The Fall of the House of Usher illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley, 1894-1895.
“During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singular dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.”-The Fall of the House of Usher, Edgar Allan Poe
“Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.”-Samuel Taylor Coleridge (born 10/21/1772)
A Young Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.”-Jack Kerouac (died 10/21/1969)
Naval Reserve Enlistment Photo of Jack Kerouac, 1943
The Tell-Tale Heart by Harry Clarke. From Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe, 1919.
“True!-nervous-very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?”-The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe
Where laughter, learning, and literature meet.
James Thurber was born and raised in Columbus. He attended the Ohio State University and later worked for the main local newspaper. All in all, except for a brief stint with the American Embassy in Paris, he called Ohio’s capital home until his 31st year. Even then, he never really left. Thurber lived with his parents and brothers at 77 Jefferson Avenue during his college years, from 1913-1917. This is the building that houses the museum.
Thurber House and Museum. 77 Jefferson Avenue.
The first two floors are open for tours; the top floor is reserved for the current Writer-in-Residence.
Entryway chair. Go ahead and try it out, if you please.
The house is furnished and decorated in appropriate period style. Unlike typically uptight museums, at the Thurber House you are encouraged to make yourself right at home. You can touch (most) things, play the piano, even sit on chairs. Such intimate interaction makes the experience personal and human, even humorous. I think that James would approve. Thurber memorabilia is spread throughout, with the largest concentration displayed in an upstairs room.
You can sit down and play a tune here.
Come on, I know that you want to give No, No, Nanette a try.
Adorable Thurber dog.
James Thurber’s dog illustrations are iconic, in all their forms. There are several of these yellow fellows around the museum. I think they are cookie jars, but I do not really know. Continue reading
Yep, this is what I am doing today!
A young woman cleaning pans at a draped stone arch by Willem Joseph Laquy, 18th century.
Whilst I hate cleaning and refuse to believe that it is in any way therapeutic, my house needs some tender loving care. I’ll be back in the studio tomorrow, writing and blogging away. I’ve been working on some new material for A Small Press Life, so be sure to check back often.
Elinor Glyn, who forever changed the popular culture landscape by ballyhooing the concept of It, was born on 17 October 1864.
Elinor Glyn
A QUOTE: “Everything that I write will be signed with my name.”
SOME WORKS: Beyond the Rocks; Three Weeks; Three Things; Love’s Blindness; ‘It’ and Other Stories
A KEEPSAKE:
Elinor Glyn’s Man and Maid Movie Still Book at Backwoods Treasure Antiques. $26.95
20 Photos of Famous Authors in Awesome Costumes [COURTESY FLAVORWIRE]
Be sure to stop back here and tell us your favourite! Check out a very young Elsa Lanchester in the image with Evelyn Waugh. She is enchanting!
Brunch out: French toast with sweet sauce and berries.
Dinner in: Tofu stir fry with leek “noodles” and Thai eggplant, with gai-lan on the side. My husband is the best.
“The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books.”-Katherine Mansfield
“I imagine I was always writing. Twaddle it was, too. But better far write twaddle or anything, anything, than nothing at all.”-Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield (aka, KathMans) was born on 14th October 1888.
Katherine Mansfield by Anne Estelle Rice, 1918.
“I want to be all that I am capable of becoming.”-Katherine Mansfield
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 