A trip to Verona, Italy, is an unforgettable experience in and of itself. What could make it better, though, than an overnight stay in Casa di Giulietta or Juliet’s House (yes, that’s Juliet of the timeless Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet”)?
Tag: Literature
Him & Her: A Fresh Take on the Classic Love Story
Late last year, director Daria Geller premiered the new film “Him & Her,” a modern retelling of the short story “He & She.” “He & She,” the source material for “Him & Her,” is a short story written by Anton Chekhov in the 19th century. It consists of a series of love letters shared between a man and woman.
Sylvia Beach Hotel: Serene Getaway for Book Lovers
Nestled along the central Oregon coast, on Nye Beach in the town of Newport, rests a 21-room inn for world-weary travelers and journeymen looking to relax and read. And could there be a greater milieu for curling up with a book than with the Pacific Ocean at your doorstep? While this tranquil setting may sound like an ideal escape from the noisy world—a silent respite, if you will—it is, in fact, almost always accentuated with lively conversation. This is the Sylvia Beach Hotel.
Take a Virtual Tour of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Have you ever wondered about Orchard House, the property that inspired “Little Women” author Louisa May Alcott? Why not take a virtual trip to Concord, Massachusetts, and visit it for yourself?
Alice Liddell: The Little Girl Who Helped Launch a Literary Icon
When searching the centuries for suitable examples, Alice Liddell is perhaps not the most likely of literary muses. Few children are. But it was her natural charm and, most significantly, her wondrous sense of curiosity that endeared her to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll. In fact, little Alice proved to be such an inspiration to the budding English writer and mathematician, that had the two not been introduced during the mid-1800s, the world of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” might never have come to be.
Greece Is the Word—Discover the Magic of Santorini’s Atlantis Books
Greece has served a pivotal role in the areas of history, philosophy, democracy, and especially language. For a time, it was the center of the world—a cultural mecca with an influence that lives on to this day. In addition to its storied place in time, Greece—particularly the island of Santorini—boasts an aesthetic backdrop unrivaled by any place on Earth. It is remarkably difficult to resist its beguiling beauty. Just ask the owners of Atlantis Books.
Hay-On-Wye: The Welsh Town That Puts Literature Back on the Map
The fact that we live in a fast-paced and technologically advanced society becomes more apparent with each passing year. However, there are still some areas of the globe where the allure of creative thinking and the celebration of art—particularly, literature—is still a priority. Bibliophiles: take note!
Hidden Heroine: Exploring the Story of Anne Frank
One of the most compelling figures to emerge from World War II wasn’t a military hero or a world leader. It was a young Jewish girl with a front-row seat to the Holocaust, who kept a diary of her most candid thoughts and observations. Her story serves as a reminder of the horrors of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination, even today.
Spinalonga Island, Greece: Europe’s Last-Known Leper Colony
Off the island of Crete in Greece, the crumbling remains of Spinalonga Island hold the secrets of a castaway colony from long ago. Spinalonga was initially constructed as a fortress to protect the Port of Olous in the early 1700s. With its steep walls and impenetrable defenses, it remained under Venetian control long after the Ottomans conquered the rest of Crete.
The True Story “Beauty and the Beast” is Based On
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, the creator of the 1740 French fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast,” actually drew her inspiration from real historical events. In the 1500s, a man named Petrus Gonsalvus was born in Tenerife, Spain, with a rare genetic condition called “hypertrichosis,” or “werewolf syndrome.”