When I was a boy in the late 1950s, the public library refused to stock books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. They were regarded as vulgar, ill-written potboilers. Michael Dirda 1950sbookboy Change image and share on social
When I talk to friends and editors about possible projects, especially about projects that might come with a significant cash advance, they usually suggest a biography. Sometimes I'm tempted, but the prospect of spending years researching and writing about someone else's life offends my vanity. Michael Dirda advancebiographycash share on social
I am something of an aficionado of thrift stores. In my youth, I regularly searched their shelves for old books. Michael Dirda aficionadobookregularly Change image and share on social
My wife tells me I should check out 'Downton Abbey', but I gather that series might be almost too intense for my temperate nature. Michael Dirda abbeycheckdownton Change image and share on social
Born in 1910, Wilfrid Thesiger spent his childhood in Ethiopia, or Abyssinia, as it was then called, where his father was an important and much-admired British official. Michael Dirda abyssiniaadmirebear Change image and share on social
Carl Barks was born in Merrill, Oregon, in 1901, grew up in a farming family, and eventually held a number of blue-collar jobs. He knew what it was to be poor and to work hard for a living. Michael Dirda barkbearblue Change image and share on social
A job should bring enough for a worker and family to live on, but after that, self-realization, the exercise of one's gifts and talents, is what truly matters. Michael Dirda bringexercisefamily Change image and share on social
Most scholarly books we read for the information or insight they contain. But some we return to simply for the pleasure of the author's company. Michael Dirda authorbookcompany Change image and share on social
People sometimes think that I bring home all these old books because I'm addicted, that I'm no better than a hoarder with a houseful of crumbling newspapers. Michael Dirda addictbookbring Change image and share on social
Young people looking for adventure fiction now generally turn to fantasy, but for those of a certain age, the spy thriller has long been the escape reading of choice. Michael Dirda adventureagechoice Change image and share on social