Posts Tagged ‘classics’

DailyLit News: May 2010

Note from the CEO
My ten year old daughter told me this morning that she thinks life is passing by too quickly. I don’t think I had such mature thoughts at that age, but with the school year quickly winding down and summer fast approaching, I know what she means. In fact, this month marks DailyLit’s official 3rd birthday (in start-up years, I’d say that makes us 21). Although it has flown by all too quickly, we have lots to celebrate: we’ve been named the #1 Book Website by the Sunday Times, we’ve sent over 25 million book installments, and, most importantly, I hope we’ve been able to bring you great authors, stories, and inspiration you can continue to enjoy each day.

Cheers—to a very happy birthday, DailyLit!

Susan Danziger
Founder and CEO, DailyLit
sdanziger [at] dailylit [dot] com

Bestselling Heroes For My Son by Brad Meltzer
When his first son was born bestselling author Brad Meltzer set out to create a list of people whose courage and achievements would inspire his son: Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Jim Henson, Mohammed Ali (52 heroes in all). You can discover and share the lives of those who have changed our world in this bestselling collection of stories. Thanks to our sponsor, HarperStudio, you can read them all here.

Reader Challenge: Your Own Hero
Inspired by the bestselling book, Heroes For My Son, this month’s Reader Challenge encourages you to share your own hero. In 50 words or fewer, tell us why this person means so much to you. We’ll select our three favorites, each of whom will receive a signed copy of Heroes For My Son. Be sure to post your hero in our Reader Challenge Forum by Sunday, June 6th at 11:59pm EST to be considered.

Big Read: Robin Hood
With a reimagined version of “Robin Hood” hitting theaters this month—and judging from the previews this Robin Hood will not be wearing tights—we decided to revisit Sherwood Forest for our Big Read. Check out Chapter One—”How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw”—here.

Crazy Busy Beautiful by Carmindy
On the hit show “What Not To Wear” makeup artist Carmindy gives makeover subjects the finishing touches that, as anyone who’s seen the show can attest, make all the difference. Her new book, Crazy Busy Beautiful, shares the beauty tips that make her clients look so good—and we’ve got a taste, courtesy of our sponsor HarperStudio. Find it here.

Finally, to get us all in the mood for summer, here’s a poem by Emily Dickinson:

A something in a summer’s Day

A something in a summer’s Day
As slow her flambeaux burn away
Which solemnizes me.

A something in a summer’s noon—
A depth—an Azure—a perfume—
Transcending ecstasy.

And still within a summer’s night
A something so transporting bright
I clap my hands to see—

Then veil my too inspecting face
Lets such a subtle—shimmering grace
Flutter too far for me—

The wizard fingers never rest—
The purple brook within the breast
Still chafes it narrow bed—

Still rears the East her amber Flag—
Guides still the sun along the Crag
His Caravan of Red—

So looking on—the night—the morn
Conclude the wonder gay—
And I meet, coming thro’ the dews
Another summer’s Day!

James Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses

We may know James Fenimore Cooper as the esteemed author of classic works like Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans, but to the eyes of Mark Twain, Cooper is a hack.  In his essay “Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses” Twain writes “In one place in Deerslayer…Cooper has scored 114 offenses against literary art out of a possible 115. It breaks the record.” Oh, snap.

Twain goes on to detail the rules of fiction and literature that Cooper breaks, and the problem after problem (after problem) apparent in The Deerslayer. Here’s my favorite passage:

In his little box of stage-properties he kept six or eight cunning devices, tricks, artifices for his savages and woodsmen to deceive and circumvent each other with, and he was never so happy as when he was working these innocent things and seeing them go. A favorite one was to make a moccasined person tread in the tracks of a moccasined enemy, and thus hide his own trail. Cooper wore out barrels and barrels of moccasins in working that trick. Another stage-property that he pulled out of his box pretty frequently was the broken twig. He prized his broken twig above all the rest of his effects, and worked it the hardest. It is a restful chapter in any book of his when somebody doesn’t step on a dry twig and alarm all the reds and whites for two hundred yards around. Every time a Cooper person is in peril, and absolute silence is worth four dollars a minute, he is sure to step on a dry twig. There may be a hundred other handier things to step on, but that wouldn’t satisfy Cooper. Cooper requires him to turn out and find a dry twig; and if he can’t do it, go and borrow one. In fact, the Leatherstocking Series ought to have been called the Broken Twig Series.

Whether you agree with Twain’s critiques or not, this is the liveliest piece of literary criticism you’ve seen in a while, no?. You can read the whole essay here–and I’d recommend it. Twain’s tongue has never been sharper.

Question of the Week #70: Day Jobs

During this week in 1925 T.S. Eliot got a job at Faber and Faber publishers. Lots of authors had “day jobs.” What would you imagine your favorite author’s day job to be? (And feel free to share real author day jobs if you know them.)

Head to our Question of the Week forum to join the conversation.

Happy Birthday, Shakespeare

Although his actual birthdate is unknown, April 23–St. George’s Day–is the day we celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday. And what could be more appropriate than celebrating the birth of a national hero on England’s National Day? (St. George was the patron saint of England before the country became a Protestant stronghold, so making his day National Day presumably made everyone happy, I’m sure) You can read The Bard’s masterpieces on DailyLit. And I’ve been saving something special for a Shakespearean Celebration. Here’s Shakespeare like you’ve never seen him before–young and hot.

Looking good, Will.

Looking good, Will.

Carolyn Kellog of Jacket Copy was the first to bestow the “hot young” label on him, but she’s got a point, right? Especially given the images we’re used to:

Not so young and hot.

Not so young and hot.

Appearances aside, the portrait was confirmed (90% likelihood) to be Shakespeare last March, and it’s the only known portrait of Shakespeare painted during his lifetime. He was 46 when he sat for it, and if you think he looks exceptionally youthful for a 46 year old, The Guardian may have an explanation for you:

That the painting looks more like a 26-year-old than a 46-year-old — Shakespeare’s age when it was likely painted — may be down to the convention of the time when a painter should “polish out the wrinkles and increase the size of the pearls,” according to Mark Broch, curator of the Cobbe collection. It seems likely the Earl of Southampton commissioned the Cobbe portrait, emphasising once more his closeness to Shakespeare.

In spite of the 16th century Photoshop alterations, it’s still pretty neat to see this portrait. It’s a much more human-looking Shakespeare than we’re used to seeing; since he possessed such incredible genius and has become such a legend, being reminded that he was one man, with quill and parchment, makes you reflect on just how remarkable his achievement is.

Featured Book Friday: The Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw
Henry James
Published: 1898

The creepy kid motif has been popular in movies for decades–think Damien (aka the Antichrist) in The Omen and the child characters in The Shining, The Sixth Sense, and The Ring. The Turn of the Screw is the granddaddy of them all.

The book opens with a group of travelers gathered in an inn, telling stories to pass the time. One character begins to read from a manuscript of a governess he claims to have known, but who is now dead. It is her story that makes up the rest of this short novella.

The governess takes charge of two young orphaned children whose uncle remains in London and, strangely, demands that the governess never contact him regarding the children. Flora is already at the country house and Miles, her brother, joins them after being expelled from his boarding school under mysterious circumstances. As the days go by the governess begins to see strange things–or apparitions?–at the country house, and the children seem to be wrapped up with these occurrences in unsettling ways. From that point to the end of the novella the governess’s world–or is it her mind?–unravel, leading to a final scene you won’t soon forget.

The first time I read this novella I did so in one sitting. It is deliciously eerie–the country house atmosphere is ominous, the children enigmatic, and the story from a dead woman’s hand. Read it here.

(If you’d like to recommend for a Featured Book Friday, email us at support[at]dailylit[dot]com.)

Question of the Week #69: Books on Tumblr

We recently launched DailyLit books on Tumblr, a cool blogging platform. You can read (and share) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Art of War, or Emily Dickinson’s Poems on Tumblr.

Our question for you is this: what should we call these books on Tumblr? Normal Tumblr blogs are called Tumblogs. So, should we go with Tumblooks? Tumblebooks? Tumbooks? Or something different?

Share your suggestions in our Question of the Week forum.

Featured Book Friday: Siddhartha

This week’s Featured Book comes from DailyLit’s current intern, Susan Simonds:

Growing up in a non-religious family left me searching for something greater than myself through unconventional means. My father had spent time in India volunteering in the Peace Corps, and would often speak very highly of Buddhism. Once I expressed interest in learning about it, he responded with this book:

Title: Siddhartha
Author: Herman Hesse
Publication date: 1922

After reading this novel, I felt transformed by the amount of wisdom and depth it held within such a short amount of pages. One of my favorite quotes from the books is about the nonexistence of time:

“The river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth…in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere, and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future… Nothing was, nothing will be, everything has reality and presence.” Ch. 9, pg. 87

The book travels with Siddhartha on a journey of enlightenment, defined as the release from the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth, life, death, etc. Siddhartha grows up restless despite the love of his family, and seeks contentment elsewhere. He attempts to rid himself of desires and even meets the enlightened Buddha – but still decides his task must be completed alone. Taking a new path, he indulges in the world of the senses, experiencing lust, greed, and envy. Once he travels away from that he reaches his final stage of self-discovery.

Two things in particular resonated with me from this novel. First was Siddhartha’s drive to achieve enlightenment. What impressed me was his ability to change his tactics when one way wasn’t working, to adapt to new struggles and learn from them.

The second thing was how much this voyage is similar to the journey of every person I’ve ever known, myself included. Siddhartha is looking for a way to be content in his world, a way to find himself and inner peace. He gets caught up in materialism and desire, but the goal of achieving real happiness keeps him and the novel moving forward.

(If you’d like to recommend for a Featured Book Friday, email us at support[at]dailylit[dot]com.)

DailyLit and The Met Team Up to offer “Hamlet” Tickets to DailyLit Readers

We’re thrilled to announce a special offer for DailyLit readers: we’ve teamed up with the Metropolitan Opera here in New York, which is currently performing Hamlet. They’ve set aside 3 pairs of tickets for DailyLit readers for the performance on Friday, April 9.

To earn a chance to win, share your memories or favorite parts of Hamlet here: it could be from a version of the play you saw (in person or on film); a performance you participated in; a favorite passage or character–anything goes, really! You can refresh your memory about Shakespeare’s masterpiece by checking out Hamlet on DailyLit.

Please make sure to post your memories by 11:59pm on Monday, April 5. We’ll randomly select 3 winners first thing in the morning on Tuesday, April 6, whose tickets will be held at the Met’s box office for the performance on April 9.

If you’re not in the New York area please feel free to share this giveaway with your NYC friends and family. Or enter yourself and, if you win, you can give your tickets to friends you have here.

Check out the synopsis of the opera version below. Fun fact: when the opera debuted in 1868 the ending had been changed so that Hamlet didn’t die at the end. As you can imagine, that concept was not well received and the ending was revised a few years later.

Synopsis: HAMLET

Composer: Ambroise Thomas

Libretto by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier, based on the play by William Shakespeare

World premiere: Paris, Opéra, March 9, 1868

Act I
Elsinore Castle, Denmark. Two months after the death of King Hamlet, fanfares announce the marriage of his brother and successor Claudius to the widowed queen, Gertrude. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and son of the former king, remains apart from the celebration. He is consumed by remorse and self-doubt and vehemently disapproves of his mother’s new marriage so soon after his father’s death. His thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Ophélie, the daughter of the Lord Chamberlain, Polonius. She is in love with Hamlet and upset by rumors that he intends to leave the court. He assures her that he still loves her (Duet: “Doute de la lumière”). Laërte, Ophélie’s brother, arrives. He is being sent on a mission to Norway and entrusts his sister to Hamlet’s care. The prince refuses to join the others for the wedding banquet. His friend Horatio appears to tell Hamlet that his father’s ghost has been seen.

At night, alone on the ramparts of the castle, Hamlet meets the ghost. He tells his son that he was poisoned by Claudius and demands vengeance for his murder. Hamlet swears to obey.

Act II
Ophélie is distressed by Hamlet’s indifference (“Sa main depuis hier”). She would like to leave the court, but Gertrude thinks she can help cure the prince’s melancholy. Claudius, who also has noticed Hamlet’s disturbing behavior, arrives. Gertrude wonders if her son suspects the real cause of the former king’s death but Claudius assures her that he is merely losing his mind. The prince enters, rebuffs Claudius for addressing him as his son, and announces that he has arranged for a play to be performed that evening. When the players arrive Hamlet instructs them to perform “The Murder of Gonzago.” He hopes that the story of a murder by poisoning will prompt a confession from the king and queen. In order not to arouse suspicion, he plays the fool and invites the actors to drink (“Ô vin, dissipe la tristesse”).

The court assembles to watch the play. It has the desired effect: Claudius erupts in anger as the murderer of the story gains the crown. Hamlet hides his true feelings by feigning madness, snatching the crown from the king’s head, to the horror of everyone present.

Act III
Hamlet reflects on life and death: he could have killed the king but did not (“Être ou ne pas être”). He hides as the king enters. Claudius is racked with remorse and calls on his dead brother to intercede for him with God (“Je t’implore, ô mon frère”). Polonius appears, calming the king, and the two leave. Hamlet is shocked to discover that Polonius was an accomplice in the murder. When Ophélie enters with Gertrude, he roughly rejects the girl’s advances and urges her to enter a convent, declaring that he no longer loves her and will not marry her. Gertrude wonders what really prompted Hamlet’s change of heart. Ophélie leaves in tears, and Hamlet confronts his mother with her crime. She begs for mercy (Duet: “Pardonne, hélas! ta voix m’accable”). At that moment the ghost reappears and reminds Hamlet that it is not up to him to judge his mother. Gertrude, who cannot see the apparition, believes that her fears Hamlet has gone mad are confirmed.

Act IV
Ophélie has lost her senses. She imagines herself to be married to Hamlet and recalls the tale of a water nymph who lures away wandering men (“Pâle et blonde dort sous l’eau profonde”). She kills herself.

Act V
In a cemetery, two gravediggers discuss the inevitably of death. Hamlet arrives. Unaware of Ophélie’s death, he reproaches himself for the way he treated her and the madness his behavior has provoked (“Comme une pâle fleur”). Laërte appears, demanding vengeance, and the two men are about to duel when the funeral cortège with Ophélie’s body approaches. Hamlet, distraught to discover she is dead, kneels by her bier. He then rushes at Claudius with his sword and kills him, before being stabbed by Laertes.

DailyLit Announces New Distribution Platform

We’re bringing DailyLit books to Tumblr. In case you aren’t familiar with it, Tumblr is an innovative blogging platform that allows you to follow friends’ blogs and easily share posts. Tumblr joins DailyLit’s other distribution platforms: email, RSS, and Viigo.

We’re kicking things off tomorrow–Tuesday, March 30–with our first three, what should we call them? Tumblebooks? Tumblogbooks? Tumblooks? Anyway, you can find them here:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Emily Dickinson’s Poems

The Art of War

We hope you’ll join us in this new way to read together!

Have a Happy and Literary St. Patrick’s Day

Today’s the day we’re all a little bit Irish. So before you grab your Guinness, why not check out some of the Emerald Isle’s best literary works: James Joyce’s Ulysses, or maybe Dubliners, which is a little more accessible (helpful after the first Guinness of the day). There’s also Oscar Wilde, best known for The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Jonathan Swift, whose Modest Proposal is perhaps the best-known work of satire in literature. He also wrote Gulliver’s Travels, of course, in case you want to read something that has miniature people in it in honor of Leprechauns. And an Irishman in America, F. Scott Fitzgerald, would also be a good choice (try The Beautiful and the Damned or one of his short stories from Tales from the Jazz Age).

Sláinte! (Cheers!)

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