Literary Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Literature (Books of Miscellany) [Hardcover]

Alex Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2010 | Series: Books of Miscellany

Behind-the-book stories and facts about authors, publishing, and everything literary.

Wouldn’t it be great to be a fly on the wall as the great writers took pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)? While reading this work, you’ll be just that. Here are behind-the-book stories and facts about authors, publishing and everything literary that will entertain both casual and serious readers. Among the questions asked and answered:

     • When Did Literature Finally Get Sexy?
     • Is Coffee or Opium Better for Literary Creativity?
     • Why Are the Best Autobiographies so Embarrassing?
     • Why Do Some Detectives Use Their Minds and Others Their Fists?

Who knew that bestseller lists and children’s books could be the source of intense controversy? Or that even the biggest writers had to scrape by, with odd jobs and inventions like the Mark Twain Self-Pasting Scrapbook? In Literary Miscellany, examine the trend of “fake memoirs,” with a list of who lied about what, and a rogues’ gallery of hoaxers dating back centuries. From epic poetry and Homer to pulp fiction and Harry Potter, Literary Miscellany is a breezy tour through the literature of today and yesterday, packed with enough interesting facts to entertain both the erudite professor and pleasure reader. 100 color illustrations

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alex Palmer has written for the New York Post, Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, the Rumpus, and the Huffington Post, among other publications. He is also the author of Literary Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Literature. Find him at: www.alexpalmerwrites.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (October 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616080957
• ISBN-13: 978-1616080952
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alex Palmer is the author of Weirdopedia and Literary Miscellany. His work has appeared in the New York Post, Time Out New York, Writer's Digest, The Rumpus, Billboard, and The Hollywood Reporter, among others. He is also co-editor of the literary journal Fawlt Magazine.

See more at www.alexpalmerwrites.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great compendium January 2, 2013

By M. Steelman

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for what I thought would be trivia. It is that and much more. I learned a lot about various genres and authors. This book has made me get many books I would probably not have bought save for seeing them here. The words of Hans Christian Andersen planning his funeral really stayed with me; "... make the beat for small feet..." as he knew that children would be following his coffin. This is the sort of un-trivial trivia that I love. Well worth the time of any literature lover.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Special literary facts November 11, 2012

By Laura A. Fitzgerald

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I couldn't put this book down from the moment it arrived in the regular postal mail until I finished it thoroughly - and I really enjoyed the facts within! Thank you so much for this unique book - I hope to acquire other books like it!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the kind of book that's hard to find;but when you do,you'll find a gem. October 20, 2012

By J. Guild TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

One of my favorite reading genres is "Books About Books" and this is certainly an excellent one on the subject.The reason for my title is that this is the type of book that is always hard to find in bookstores,for the simple reason they never seem to know where to put it.In used bookstores it is even more difficult ,probably because once someone gets it,they never seem to give it up.
It is a book that anyone who considers themselves a Bibliophile ,an avid Reader,a Bookworm,or any of the other names applied to people who have a love for reading and books;will find a real gem.
It's obvious,as soon as one starts reading this book,that this is not a book that I often call an "edited book".By that I mean, a book that publishers have assigned to one or several researchers,to look up a bunch of facts and gather them together and call it a book.In this case the author certainly is very knowledgeable with books and literature .The scope is wide and covers all genre of literature from all time periods.
What I particularly enjoyed about the things Mr Palmer covers is that he makes you think about many of the things that have taken place with books,subjects,and various forms of literature ;and explains the reasons for the trends and changes throughout history.
He will tell you things about the world of literature that will astound you.For instance,did you know that Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends And Influence People",was the first paperback to sell a million copies ;and went on to sell 15 million copies globally? Or how about the fact that Louisa May Alcott led an early charge to have "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" banned for its crude language"?And what about the German writer Heinrich Heine, who wrote in his play in 1821,"Where they burn boooks,so too will they in the end burn human beings"?:"Heine's own works were among those burned by the Nazis a century later.What is the history of insults in literature,the introduction of Sex,Science Fiction,Detective,Horror,and Mystery novels? It's all here between the covers of this fine tome.
The quality of the construction,paper,printing and everything about this book is superb.It even has a stitched binding ,numerous illustrations, and to top it all off ,a glossy ,illustrated hard cover,protected with a beautiful dust jacket.
It would make a treasured gift for anyone who loves reading.Just to prove my point;I say this is an excellent book in all respects;even though there is not a word in it about one of my favorite genres,Westerns.