“The Little Mermaid” (Den lille havfrue in Danish) is a fairy tale written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul. The tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media, including musical theatre, anime and … Continue reading Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”
Robert Louis Stevenson was born at 8 Howard Place, Edinburgh, Scotland on November 13, 1850. He was a British novelist, poet, essayist, musician and travel writer. His most famous works are Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and A Child’s Garden of Verses. Stevenson was a literary celebrity during his lifetime, and now ranks as the 26th most translated author … Continue reading Robert Louis Stevenson
American poet, essayist and journalist Walter “Walt” Whitman was born on May 31, 1819. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of … Continue reading Walt Whitman
The Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España in Spanish), is a sovereign state located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, with two large archipelagos, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands off the North African Atlantic coast, two cities, Ceuta and Melilla, in the North African mainland and several small islands in the Alboran Sea near the Moroccan coast. On the … Continue reading Spain #1698 (1972)
Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax register, development critic, surveyor, and historian Henry David Thoreau, born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay “Civil Disobedience” (originally published as “Resistance to Civil Government”), an argument for disobedience … Continue reading Henry David Thoreau: 200th Birthday
A Stamp A Day 