For the literary-obsessed, there are few places in the world where you can come into close proximity with literary legends, a veritable time capsule - where else can you sit at the café tables where Hemingway held forth, walk the tree-lined avenues that Victor Hugo strolled, or even sleep in the hotel where Oscar Wilde spent his final years? Few other cities come close.  Even just a few days in Paris with afford you the opportunity to explore some of our favorite literary spots in Paris. All the locations are in an interactive map as well, which you can see here!   Where to Shop: The Abbey Bookshop, 29 Rue de la Parcheminerie   If the crowds in Shakespeare & Co become...

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Short stories can be an overlooked area when it comes to literature, and opinions as to why can fall on both sides. Too short, and liable to build up to nothing. Less payoff than a full-length novel. A bit pretentious, even! But short stories can be little gems, gateways to writers and genres you normally might not read.  If you are not currently a big reader but would like to read more, you can sample some of the heavyweights of classic literature, like William Faulkner or Leo Tolstoy in a more accessible way. If you’re not sure what you want to read, they have a low level of commitment, enabling you to read around many different authors in a short...

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Want to impress your clever friends with your knowledge but have an embarrassing gap when it comes to French writers? Look no further than our beginner’s guide to France’s most esteemed thinks and authors - or at least the ones who are name-dropped the most often! You’ll come out armed with some key facts and interesting information tidbits to amaze and awe your listeners.   Albert Camus Albert Camus was born in 1913, in Algeria. He attended the University of Algiers, where he studied philosophy, where he became involved in leftist politics and joined the Algerian Communist Party. He later shifted towards more anarchist and libertarian socialist ideas. His first collection of essays, "L'Envers et l'Endroit" (The Wrong Side and...

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You don’t have to be a writer to keep a diary, but there is no doubt that most writers kept extensive diaries during their life times. Diary-keeping serves a number of functions, often unique to the individual. It is a way to record down the happenings of daily life, to express private feelings, to make a record of life as it unfolds.  It is clear that writing a diary can has huge benefits - a way to de-stress, to process big emotions, to bring meaning and understanding to the complexity of life. It can also be a great way to store away memories. Opening up and reading an old diary can be transportive - taking you back years or even...

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Finally, a holiday that celebrates friendship! Galentine’s Day is a day to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest, preferably over cocktails!  While a lot has been said about some of the best romances in classic literature, today we have compiled a list of some of the best friendships in literature. These relationships are evidence that love comes in many forms, and we should never take our dear friends for granted. These stories show that real friends endure through thick and thin and promise to be at our side no matter what. So read on for our top 7 best friendships in literature!   Anne of Green Gables - Anne and Diana Anne of Green Gables (1985)  With Anne’s...

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If you’re an avid book reader, you will no doubt have wondered where your favourite titles were written - did the authors have a “room of their own”, a shed in the garden away from the noise, or just a simple desk in the corner?  While you can’t step into your favourite novels, you can visit the preserved homes of some of world’s greatest writers. You can walk down the streets and lanes they frequented, step into their hallways and spend a moment in their private spaces, where they wrote the literary masterpieces we cherish today. While book fandom is bigger than ever, flocking to visit the homes of famous authors is nothing new. In fact, the Bronte sisters became...

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On a hill above central London, on either side of a leafy, quiet street lies Highgate Cemetery - the last resting place of some of Britain’s most acclaimed authors, poets and journalists, artists and wealthy Victorians. Divided into two sections which straddle each side of the road, Highgate is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world.  Wide, tidy thoroughfares veer off into smaller paths where unkempt graves have been swallowed up by untamed greenery. A handy map given to you at the entrance will help you navigate to specific locations, but it is also nice to wander and explore. While Highgate was an illustrious place to be buried, for Victorians it was also a popular hang-out places. Having...

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  Winnie the Pooh and his friends are some of the most beloved characters of children’s literature. Before the myriad of cartoons and animated movies, toys and theme park rides, there were children’s books with simple but moving line drawings that brought these adorable creatures to life.   These books are so influential that they completely overshadowed their creator, who has always be known by his initials and, to most people, not much else. In this article, we’ll dive in to the background of this mysterious and endeavour to separate fact from fiction. A Young Milne Alan Alexander Milne was born on the 18th January, 1882 in Kilburn, London. His father ran a local independent school, Henley House, which he...

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To the uninitiated, poetry can be dull and pretentious. It might remind you of mind-numbingly boring English classes rather than engaging reading. But poetry is a huge part of literature, and even if you’ve overlooked up to this point, it’s never too late to start reading.  If you’re stuck with where to start, read our short primer of 5 major female poets. While you might of heard or even previously read a couple of them, we hope looking at them from a fresh perspective will help you to enjoy their work. Ever more so than novels, poetry is often deeply personal to the author. So knowing a little bit of background can really bring depth and meaning to what your...

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With shorter evenings, colder temperatures and fewer fun things to do outside, our natural inclination can be to burrow deeper into our duvets on days off and watch unhealthy amounts of Netflix. Or you end up doing a handful of random chores and not really relaxing much at all. If this sounds like you, then we have the perfect formula to the book-worm’s “self-care” day! Our step-by-step guide will take right through from lazy morning to a relaxing evening.   Step 1 : Breakfast All the best days off should always start with a delicious and slow breakfast. Since the mornings are cold now in the Northern Hemisphere, we recommend something warm. If spending time in the kitchen is not...

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