[Alternative Muses] A Tip-Top Birthday Trio: Dickens, Ingalls Wilder, Lewis

The literary Gods certainly favoured the 7th of February, at least during the 19th century. Charles Dickens, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Sinclair Lewis were born on that day. Impressive, right?

Charles Dickens and His Characters by William Holbrook Beard

Charles Dickens and His Characters by William Holbrook Beard.  Birth year: 1812.

“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.”

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder. Birth year: 1867.

“The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”

Sinclair Lewis, 1914

Sinclair Lewis, 1914. Birth year: 1885.

“Every man is a king so long as he has someone to look down on.”

The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes

The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes

The Center of Science and Industry [COSI] in my hometown of Columbus is the second stop for this fabulous interactive Holmes experience. It runs 8 February-1 September.

Does this look amazing or does this look amazing? Your call. I am going next month. I’ll be sure to do a follow-up post!

A Study in Scarlet artwork by David Henry Friston, for Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887

A Study in Scarlet by A. Conan Doyle, with  artwork by David Henry Friston.  Beeton’s Christmas Annual, December 1887.

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

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

Gertrude Stein was born on 3 February 1874.

Gertrude Stein by Felix Vallotton, 1907

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.”

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

“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

Gene Kelly (died 2 February 1996)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Langston Hughes!

Langston Hughes was born on 1 February 1902.

Langston Hughes by Carl Van Vechten, February 1936

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