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:
- Jessica Lange (born April 20, 1949), an acclaimed American actress whose career has often intersected with literary adaptations, celebrates her birthday today. Her roles in films like Frances and Grey Gardens showcase the depth of character that can be conveyed through both performance and prose.
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 of the Day:
On April 20, 1871, the German composer Richard Wagner’s opera “Kunstwerk der Zukunft” (The Artwork of the Future) was first performed. This work influenced not just the music world but also the literary community with its themes of idealism and romanticism, reflecting the intertwined evolution of European artistic expressions.
Reflection:
Today, as we remember Bram Stoker and his profound impact on both literature and popular culture, let us reflect on the power of storytelling to explore the depths of human fear, the struggle between good and evil, and the eternal search for understanding within the unknown.
Poem of the Day:
“Spring and Fall” by Gerard Manley Hopkins:
to a young child
Márgarét, áre you gríeving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by Bram Stoker’s enduring creation, consider the timeless nature of certain themes—like fear, love, and survival—and how they continue to resonate with readers. Crafting stories around such universal experiences can imbue your work with a compelling, enduring appeal.
Have a reflective and profound day, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your literary journeys illuminate both the world around you and the depths within.