"The Raven", Edgar Allan Poe

I don't like horror movies, but I do appreciate Edgar Allan Poe's mysterious and creepy tales - Who doesn't know his tales "Pit and the Pendulum","The Black Cat", "The Fall of the House of Usher" or "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"just to mention a few?
Equally famous is his narrative poem The Raven first published on this day in January 1845 and which granted him almost immediate recognition turning Poe into a national / American celebrity. Yet since his death over 200 years ago this author's work has been adapted into movies, short animated films (eg.1982, "Vincent" you can check here), episodes of the long-running animated series "The Simpsons" (eg. The Treehouse of Horror) to song lyric references (eg. 1957, Frankie Laine's"Annabel Lee"), album covers (eg. 1967 Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" featuring Poe's picture) , illustrations (eg. by French painter Edouard Manet who created illustration for Poe's "The Raven"), you name it! His worldwide recognition was only achieved posthumously but has greatly influenced filmmakers, songwriters and even painters alike.

Poe's Portrait, wikipedia.org

Again you can download a free copy of the iconic poem at Project Gutenberg or click here for an interactive Study Resource of "The Raven" which includes vocabulary and Poe's use of some common literary devices.
For further info on the author and his legacy, visit Bio. as well as Edgar Allan Poe's Museum which "boasts the world's finest collection of Edgar Allan Poe's manuscripts, letters, first editions, memorabilia and personal belongings. The Poe Museum provides a retreat into early nineteenth century Richmond where Poe lived and worked. The museum features the life and career of Edgar Allan Poe by documenting his accomplishments with pictures, relics, and verse, and focusing on his many years in Richmond." There is even a section for teachers and if you enjoy reading Poe as much as I do, go ahead and fill this Educator's Packet Request Form .

In Portuguese, there is also something here.
Hope you find it useful :=)

200 Years of "Pride and Prejudice"

JANE AUSTEN, wikipedia.org

First published in 1813, Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice has been widely considered her masterpiece, her most popular novel - one of the most popular in English Literature and one of the most loved books of all time.
I could easily (and gladly) summarise it here for you, but I'm pretty sure you would rather read it (if you haven't already!) - in paper or online.
Check these links:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1342 - "Pride and Prejudice" at Project Gutenberg
http://www.planetebook.com/pride-and-prejudice.asp#.UQcDKPKk0uc - from Planet eBook you can also download this classic for free
http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/pridprej.html - an exhaustive resource, an illustrated annotated hypertext with map, chronology...amazing!
For further info on the author herself, visit Jane Austen's House Museum (Chawton) and the Jane Austen Centre  (Bath). Still being such a favourite pick after 200 years, no wonder that there have already been different TV serialisations and film adaptations - the most recet one from 2005 with Keira Knightley as spirited Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as single and rich Mr Darcy.
Remember?

If you feel you still remember the content well enough, www.telegraph.co.uk challenges you to test your knowledge here.

UPDATE: http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2013/01/28/10-great-pride-and-prejudice-resources/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-shapard/pride-prejudice-facts_b_2552180.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000036

Did you know..?

wikipedia.org / MLK in 1964

... that today is Martin Luther King's day? Though he had a short life, his legacy is still heartfelt and he will always be remembered for his activism and leadership of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He became an icon, a reference right after his assassination in April 1968, but it was only in 1986 that President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law. This date marks his birthday which was on January 15th, but became a floating holiday to be observed on the third Monday of January each year.

Amazing stories are shared by people of all ages and from all over in The MY HERO Project which aims to "celebrate the best of humanity".Its directory presents different stories and if we choose Peacemaker Heroes we will find, among many others, essays / info on MLK. And yes, there is also something for educators, namely great lesson plans for citizenship, social studies, peace, civil rights movement... click here to find out more.
For his most famous and full speech "I have a Dream"- written and audio - click here
Other stunning resources not to miss are Bio Channel and History Channel both with loads of info, timelines, picture galleries... 

Capitol / www.bbg.gov

...that today is Barack Obama's Inauguration Day? Indeed, yes! Today he swears-in for a second term

Official portrait/www.whitehouse.gov

and he will take his oath with his hand on two Bibles. One that once belonged to Martin Luther King, a leather-bound book that contains some of his handwritten inscriptions and now belongs to Martin Luther King Jr Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta; and the other one, bound in burgundy velvet, belonged to Abraham Lincoln and now makes part of the Library of Congress.

... that today is not only MLK's Day but 2013 also marks the 50th anniversary of "I have a Dream" speech? 
Still (and always) striding for freedom and equality, I guess...

Poetry at Work Day

Poetry (at work) at its best!  I Hear America Singing
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown, The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. in http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15752 by Walt Whitman, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/walt-whitman

Poetry at Work Day POSTER

For poetry lovers (and not only):

http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/every-day-poems/

New Year, New Book(s)

Source: http://www.verybestquotes.com/

Happy New Year with your New Book!

As you write your own new book, don't forget to read.
                                                                             Happy Writings and Readings!