Topic

Literature & Books

A collection of 24 issues

The Secret Power of the Shift Key: How Capitonyms Change Meaning in Plain Sight

Discover 'capitonyms,' fascinating words like March/march or Polish/polish that completely change meaning when capitalized. This linguistic quirk reveals the hidden power of a single capital letter, turning a proper noun into a common one and creating delightful wordplay.

Your Childhood Was a Lie: Grimm's Fairy Tales are French and King Arthur is Fan-Fiction

Your favorite 'German' fairy tales? Many were French stories collected from Huguenot descendants by the Grimms. And King Arthur? The legendary British king's most famous tales, including Lancelot and the Grail quest, were essentially popular French fanfiction from the 12th century.

The Secret Fortress of Knowledge: Uncovering the Massive Library Hidden Beneath Bryant Park

Beneath NYC's bustling Bryant Park lies the Milstein Research Stacks, a massive, two-level underground facility. This climate-controlled "bunker" holds over 4 million books on 84 miles of shelving, delivered to readers above by a sophisticated conveyor system known as the "book train."

The Blonde Holly: Why Truman Capote Believed Marilyn Monroe Was the Only Choice for Breakfast at Tiffany's

Before Audrey Hepburn's iconic portrayal, Truman Capote had one star in mind for his Holly Golightly: Marilyn Monroe. He felt betrayed by the casting, believing Monroe alone could capture the fragile, tragic truth of the character he wrote, a truth sanitized for Hepburn's classic film.