Tagged Literature
Explore Creative Careers with Field Teen Center!
Throughout the month of July, Field Teen Center recorded interviews with a voice actor, four game designers, and a comic book writer. If you’re interested in creative jobs or if you just want to learn more about how your favorite…
Bloomsday is back!
The Rosenbach's annual Bloomsday festival is BACK on Delancey Place after a two-year hiatus. Join the celebration on Thursday, June 16 anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. What is Bloomsday? Bloomsday is the day…
Dracula at 125
Written by Edward P. On May 26, 1897, visitors to bookshops in London found a new book, for just six shillings, published by Constable and Co., bound in a lurid yellow cloth cover with blood red letters announcing its strange…
Rosemary for Shakespeare
Written by Isabel S. April 23 marks the day that we traditionally celebrate William Shakespeare’s birth and deathday, though neither of those occasions are confirmed to have actually been on the 23rd. Shakespeare was baptized on…
The lyrical speaker: Finding your own voice through poetry!
“La poesía es un espacio de libertad/ Poetry is a space of freedom”. Carlos José Pérez Sámano, Mexican poet and writer Poetry explores the language and its limitations. It’s a way to get…
Newspapers: A Guide Into the Past
Many of us may get our news from online sources these days—social media feeds provide a constant source of information about everything from policy proposals, the weather, celebrity news, and more, as the events unfold in…
A Continued Discussion on the Topics of Surrealism and Gender
Written by Lewis Shaw, who conducted extensive research in the Art Department as part of a Friends Select School Senior Internship Project. The following is a continuation of a previous blog post on the topics of Surrealism and Gender.…
Celebrating Jacqueline Woodson
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Jacqueline Woodson grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York, graduating from college with a B.A. in English. She is the author of dozens of award-winning books for young adults, middle…
Surrealism and Gender
Written by Lewis Shaw, who conducted extensive research in the Art Department as part of a Friends Select School Senior Internship Project. During the extended fever dream which we all refer to as COVID quarantine, I picked up a love of…
Create Something New During National Sewing Month
September is National Sewing Month and a great opportunity to create something new this year for everyone on your D.I.Y gift-giving list. Both the Art and Literature and Science and Wellness departments at Parkway Central Library have…
¡Celebremos la Fiesta del Libro en Español!
The love for the Spanish language and culture can transcend frontiers! The stories, poems and illustrations of the books can reflect personal narratives that touch our collective unconsciousness. A team of talented community…
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Uncovering the Real James Bond in the Rare Book Department
From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, the intrepid agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service—James Bond, designated Agent 007—has epitomized masculine cool. Everyone knows how he likes his vodka martinis. Everyone knows…
Celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day with Music, Film, and Literature!
Jashn-e-Azadi Mubarak! Happy Independence Day! This past Saturday, August 14, was Pakistan’s Independence Day. Formed in 1947, Pakistan celebrated 74 years of its independence and freedom from British colonialism and the formation…
Summer Reading with Dena!
Yes, it’s that time of the year again, to head to the beach (or a heavily air conditioned reading nook) and dive into some fun reading! Here are some new and newish books that are perfect for giving yourself a mental vacation:…
Central Senior Services Joins Moore College of Art to Fight Social Isolation During Pandemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has studied the impact of loneliness and social isolation on American seniors and the results are deeply disturbing. Extensive studies of the subject reveal that social isolation of…
10 Great Reads from the Holmesburg Library Book Club
Since 2019, the Holmesburg Library's Book Club has met biweekly to discuss great modern literature, nineteenth-century classics, and historical nonfiction, to name just a few genres. Not even the pandemic could stop the book club…
Creative Writing: Discovering Your Inner Voice
I always wanted to explore creative writing! It’s fascinating to understand what tools and mechanisms writers use to craft a story or a poem. Creating with words is an amazing and fun experience! The pandemic gave me the…
Making Her Mark Spotlight: Poetry and Movement Building
by Suzanna Urminska and Sam Perduta Our words carry power—whether as balm or as burnish, our words have the power to come together to form poetry that recalls and reconnects a range of human experiences both personal and…
Newest Episode of "Book Feast" Invites Women to the Table
Coinciding with Women’s History Month, the newest episode of Book Feast uses the luncheon in Virginia Woolf ’s proto-feminist essay A Room of One’s Own (1929) to discuss women’s legacy in literature. The…
Let Culinary Explorations of Literature Nourish You with Book Feast!
Have you ever thought about why we use the same vocabulary to describe consuming food and consuming knowledge? How we’re hungry for the truth, devour a good book, and digest information? Intellectual nourishment has been so…
Philly Typewriter: The Age of Restoration & Preservation
Join the Literature Department and Bryan Kravitz of Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz discussed PhillyTypewriter and how their helping lead the world in the resurgence of the mechanical typewriter.…
The Typewriter Revolution of Today
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will share why the Typewriter is experiencing it’s Renaissance, and the figures who are leading the charge. The program will…
IBM & The Rise of the Selectric
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will discuss how IBM and their “Mechanical Computer” became the secretarial standard. The program will take place…
The Personal life of the Typewriter
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will share how the Typewriter found its home in the lives of artists, musicians and in our homes. The program will take…
Innovations & Standardization of the Typewriter
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will discuss the QWERTY keyboard to Magic Margins, a look at the evolution of the Typewriter & its functional staying power.…
The Typewriter in the Workplace
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will share applications of the typewriter and how the machine changed industries for women, the railroad and more. The program…
Typewriter Cause & Effect
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will discuss the national and global reaction to the typewriter through resistance and praise. The program will take place onsite…
The Modern Emily Dickinson: The Anti-Belle of Amherst | Behind the Bookcase tour (in-person)
The Belle of Amherst. The recluse who lived a life of quiet passion. For a century the Emily Dickinson of public imagination was confined to the decorous hall of The Nineteenth Century Poetess–eccentric, but never…
In Conversation with Stephanie Feldman, author of Saturnalia (In-Person)
Stephanie Feldman’s novel Saturnalia takes place during a citywide winter solstice celebration in Philadelphia on the brink of climate collapse. The novel draws inspiration from lore and customs of the winter solstice,…
The Artistry and Industry of Bookmaking | Behind the Bookcase tour (in-person)
Do you prefer to judge a book by its cover, or does the inside matter more? In this tour of book arts, we’ll take a look at various rare books in The Rosenbach collection, their aesthetics, their functions, how the…
The Writing Instrument: Typewriter Origins
Join the Literature Department and Philly Typewriter for this 8-part typewriter series. Bryan Kravitz will discuss the multiple times the typewriter tried to find its design and the four men who finally achieved it. Register for…
Richard III (Part 1) | Shakespeare Read Aloud (virtual)
The Shakespeare Read-Aloud also meets online! We meet once per month on Zoom to read Shakespeare’s plays as a group, round-robin style, just as we do when we meet in person at the Rosenbach. Be sure to register to receive email…
Ralph Macchio | Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me
TICKETS In conversation with Jason Freeman, author events producer and editor Ralph Macchio is best known for his portrayal of Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 film The Karate Kid . This iconic piece of pop culture has spawned a slew of…
Civil War: Voices from America’s Darkest Conflict | Behind the Bookcase tour (in-person)
From the writings of Abraham Lincoln to the wartime letters of Col. Alexander Biddle of the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to a Confederate children’s textbook, this tour provides a glimpse into the lives and thoughts…
Rabia Chaudry | Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family
TICKETS Attorney, advocate, and podcaster Rabia Chaudry is the author of the New York Times bestseller Adnan's Story , a true-crime analysis into the 2000 conviction of a young Baltimorean for the murder of his ex-girlfriend.…
In Conversation with Lucasta Miller, author of Keats: A Brief Life in Nine Poems and One Epitaph (online)
The epitaph John Keats composed for his own gravestone – ‘Here lies one whose name was writ in water’ – seemingly damned him to oblivion. When he died at the age of twenty-five, having taken a battering from the…
Drafting a Masterpiece: Celebrated Writers from the Collection | Behind the Bookcase Tour (in-person)
The Rosenbach’s collection holds some of the most beautiful and powerful lines ever written. We’ll look at and touch manuscripts and typescripts by Geoffry Chaucer, Walt Whitman, William Faulkner, and Toni Morrison.…
VIRTUAL - John Banville | The Singularities
TICKETS “The heir to Nabokov” ( The Sunday Telegraph ), Irish novelist John Banville won the Man Booker Prize for The Sea , a story of loss and the fickle nature of memory. His many other novels…
Lunchtime Talk with Beth Hessel, Director of the Athenaeum
Since its founding in 1814, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia has always – intentionally – been a community built on dialogue and innovation shaped by books and learning. Executive Director Dr. Beth Hessel shares stories…
The Vampire’s Mystery: Notes on a Monster
Unravel Dracula’s riddle using author Bram Stoker’s own notes and outlines during this immersive, theatrical, experience through the historic Rosenbach mansion. Stay tuned for more information! The Vampire’s…
Poetry in Translation
Take pleasure in reading poets from other languages and cultures.
Poetry - Novels in Verse
Poetry with special appeal for tweens and teens.
Poetry - Great Contemporary Poetry
Selections from the Literature Department.
NewsBank Hot Topics
Trending news and hot topics for your next assignment! Hot topics covers Current Events, Business & Economics, Civics, Government, & Politics, Social Issues, Science, Technology & Health, Sports, Arts & Literature, and People in the News.
LitFinder *
Discover literature content from more than 150,000 full-text poems, 840,000 poem citations and excerpts, 7,100 full-text short stories and novels, 3,800 full-text essays published in the 16th-20th centuries, 2,400 full-text speeches, and…
Literature Criticism Online
This extensive compilation of literary commentary represents a range of modern and historical views on authors and their works across regions, eras, and genres. Covers Children’s, Classical, Contemporary, Drama, Poetry, Shakespearean,…
Gale OneFile | High School Edition (formerly InfoTrac Student Edition) *
High school students will have access to age-appropriate content from magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, and engaging multi-media covering a wide range of subjects, from science, history, and literature to political…
Gale Literary Sources (formerly Artemis)
Cross-search all of Gale’s literature databases from a single digital space to find biographies, primary sources, contextual reference, and criticism. Includes Dictionary of Literary Biography, Something About the Author, LitFinder,…
Gale in Context | Middle School (formerly Research in Context) *
Discover reliable and trusted information on a variety of topics to support middle school student research for government, U.S and world history, geography, literature, sciences, and social issues. Research In Context offers…
Gale in Context | Elementary (formerly Kids InfoBits) *
Elementary students in kindergarten through grade five will find age-appropriate content covering a broad range of educational topics such as animals, arts, geography, health, literature, people, social studies, technology, etc. Kids…
Books & Authors *
Discover fiction and non-fiction books that match your interests! Books and Authors (powered by Gale's popular What Do I Read Next? series) is for readers from every level of reading proficiency and enables users to explore the endless…
America's Historical Imprints
Explore the nation’s past in unprecedented ways. Includes books, pamphlets, broadsides and other scarce printed material, centuries of American history, literature, culture, and daily life, and extensive indexing and full bibliographic…
Academic OneFile *
More than 18,000 peer-reviewed journals and more than 9,200 in full text Full text of The Economist ranging from 1988 to the present, with no embargo Full text of The New York Times from 1985 to present, updated daily Full text of The…
Ian McEwan | Lessons
In conversation with Wesley Stace “The most psychologically astute writer working today, our era’s Jane Austen” ( Esquire ), Ian McEwan won the Booker Prize for his novel Amsterdam . His 16 other novels include Atonement , winner of…
Alice Elliott Dark | Fellowship Point
In conversation with Beth Kephart Alice Elliott Dark is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Think of England and the short story collections In the Gloaming and Naked to the Waist . Her stories, essays, and reviews have…
Chinelo Okparanta | Harry Sylvester Bird
In conversation with Asali Solomon Nigerian American author Chinelo Okparanta ’s acclaimed debut novel Under the Udala Trees celebrates the act of loving fearlessly, even amidst the strife of prejudice and civil war. Selected…
Maxine Hong Kingston | The Woman Warrior, China Men, Tripmaster Monkey, Other Writings
In conversation with volume editor, Viet Thanh Nguyen Acclaimed for her contributions to feminism and Chinese American literature, Maxine Hong Kingston won the 1976 National Book Critics Circle General Nonfiction Award for her first…
Chloé Cooper Jones | Easy Beauty: A Memoir
In conversation with Isaac Fitzgerald Freelance journalist Chloé Cooper Jones was a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature writing for “Fearing for His Life,” a profile of the man who filmed NYPD officers killing Eric Garner. Also a…
Ken Kalfus | 2 A.M. in Little America
In conversation with Nathaniel Popkin The “rare writer who can combine keen, grounded, psychological observation with visionary headiness” ( Salon ), Ken Kalfus is the author of the novels The Commissariat of Enlightenment , a New York…
Margo Jefferson | Constructing A Nervous System: A Memoir
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6ABC Action News morning edition “A national treasure” ( Vanity Fair ), Margo Jefferson won the National Book Critics Circle Award for her memoir Negroland , an examination of her upbringing…
Lawrence Jackson | Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore
In conversation with Solomon Jones. Lawrence Jackson ’s award-winning books include The Indignant Generation: A Narrative History of African American Writers and Critics , biographies of Chester Himes and Ralph Ellison, and a memoir…
Raquel Salas Rivera | antes que isla es volcán / before island is volcano
Introduced by Denice Frohman In conversation with Cynthia Dewi Oka The 2018–19 Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, Raquel Salas Rivera is the author of five full-length books of poetry. These poetry collections include lo terciario/the…
Jennifer Egan | The Candy House
In conversation with Ariel Delgado Dixon Jennifer Egan won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award for the novel A Visit from the Goon Squad , “a new classic of American fiction” ( Time ) that follows an aging punk…
Hannah Tinti, Mira Jacob, Jai Chakrabarti, and Marie-Helene Bertino | Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories
Hannah Tinti is the author of the bestselling novels The Good Thief and The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley and the short story collection Animal Crackers . A creative writing professor in New York University’s M.F.A. program, she…
Garrett Hongo | The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo
In conversation with Major Jackson Garrett Hongo was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for the poetry collection The River of Heaven . His other books of poetry include Yellow Light and Coral Road . The distinguished professor in the…
Jabari Asim | Yonder
In conversation with Lise Funderburg The director of the M.F.A. Creative Writing program at Emerson College, Jabari Asim is the author of the novel Only the Strong , the story collection A Taste of Honey , and several works of…
Tessa Hadley | Free Love
In conversation with Geoffrey Dyer Tessa Hadley ’s many “strange, unsettling—eerily beautiful, discomfiting, stay-up-late-addictive, sometimes hair-raising” ( San Francisco Chronicle ) novels about the complexities of family…
Barbara Chase-Riboud | The Great Mrs. Elias: A Novel Based on a True Story
In conversation with Nell Irvin Painter Barbara Chase-Riboud’s watershed 1979 novel Sally Hemings told a fictionalized story based on the true account of the life of Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman with whom Thomas Jefferson had…
Lan Samantha Chang | The Family Chao with Elizabeth McCracken |The Souvenir Museum
Co-promoted with Asian Arts Initiative and Blue Stoop In conversation with Elizabeth McCracken A debut “work of gorgeous, enduring prose” ( The Washington Post ), Lan Samantha Chang ’s Hunger explored the lives of immigrant…
Jessamine Chan | The School for Good Mothers
In conversation with Liz Moore Co-sponsored by Blue Stoop A former reviews editor at Publishers Weekly , Jessamine Chan has published short stories in Tin House and Epoch . She has received residencies and fellowships from various…
Bernardine Evaristo | Manifesto: On Never Giving Up
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6ABC Action News morning edition Bernardine Evaristo won the 2019 Man Booker Prize and the Dublin Literary Award for Girl, Woman, Other , “a breathtaking symphony of Black women’s…
Hanya Yanagihara | To Paradise
In conversation with Andy Kahan, Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr. director of author events “A wrenching portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR), Hanya Yanagihara’s bestselling novel A Little Life is a story of tragedy…
Nadifa Mohamed | The Fortune Men
In conversation with Rabih Alameddine, National Book Award nominated author of An Unnecessary Woman , The Angel of History , The Hakawati , and most recently, The Wrong End of the Telescope . Somali-British author Nadifa Mohamed is…
Bestsellers
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