A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea.

Not just a blog, a philosophy

A Reading List a Mile Long: Daedalus Books New Arrivals Winter 2014

Posted on February 4, 2014 by maedez

Sorry! The English and Their Manners by Henry Hitchings. $17.95.
Death and the Dolce Vita: The Dark Side of Rome in the 1950s by Stephen Gundle. $5.98.
The Giant of the French Revolution: Danton, A Life by David Lawday. $4.98.
Margaret Sanger: A Life of Passion by Jean H. Baker. $5.98.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. $5.98.
Nell Gwynn: Mistress to a King by Charles Beauclerk. $6.98.
A Brief History of Robin Hood: The True History Behind the Legend by Nigel Cawthorne. $4.98. Continue reading →

Happy 140th Birthday, Gertrude Stein: 3 Quotes and a Portrait

Posted on February 3, 2014 by maedez

Gertrude Stein was born on 3 February 1874.

Gertrude Stein by Félix Vallotton, 1907.

“It will come if it is there and if you will let it come.”

“Let me listen to me and not to them.”

“Nothing is really so very frightening when everything is so very dangerous.”

Writers in Art: George Bernard Shaw

Posted on February 2, 2014 by maedez

George Bernard Shaw by Edmund S. Valtman, 1964.

[Alternative Muses] Coming and Going: James Joyce/Gene Kelly Mashup

Posted on February 2, 2014 by maedez

“A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.”-James Joyce (born on 2 February 1882)

Gene Kelly (died 2 February 1996)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Langston Hughes!

Posted on February 1, 2014 by maedez

Langston Hughes was born on 1 February 1902.

Langston Hughes by Carl Van Vechten, February 1936.

“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.”-Langston Hughes

Quote

Posted on January 31, 2014 by maedez

“It takes a heap of loafing to write a book.”-Gertrude Stein

27 January 1832: Welcome to the World, Lewis Carroll

Posted on January 27, 2014 by maedez

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, was born on 27 January 1832.

Lewis Carroll, 1863. We probably don’t want to know what he was thinking.

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”

A Mad Tea-Party by Sir John Tenniel.

Images of Renowned Authors as Children, Part One

Posted on January 27, 2014 by maedez

Everyone was a child once, even serious wordsmiths. Let’s get started:

A pouty Eugene O’Neill:

Eugene O’Neill, 1892-1894.

Continue reading →

Leo Tolstoy Quote

Posted on January 26, 2014 by maedez

Leo Tolstoy Quote

A Trio of Literary Birthdays: Burns, Maugham, Woolf

Posted on January 25, 2014 by maedez

Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759.

Robert Burns

“Let them cant about decorum, who have characters to lose!”-Robert Burns

W. Somerset Maugham was born 25 January 1874.

W. Somerset Maugham

“Impropriety is the soul of wit.”-W. Somerset Maugham

Virginia Woolf was born on 25 January 1882.

Virginia Woolf by Roger Fry

“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.”-Virginia Woolf

R.I.P. Norman Lloyd (1914-2021)

Norman Lloyd, long a personal favorite of mine, was a fascinating man and performer. Norman Lloyd Dead [THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]

Geoffrey Scott was from a younger generation than the performers I normally write about, but his handsome presence was ubiquitous during my 1980s childhood. From Dynasty to The Love Boat, Night Court, and Battle of the Network Stars, his charisma and acting ability lit up the small screen for decades. He will be missed. Geoffrey […]

Kirk Douglas: 1916-2020

[2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon] But Baby Think of Me Once in Awhile: On Andy Travis as Television’s Best (and Hunkiest) Boss

Welcome to the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon! Baby, If You’ve Ever Wondered: It still seems like yesterday that the idea for RI popped in my head. It was actually in December 2015, while in a hotel room getting ready for a holiday party, when it occurred to me that there was a gap in the classic […]

Announcing the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon!

This is one of my favorite events of the year, and not just because I’m the co-hostess. It’s simply that good. And fun. Oh, so much fun! Here’s my original announcement. ANNOUNCING THE 2019 REEL INFATUATION BLOGATHON I hope you’ll join us!