LITERATURE

How 5 Influential People Responded to False Reports of Their Death

Some people made jokes; one person established the Nobel Prize.

Can you guess which novels are most popular?

Mapped: Every State’s Most-Searched Summer Reads

Want to know what your state is reading this summer? Check out this map of the top-searched books and discover your next page-turner.

Did Mark Twain Really Say That?

Author and humorist Mark Twain said a lot of witty things, but he’s also frequently misquoted. Can you figure out which quotes are his, and which ones aren’t?

When Tampa, Florida, Banned ‘Jaws’ From Bookshelves

Tampa’s mayor wanted Peter Benchley’s bestseller off store shelves. The cover had been deemed obscene by authorities.

The cover of Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.’

9 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas’

From its initial title to its real life inspirations to its disastrous, misconception-causing English translations.

In 1971, Grover became the star of The Monster at the End of This Book.

8 Fun Facts About ‘The Monster At the End of This Book’

Since it was published in 1971, ‘The Monster at the End of This Book’ has become an iconic entry in the kidlit canon. Here’s what you need to know about the book, which just made a cameo in HBO‘s ‘The Last of Us.’

12 Distant Places in the Solar System (And What They’re Named After)

From famous musicians to literary landmarks to mythological figures—and beyond.

Charles Dickens’s Ornate Travel Desk Is Up for Auction

Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of literary history.

The Penguincubator: The 1937 Vending Machine for Books

Allen Lane wanted to bring paperback books to the masses—and he thought a vending machine was the perfect way to do it.

10 Facts About Anne Frank’s ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’

In 1947, the seemingly everyday, innocent thoughts of a teen girl were published. But they weren’t so everyday: they were the thoughts of Anne Frank.

How Paperbacks Transformed the Way Americans Read

Half a century before e-books turned publishing upside down, a different format threatened to destroy the industry.

Add more heft to your TBR pile with these gripping fiction and nonfiction books.

14 of the Best Books on the Vietnam War

The best Vietnam War books from Tim O’Brien, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and others offer new insights and perspectives into the conflict that you probably never got from history class.

15 Fascinating Facts About John Kennedy Toole’s ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’

If it wasn’t for John Kennedy Toole’s mom, his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel would likely have been lost to time.

13 Facts About John Irving’s ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’

Author John Irving’s book about a boy with a “wrecked voice” who believes he’s an instrument of God is a staple on high school summer reading lists. Here are a few things you might not have known about it.

12 Things You Say Without Realizing You’re Quoting Poetry

If you’ve ever talked about “the birds and the bees” or referenced “the best laid plans of mice and men,” then you’ve inadvertently quoted some of the English language’s most famous poets.

5 of Fiction’s Most Terrible Moms

You’ll be glad these ladies aren’t your mother.

Author Alexandra Ripley (R) poses with 'Scarlett,' her sequel to 'Gone With the Wind.'

‘Gone’ Girl: When ‘Scarlett’ Dared to Continue the Story of ‘Gone With the Wind’

The belated sequel drew scorn from 'Wind' purists, who bellowed that 'Tomorrow is here, and it's just plain awful."

The best way to move books: Get someone else to do it.

Human Conveyor Belt Helps Michigan Bookstore Move Its Entire Inventory Down the Block

A ‘book brigade’ helped a small business relocate millions of words.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Michael Crichton’s ‘Jurassic Park’

How Crichton turned ‘Jurassic Park’ from a manuscript everyone hated into a best-selling book that spawned a multi-billion dollar movie franchise. Plus: 10 key differences between the novel and the film.