American Writers
Five Things to Know About Harper Lee
The spunky and eloquent author is dead—but her legacy lives on
Nellie Bly's Record-Breaking Trip Around the World Was, to Her Surprise, A Race
In 1889, the intrepid journalist under took her voyage, mainly by steamship and train, unknowingly competing against a reporter from a rival publication
Why Does Moby-Dick (Sometimes) Have a Hyphen?
The hunt for the true story behind Melville's hyphen is as mysterious as the famous white whale
The Science of "Little House on the Prairie"
A mutual passion for Laura Ingalls Wilder inspired scientists in unrelated disciplines to investigate events from the famous author's world
Take a Historic Ride Along California's Famous Route 1
Here are seven of the most interesting historic stops along California's scenic highway
Why Milo's Sunrises Are a Symphony of Color in The Phantom Tollbooth
Author Norton Juster says one boon to his magical writing is that he was born with synesthesia and hears colors
Before Moby-Dick, There Was "Two Years Before the Mast"
This salty memoir by Richard Henry Dana Jr. was one of America's first literary classics
Harper Lee is Releasing A Sequel to “To Kill A Mockingbird” in July
The novel was written before her prize-winning book and tells the story of Scout as an adult, returned to her hometown from New York
Top Historic Sites to Visit in Cuba
Cuba is rich in history-laden spots—and a relaxed travel ban will make it easier for Americans to visit
A Lost John Steinbeck Short Story Was Rediscovered, Published
The short story deals with the racial politics of the mid-20th century
A Close, Intimate Look at Walt Whitman
A haunting image captures America’s quintessential poet, writes author Mark Strand
Will the Real Great Gatsby Please Stand Up?
F. Scott Fitzgerald couldn’t resist putting his own life into his novels, but where’s the line between truth and fiction?
The Adventures of the Real Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain prowled the rough-and-tumble streets of 1860s San Francisco with a hard-drinking, larger-than-life fireman
Appreciation: Science Fiction Giant Ray Bradbury
Planetary geologist Jim Zimbelman reflects on Ray Bradbury's legacy
Q and A: Judy Blume
The children's book author speaks about her career and what it means to write a "banned book"
When Gertrude Stein Toured America
A 1934 barnstorming visit to her native country transformed Stein from a noteworthy but rarely glimpsed author into a national celebrity
How E.B. White Wove Charlotte’s Web
A new book explores how the author of the beloved children’s book was inspired by his love for nature and animals
Odd McIntyre: The Man Who Taught America About New York
For millions of people, their only knowledge about New York City was O.O. McIntyre’s daily column about life in the Big Apple
The Trouble With Autobiography
Novelist and travel writer Paul Theroux examines other authors' autobiographies to prove why this piece will suffice for his
A Murder in Salem
In 1830, a brutal crime in Massachusetts riveted the nation—and inspired the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne
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