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A Rediscovered John Steinbeck Story About a Chef and His Cat Has Been Published in English for the First Time
The ‘Ratatouille’-esque story is about a French chef who seeks a Michelin star with the help of his taste-testing cat Apollo.
LITERATURE
8 Surprising Facts About Jane Austen
More than 200 years after her death, English novelist Jane Austen continues to be celebrated for her sharp, biting prose on love's various entanglements.
See What Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy Really Looks Like
Anyone who has ever read Jane Austen’s 'Pride and Prejudice' has surely conjured up their own idea of what Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy would look like in real life. But a couple of academics and one illustrator are here to dash your dreams.
10 Surprising Facts About Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was a titan of 20th-century literature. (He was also allegedly a KGB spy, but he wasn't very good at it.)
8 Gonzo Facts About Hunter S. Thompson
Like any real-life legend, there are many myths surrounding the life and work of Hunter S. Thompson. But in Thompson’s case, most of those stories—particularly the more outlandish ones—are absolutely true.
House Boasting a ‘Harry Potter Room’ Under the Stairs Hits the Market in San Diego
If you want to live like Harry Potter did at the most miserable stage of his life, there's a house with its own cupboard under the stairs for sale in San Diego.
10 Surprising Facts About E.B. White
You’ve probably read (and re-read) 'Charlotte’s Web' and 'Stuart Little,' but E.B. White wrote books, essays, and poems for both children and adults.
Announcing: The Mental Floss Book Club
This summer, Mental Floss is inviting readers around the globe to join together online to discuss some of history’s greatest books—with a little something for the kids, too.
Ashley Wilkes’s Mansion From Gone With the Wind Is For Sale
Bidding starts at $1 million for the newly renovated mansion, used for Ashley Wilkes’s family home in 'Gone With the Wind.'
8 Facts About Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
From J.K. Rowling’s writing process to how it changed The New York Times Best Sellers list, here are some facts you should know about the third installment in the Harry Potter book series.
10 of the Best-Selling Books in History (Minus Religious Texts)
From Mao to Harry Potter to Betty Crocker, these are 10 candidates for some of the best-selling books in history.
13 Surprising Facts About George Orwell
George Orwell is best known for penning the dystopian novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'—regarded as one of the greatest classics of all time—but writing novels was only one small facet of his life and career.
Joy Harjo Named First Native American Poet Laureate
Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, made history when she received the prestigious title of U.S. poet laureate.
10 Amazing Facts About Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe came from a family of abolitionists, and her novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' turned public opinion against slavery.
Letters by Otto Frank, Anne Frank's Father, Are Being Digitized for the First Time
In the 1970s, Otto Frank took up correspondence with a pen pal from California. His letters reveal his thoughts on his daughter Anne's legacy and his determination to keep her memory alive.
Go Around the World in 80 Days in a Jules Verne-Inspired Trip With Airbnb
The new adventure from Airbnb will take travelers to 18 countries across six continents in just 12 weeks.
15 Facts About The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle's bright, beloved children's classic about an insatiable caterpillar has been collecting awards—and fans—since it was first published in 1969.
15 Facts About Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams's portrayal of John Keating was one of his iconic roles, and this drama about boys at a prep school in 1959 still endures.
Harry Potter Named the Most Inspirational Children’s Book Character
Harry Potter beat out Hermione Granger, Mary Poppins, and Matilda for the title of most inspirational character in children's literature.
The Home That Inspired Peter Pan Is Reopening as Scotland's National Centre for Children's Literature and Storytelling
The gardens at Moat Brae House in Scotland inspired J.M. Barrie to create Peter Pan's Neverland. Now, the property is a children's center and free library.
Fact-Checking 13 Plot Points in All Is True, Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare Biopic
Despite what the title might imply, Kenneth Branagh took some creative liberties with 'All Is True,' the William Shakespeare biopic he directed and stars in.
Library of Congress Has Digitized 100 Rare and Classic Children’s Books
Early versions of 'Humpty Dumpty,' 'Red Riding Hood,' 'The Secret Garden,' and 'The Story of the Three Little Pigs' are just a few of the titles that can now be read online for free.
Fire Destroys Parts of Ashdown Forest, the Woods That Inspired Winnie the Pooh
Ashdown Forest in Sussex, UK, the real-life place A.A. Milne used as inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood in 'Winnie the Pooh,' caught fire on April 28.
Airbnb Shares Its Best Literary Getaways to Celebrate World Book Day
On April 23, World Book Day, travelers can find special deals on Airbnb homes reminiscent of 'Pride and Prejudice,' 'The Great Gatsby,' and more books.