Portrait of American Author, Poet, and Naturalist Henry David Thoreau

The Myth of Henry David Thoreau’s Isolation

The famous writer-observer of nature, Henry David Thoreau, fills the popular imagination. But have we mythologized the image of him as a recluse?
"Juan felipe ferrera 9150360" by slowking4 - Own work. Licensed under GFDL 1.2 via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juan_felipe_ferrera_9150360.jpg#/media/File:Juan_felipe_ferrera_9150360.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>

The History of the Poet Laureate

Juan Felipe Herrera is the new U.S. Poet Laureate. It is a position that has had a long life, dating back to the Greeks.
Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1526/1530–1569) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Syllables Without Vowels? Pfft, Inconceivable!

Is the syllable universal? Maybe. We look at how languages use (and don't use) syllables, and what this says about language itself.
Francesco Hayez [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Wordsworth and the Invention of Childhood

Prior to the 18th century, children were considered little adults. It was only during the Romantic Era that the concept of childhood emerged.
Taylor Swift Credit: Taylor Swift/Vevo

Taylor Swift: 1989’s Confessional Poet

Since she first came to prominence, Taylor Swift's songs have been read autobiographically.
"FrankHerbert Dune 1st" by Digital scan of book cover from [1]; copyright maintained by publisher or artist, as applicable.. Via <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FrankHerbert_Dune_1st.jpg#/media/File:FrankHerbert_Dune_1st.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>

Dune at 50

Frank Herbert's novel Dune, the best selling science-fiction novel of all time, celebrates it's 50th birthday and is still read in innovative ways.
Anti-immigration protest sign

Migrants, Refugees, and Expats: How Humanity Comes in Waves

The language we use for people fleeing their home nations may define them as less than human.
"Salvador Dali A (Dali Atomicus) 09633u" by Halsman, Philippe, photographer. - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.09633. Licensed under Public Domain via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salvador_Dali_A_(Dali_Atomicus)_09633u.jpg#/media/File:Salvador_Dali_A_(Dali_Atomicus)_09633u.jpg" target="_blank">Commons</a>

Dalí, Surrealism and…Fashion Magazines?

Salvador Dalí injected Surrealism into fashion magazines in the 1930s and 1940s, to lasting influence.
Close-up of the dictionary entry to 'colour'

Yas Queen! It’s the Spelling Reform School for Wayward Words

Debates over English spelling reform have existed for centuries.
Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

The Internet Didn’t Doom the Daily New Orleans Times-Picayune; Katrina Did

The Times-Picayune had no choice after Katrina but to publish primarily online.