From the accident that led to its creation to the real people who inspired key characters.

AUTHORS
Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of literary history.
If it wasn’t for John Kennedy Toole’s mom, his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel would likely have been lost to time.
The author’s tomb was erected in 1912—and its anatomical correctness was a problem.
The fix-up novel, which turns 75 this year, would become one of Bradbury’s most famous books—and inspire future scientists.
From David Lynch to Queen Elizabeth I, these folks achieved a type of lexical immortality when their names became adjectives.
‘The Gashlycrumb Tinies’ author was born 100 years ago on February 22—here’s what you need to know about him, from what classic book he found boring to how much he really helped with PBS’s show ‘Mystery!’
The star-crossed lovers captured in these Gothic romance books will give you a new reason to hate Valentine’s Day.
He wrote the book partially in response to European writers like Joseph Conrad, who Achebe said depicted Africa “as ‘the other world,’ the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization.”
George Orwell brought a vocabulary fit for a dystopia into the world. Corporate jargon sounds eerily similar.
These gifts made a huge impact.
Here’s how Jesmyn Ward’s award-winning novel about Hurricane Katrina came to be.
According to a medieval saga, the Norwegian “Well Man” might have been used as a biological weapon.
In 1985, Chief Wiley went for a swim and was never seen or heard from again. What he left behind shocked his community.
Series like R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps introduced '90s kids to horror at a young age.
You’ll never guess what frightens these masters of horror.