# literature
20 Times Game of Thrones “Borrowed” From Real History
When asked about the inspiration behind his internationally successful fantasy epic series A Song of Ice and Fire, author George R.R. Martin responded that "fantasy and historical novels are twins". An accurate…
20 Great Historical Figures Who Struggled with Mental Illness
Mental health has been something of an enigma for most of human history. Before the age of science, people suffering…
Arthur Rimbaud’s Roller Coaster Life, from Sensitive Poet to Mercenary and Arms Dealer
Few have embodied the "haunted poet" bit better than French poet Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud (1854 - 1891), an early…
These True Stories Inspired the Classic Books You Hated Reading in School
Required reading and summer reading lists have been the bane of students for generations. We find the books boring, wishing…
11 Surprising Things You Never Knew About William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is a big deal. He's the most famous writer of all time, in any language, and his plays…
You Won’t Believe the Architectural Vision of a True English Eccentric
Between 1796 and 1813, one man doggedly pursued the building of the tallest edifice in Britain, despite the phenomenal cost…
Jazz Queen Zelda Fitzgerald Suffered a Tragic, Fiery Death
Tucked in the mountains of Western North Carolina, a woman looks out from a window. Her clothes plain- much plainer…
12 of History’s Most Influential Poets, From Ancient Times Until the 20th Century
Throughout most of human history, before literacy became widespread, poetry was the most common means of cultural dissemination. Rhyming verse…
Today in History: The Library of Congress is Founded (1800)
The Library of Congress is one of the largest libraries in the world with over 17 million volumes, hundreds of…