Queen Elizabeth's Lord Dudleyqas receiving tabloid treatment in book form in 1706.
My 1706 1st edition title page of the Secret Memoirs of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester reads like a tabloid cover. It is actively trying to sell you on Dudley as a total villain before the book even starts! #books
I was once honored to attend a reading by Ms. Toni Morrison. It was apparent then that she had a grand sense of humor. Now we have this book!
Found this photo of Morrison with her cat. Attempt at humor is mine!
Happiness expert Laurie Santos knows what it feels like to burn out as a teacher, because she’s been there too. She shares a host of micro-strategies that can help preserve and sustain well-being amidst the realities and challenges of classroom life. ☀️
#EduSky
My copy carries the bookplate of C. Alan Soons, once a professor of Romance Languages at UMass Amherst, whose personal library became the Alan & Rosalie Soons Library of Hispanic Studies. A nice link between scholarship and collecting. #booksky #UMass
Acquired the deluxe 1928 Laterza Orlando Furioso, bound in bespoke full gold tooled morocco. Part of the critical Scrittori d’Italia series — a national project to publish Italy’s literary masterpieces in enduring scholarly editions. #booksky
My most beautiful Toni Morrison book: limited signed edition of Morrison's Nobel Prize for Literature speech.
Printed on handmade paper and housed in a striking binding/slipcase made with batik fabric by Global Mamas. A testament to artistry and an incredible moment in literary history.
#booksky
Someone got a deal!
Romeo + Juliet is a brilliant film and adaptation. The opening alone invites students to revisit the opening lines of the "boring" play with fresh eyes that can see the play is as much about violence, hate, and war as it is about love.
Ringler's scholarly annotations are the most economical I have seen from someone in the humanities. However, they match the economy of his bookplate. #poetry #books
It took collecting this 1829 Large Paper Limited (50 copies) Edition of Sir Philip Sidney's Works to realize that this poet needs to be read more!
Research led me to resurrect this tweet as I searched for the esteemed William Ringler, who owned and annotated my copy. #poetry #books
"Reads too much"
Who knew that reading too much would be an official cause for a divorce filing?
Considering Bette Davis' sardonic nature, you would think her husband meant "reads too much" in the other context of reading someone. #booksky
I really came to love Eugene O’Neill thanks to some amazing experiences at the Goodman Theatre, especially with Robert Falls directing. Got to take my AP Lit students to see an O’Neill show there—it was a great way to share that passion.
Eugene O'Neill is a part of my rare book collection.
Just found an original sales contract tucked inside one of the volumes from the signed limited set of his plays. $120 in the middle of the Depression—equivalent to over $2,000 today. Wow!
#booksky #books
It wasn't until later that I came to understand the social commentary of Stephen Vincent Benet's story.
So strange to think that The Devil and Daniel Webster was a story I saw as young adult lit as a 4th grader. I read it over and over again. So, when I became a book collector, it was one of my first books.
My copy is inscribed by John C. Farrar—the book's publisher. #booksky #books
From learning about Patricia Highsmith's life, I'm tired just learning about her fascinating life.
As you can see from my collection, I got carried away with my doubles. Inheriting a book collection from someone with great taste is great, even if you already own the books. :)
#booksky
Ah! From one high school English teacher to another — Thanks, and congrats on your forthcoming book!
Unfortunate that Ben Jonson's literary star doesn't shine any brighter.
Acquired this scarce folio-sized scholarly large paper edition on handmade laid paper w/fine bindings a bit ago.
Only 50 copies of this deluxe edition were published in 1875.
#booksky
#rarebooks
Grolier Club's 1895 edition of the Poems of John Donne. Limited edition of 380 copies on handmade paper. You can never own too many John Donne books. My other copy is by LEC.
#booksky #poetry
A letter I own from Elkin Mathews, the publisher, to Dodd, Mead & Co., regarding American publishing rights for a book that included unpublished writing by Charles Lamb and William Hazlitt.
Notably, Elkin Mathews was the first publisher of James Joyce. He also published Oscar Wilde.
#booksky
After looking up the bookplate, I learned this book once belonged to Edwin B. Holden, an early president of the Grolier Club and founding president of Club Bindery.
Was about to break this book apart for the 50 etchings by Rembrandt through the photogravure process before learning this provenance.
I have loved Gordon Parks' The Learning Tree since boyhood.
Pulled out my inscribed copies of two of his books and am now on a research crusade to find out more about the person to whom he inscribed the books.
He clearly knew this person well.
#booksky
#photography
#film
I would say that Warhol and Parks also make sense. Both were artists and filmmakers.
From my copy of Frank Miller's Sketchbook.
I need to figure out how to pick up three Frank Miller comics in one week.
It took me years to find my copies. I also need to start collecting the trade editions of Miller so I can have more luck.
Showing my limited signed editions of Frank Miller's Sin City.
#comics
#booksky
Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I am very, very weak, but they are two different things.
Makes sense to me. I just really like the idea of Lydgate's poem as early fanfiction! That the 2nd Speght edition of 1602 (which had as one purpose to lionize Chaucer) includes The Siege of Thebes with Chaucer's own work is very telling now that I think about it in this way.
From my research, this 1602 ed. of Chaucer added a glossary, sources list, and new biography.
"This work shaped the reading of Chaucer for the next several centuries. It marks the first time a Middle English writer had been given the critical treatment usually reserved for works from antiquity."
Never thought of "The Siege of Thebes" as Chaucer fanfiction. Not sure if you were being tongue in cheek, but...
Pulled out my 1602, 2nd Speght edition of Chaucer's Works, which helped establish him in the canon, and at the end of this important edition is the Lydgate poem!
My photos.
#booksky