Mental Floss’s ‘The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words’ Features Fun Slang, Strange Phrase Origins, and More
Sure, all books are filled with words—but not quite like this.
Sure, all books are filled with words—but not quite like this.
The world of cryptology is full of stumpers. Here are the stories behind eight especially infamous ones.
Leo Tolstoy's epic novel is the literary equivalent of a marathon and features a battle scene that goes on for more than 20 chapters.
Some passages from Agatha Christie's library are being eliminated in an effort to address concerns over alleged xenophobia and racist descriptions.
Here are some of the most unforgettable books to earn the Women’s Prize for Fiction from celebrated authors like Zadie Smith, Téa Obreht, and others.
Heller's irreverent outlook on life was shaped by his experiences as a bombardier pilot in World War II—and lots of dinners with Mel Brooks.
The authors on the list are just a few whose novels have nabbed the prestigious prize since it began being awarded in 1918.
Today, Katherine Mansfield is considered one of the most influential modernist writers of the 20th century—but she considered a career as a professional cellist.
From Austen to Dickens and beyond, famous authors have had no problem with using the word 'literally' in a figurative sense.
The celebrated author decided she wanted to adopt a new writing identity for a mystery novel. It didn't turn out well.
You can now recreate the best food at Dollywood restaurants—cinnamon bread included—in your own kitchen.
Unusual deaths aren’t just found on the page. A number of authors have themselves died in bizarre ways—and sometimes, they seem even stranger than fiction.
Burlington, Vermont’s Higher Ground has a long history of producing iconic concert posters in collaboration with local arts organizations.
The film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's ‘Gone With the Wind’ movie has long been condemned for romanticizing slavery. Some screenwriters had tried to paint a more honest picture.
The '80s video game 'Legend of Zelda' was definitely named after "America's first flapper." Learn more incredible facts about Zelda Fitzgerald here.
Learn about the page-turning (fictional) oral history that inspired the ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ TV show.
In 1865, author Charles Dickens survived a train crash—and he was never the same.
Writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston’s literary legacy is a class apart. Here are some facts you might not have known about the author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
From J. K. Rowling to Stephen King, these are the richest authors the literary world has ever produced.
Slogging through dense passages can be time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and hard on your eyes. Speed up the process—without sacrificing comprehension—with these tricks.
One of the most celebrated authors in history never saw a book published under her own name.
The average person in the U.S. reads about 12 books per year—but that number won't help you if you read at a different pace than the average American.
Bill Watterson left the comics pages in 1995. A new fantasy fable marks his return to storytelling after a 28-year sabbatical.
The first collection of Holmes stories was unwelcome in the Soviet Union, which banned it for 'occultism.'