Tag: Book Fact
-
Book Fact: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear
Many people believe that Charles Dickens was paid by the word, which is why many of his books are so lengthy. The statement is a myth; Charles Dickens was not paid by the word, but rather by installment as his novels were serialized His writing was often lengthy because serial publication required him to provide enough…
-
Book Fact: Definitions Take Time
Noah Webster’s famous work, the two-volume An American Dictionary of the English Language, was a huge undertaking. He began work on this comprehensive dictionary in 1807 (the year after the first one was published) and worked on it for approximately 20 to 22 years, publishing it in 1828 at the age of 70. Aome Some say it…
-
Book Fact: Her Wrist Was so Tired
Tolstoy’s handwriting was notoriously difficult to read, making his manuscript a tangled mess of drafts. Sofia Tolstaya undertook the laborious task of rewriting the manuscript by hand, turning his chaotic scribbles into a readable text.. She completed the full, seven-time-hand-copied manuscript before Tolstoy considered it ready for publication. This demanding work often took place late…
-
Book Fact: Length Doesn’t Matter
Les Misérables contains a sentence that is widely cited as being 823 words long in English translation. This exceptionally long sentence appears in Volume 2, Book 1, Chapter 3, within a detailed description of the Battle of Waterloo. It is known for its sprawling, detailed prose, characteristic of Hugo’s writing style, and has been cited in past editions…
-
Book Fact: Americans are not on Top
Book fact #12 Iceland tops the world in per capita book publishing. The claim that Iceland tops the world in per capita book reading is true, supported by its high rates of book publication and consumption, a strong literary tradition rooted in sagas and poetry, and a culture where reading is a celebrated pastime. A…
-
Book Fact : Gross I‘d Still Read That
Book Fact #11 Harvard University Library has four books bound in human skin. I would wear gloves and try not to think about it.
-
Book Fact: Books Can Shorten your Stay
In Brazil, reading books can reduce a prisoner’s sentence. Under the program “Remission for Reading,” a prisoner can reduce their sentence by four days for each book they read and write a report on, up to a maximum of 12 books per year. This allows inmates to potentially reduce their sentence by up to 48…
-
Book Fact: Librarians have Dirty Little Secrets
I have a confession. I don’t like Harry Potter. I’m an anomaly. Most librarians I know love Harry Potter. Most of my children love Harry Potter. No offense Ms. Rowling. Book Fact # 4 J.K. Rowling is the first billionaire author, thanks to the success of the Harry Potter series. Love & Light, Lori
Brendan & Lori O'Gara 