About Books & Literature: This Week in Literary History

If you can't see this email, click here

Books & Literature From Emily Faherty, your About Books & Literature Editor There's always a lot to do the week before Christmas — presents to buy, trees to decorate, cookies to bake — but this week is also packed with significant events in literary history. From a beloved English novelist's birthday to the introduction of a Scrooge and a Grinch, let's take a look back at the week before Christmas past. And because we're in the gift-giving holiday spirit, don't miss your chance to win a shiny, new Samsung Chromebook from About.com Education on Facebook! Click here to enter. Happy Birthday, Jane Austen! We celebrated Jane Austen's birthday yesterday, December 16! Born in 1775, the popular British author was best known for her romantic novels including Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park among many other works — and for giving women everywhere swoon-worthy characters like Mr. Darcy. How well do you know Austen? Take this quiz to find out! Search Related Topics:  jane austen  british women writers  british women Remembering Rumi Today, December 17, marks the 740th anniversary of the death of Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, better known as simply Rumi. Get to know the writing of this great Afghanistan-born Persian poet, mystic and Sufi apostle with The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing, a collection of his poems included in our list of best love poetry. Bah, Humbug! Beginnings Also today in literary history, the world met perhaps the most famous fictional character who despised Christmas: Ebenezer Scrooge! Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was first published on December 17, 1843 and became an instant classic. Today, there are many adaptations of the book, but we say there's nothing like a reading of the original to ring in the holidays. Search Related Topics:  a christmas carol  charles dickens  victorian literature You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch And now for a little more Christmas trivia! The 26-minute animated television special of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! first premiered on CBS on December 18, 1966. It was based on the treasured children's book about the heartless green hermit's hatred for Christmas. Even today, "all the Whos down in Whoville" (and beyond) still make the movie and book a part of their annual holiday traditions. Search Related Topics:  children's books about christmas  classic books for kids and teens  dr. seuss Related Searches Literature DR Suess Books Holiday Books English Books Chrome Books Review Featured Articles Best Books to Read This Winter Review: 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman 5 Favorite Books for Teen Boys Read Now: 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien 'Tenth of December' Analysis Review: 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement