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The Muses Companion – April 27, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 27th, the 117th day of the year 2024, with 249 days remaining. “One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Today in Literary History: On this day in 1927, the first performance of the play To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf was staged. While primarily known for her novels and essays, Woolf’s explorations into the psychological depths of her characters and her innovative narrative techniques profoundly influenced modernist literature. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From To the Lighthouse by…
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The Muses Companion – April 26, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 26th, the 116th day of the year 2024, with 250 days remaining. “As April wanes, the promise of spring deepens, nurturing seeds both in the earth and in our hearts.” Mary Oliver Today in Literary History: On this day in 1986, Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood was published in Japan. This novel, which brought Murakami widespread fame, explores themes of loss and nostalgia set against the backdrop of 1960s Tokyo. The poignant narrative captures the restless spirit of youth and the deep currents of personal change. Notable Birthdays: Bernard Malamud (April 26, 1914 – March 18, 1986), an American author renowned for his novels and…
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Lesbian Visibility Day 2024
Today, I’m joyfully celebrating Lesbian Visibility Day! This special occasion highlights and honors the diverse experiences and contributions of lesbian women everywhere. It’s a day to stand proud and visible, reinforcing the spectrum of identities within our community. April 26, 2024
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The Muses Companion – April 25, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 25th, the 115th day of the year 2024, with 251 days remaining. “Time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have retained of them.” Marcel Proust Today in Literary History: On this day in 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson published their groundbreaking paper describing the double helix structure of DNA in the journal Nature. While not literary in the traditional sense, this discovery has profoundly influenced the themes and depth of modern literature, particularly in genres like science fiction and bioethics. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust: “Let us be grateful to the people who…
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The Muses Companion – April 24, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 24th, the 114th day of the year 2024, with 252 days remaining. “Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” Voltaire Today in Literary History: On this day in 1800, the United States Library of Congress was established. Its founding aimed to provide a repository of knowledge and resources necessary for legislation but has since become a treasure trove of America’s cultural and historical legacies, including an invaluable collection of books, manuscripts, and maps. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Middlemarch by George Eliot:“For there is no creature whose inward being is so strong that…
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The Muses Companion – April 23, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 23rd, the 113th day of the year 2024, with 253 days remaining. “Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life.” Fernando Pessoa Today in Literary History: On this day in 1616, William Shakespeare, the bard of Avon, died in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s profound influence on English literature and drama is celebrated worldwide, with his plays and poetry becoming timeless treasures that explore the depth and complexity of human emotion and experience. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Macbeth by William Shakespeare: “Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is…
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The Muses Companion – April 22, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 22nd, Earth Day, the 112th day of the year 2024, with 254 days remaining. “The earth has music for those who listen.” George Santayana Today in Literary History: On this day in 1724, Immanuel Kant, a central figure in modern philosophy, was born. His works, such as Critique of Pure Reason, profoundly shaped Western thought, particularly through his explorations of morality, aesthetics, and human perception. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant: “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above me…
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The Muses Companion – April 21, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 21st, the 111th day of the year 2024, with 255 days remaining. “The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” Bertrand Russell Today in Literary History: On this day in 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, was shot down and killed during World War I. The legendary German fighter pilot has been the subject of numerous books and films that explore his prowess in the sky and the mythos surrounding his persona. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am…
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The Muses Companion – April 20, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 20th, the 110th day of the year 2024, with 256 days remaining. “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” Anaïs Nin Today in Literary History: On this day in 1912, Bram Stoker, the Irish author best known for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula, passed away. Stoker’s creation has become one of the most universally iconic figures in horror literature, spawning countless adaptations and reimaginings across various media. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Dracula by Bram Stoker: “There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.” Literary Fact…
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The Muses Companion – April 19, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 19th, the 109th day of the year 2024, with 257 days remaining. “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” Boris Pasternak Today in Literary History: On this day in 1824, Lord Byron, the British Romantic poet and a leading figure of the Romantic movement, died in Missolonghi, Greece. His works and persona epitomized the Romantic ideal of the artist as a brooding genius, influencing countless writers and artists who came after him. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Don Juan by Lord Byron: “Between two worlds life hovers like a star, ‘Twixt night and…
