take our quiz to find out whether you're Laura, Mary, Charles, Caroline, and more.
Nitya Rao|
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