[Alternative Muses] Coming and Going: Christina Rossetti/Claude Monet Mashup

“Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I: But when the trees bow down their head, The wind is passing by.”-Christina Rossetti (born on 12/5/1830)

Three Trees in Grey Weather by Claude Monet, 1891

Claude Monet (died on 12/5/1926): Three Trees in Grey Weather, 1891

[A Holiday Shopping Spree for the Bookworm] Third Stop: Out of Print Clothing

OUT OF PRINT CLOTHING

Out of Print Clothing is the perfect shop for those who love to wear their bookish allegiances on their chests. Their mission statement says it all: “Out of Print celebrates the world’s great stories through fashion. Our products feature iconic and often out of print book covers.” Pretty nifty, eh?

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:

The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis. $28.00. Image from Out of Print Clothing.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Tote Bag

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Tote Bag. $18.00. Image from Out of Print Clothing.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince. $22.00. Image from Out of Print Clothing.

DETAILS:

  • OUT OF PRINT CLOTHING: GO HERE
  • PREDICTED SHOPPING TIME: 20 MINUTES
  • BEST AWESOMELY UNEXPECTED ITEM: MATCH BOOK SET
  • PRICE POINT: REASONABLE
  • BOOKWORM HAPPINESS SCALE (OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10): 10++

FIRST STOP: EDWARD GOREY HOUSE STORE

SECOND STOP: JANE AUSTEN GIFT SHOP

The Adventurous Robert Louis Stevenson Died 119 Years Ago Today

Robert Louis Stevenson died on 3 December 1894. He was forty-four years old. Here he is, looking elegant in a John Singer Sargent portrait…

Portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson by John Singer Sargent, 1887

Portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson by John Singer Sargent, 1887

He was as dashing as the best of them…

Robert Louis Stevenson, 1879

Robert Louis Stevenson, 1879

His spirited wife, Fanny, also excelled at living life to the fullest …

Fanny Vandegrift Osbourne Stevenson

Fanny Vandegrift Osbourne Stevenson

“So long as we love, we serve; so long as we are loved by others, I should say that we are almost indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend.”-Robert Louis Stevenson

[A Holiday Shopping Spree for the Bookworm] Second Stop: Jane Austen Gift Shop

JANE AUSTEN GIFT SHOP

We all have at least one Pride and Prejudice disciple in our lives. Simplify your shopping list by visiting this enchanting site dedicated to a large and partially exclusive line of Jane Austen goodies. The online store is the retail arm of The Jane Austen Centre,  appropriately located in the English city of Bath (which means much to Jane addicts the world over). Let’s begin our shopping tour!

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:

Jane Austen Places in Regency Bath Mug

Jane Austen Places in Regency Bath Mug. £10.00 GBP. Image from the Jane Austen Gift Shop.

Bookmark-Keep Calm and Read Jane Austen

Bookmark-Keep Calm and Read Jane Austen. £3.00 GBP. Image from the Jane Austen Gift Shop.

Initial Seal and Sealing Wax Set

Initial Seal and Sealing Wax Set. £7.99 GBP. Image from the Jane Austen Gift Shop.

DETAILS:

  • JANE AUSTEN GIFT SHOP: GO HERE
  • JANE AUSTEN WEBSITE: GO HERE
  • PREDICTED SHOPPING TIME: FOR AUSTEN FANS: 30 MINUTES/FOR NON-FANS: 10 MINUTES
  • BEST AWESOMELY UNEXPECTED ITEM: VARIOUS CLOTHESPIN DOLL KITS, INCLUDING THIS ONE
  • PRICE POINT: REASONABLE
  • BOOKWORM HAPPINESS SCORE (OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10): 8 FOR THE STORE/10+ FOR THE WEBSITE

 FIRST STOP: EDWARD GOREY HOUSE STORE

Happy Birthday, Rex Stout!

Rex Todhunter Stout was born on 1 December 1886. He gave the world that singular detective, Nero Wolfe (and his unremittingly charming factotum Archie Goodwin!), writing dozens of excellent genre novels and short stories during a four decade period. Stout’s version of New York City is one of the best (fictionalized) settings in all of literature. Here he is, mixing patterns and still looking casually dapper in his eighty-seventh year…

Rex Stout by Jill Krementz, 1973

Rex Stout by Jill Krementz, 1973

“To say that a man is a reasoning animal is a very different thing than to say that most of man’s decisions are based on his rational process. That I don’t believe at all.”-Rex Stout

Goodbye, Oscar Wilde!

Oscar Wilde died on 30 November 1900. He was 46 years old.

Oscar Wilde by Napoleon Sarony

Oscar Wilde by Napoleon Sarony

“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.”-Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince and Other Stories

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”-Oscar Wilde

[A Holiday Shopping Spree for the Bookworm] First Stop: Edward Gorey House Store

I love bookish goodies almost as much as I love actual books, and reading. Being a bookworm is not a hobby: it is an all-enveloping, personality-defining lifestyle. The holiday season is in full-swing, which means that it is time to go shopping-the literary way! Over the next two weeks, I am going to take you on a virtual bookish shopping spree to some of my favourite lit sites! Let’s get started.

EDWARD GOREY HOUSE STORE

There is no better way to show your love for one of America’s most unusual creative talents than by purchasing merchandise directly from the Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts. The creator of the iconic The Gashlycrumb Tinies lived in the house for twenty-one years; it is now a museum.

The selection of Gorey goodies offered is impressive. Be sure to spend time perusing all of the categories, or you’ll risk missing the perfectly whimsical gift for that someone special. 

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:

Gashlycrumb Tinies Lunchbox

Gashlycrumb Tinies Lunchbox. $16.99. Image from The Gorey House Store.

Dracula Toy Theatre

Dracula Toy Theater. $27.95. Image from The Gorey House Store.

The Doubtful Guest (with scarf) Mug

The Doubtful Guest (with scarf) Mug. $13.50. Image from The Gorey House Store.

DETAILS:

  • EDWARD GOREY HOUSE STORE: GO HERE
  • THE EDWARD GOREY HOUSE: OFFICIAL WEBSITE
  • PREDICTED SHOPPING TIME: 15-30 MINUTES
  • BEST AWESOMELY UNEXPECTED ITEM: SOAP
  • PRICE POINT: EXTREMELY REASONABLE
  • BOOKWORM HAPPINESS SCORE (OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10): 10