A Paper Companion

The merits of books are many and seldom exaggerated. They have the capacity to entertain, educate, enrich, and exponentially enhance us. Few mediums are as versatile or as enduring. Books adapt; they have become commercial in a capitalist state and digital in a technological one. They can drive social change, or subvert it. School librarians have long touted the catchphrase “books can take you anywhere,” capturing the imaginations of young readers with the promise of exotic, hard-bound adventures, branding literature as a figurative paper airplane. I can affirm from years of experience in working with them that a librarian never lies with regard to a book, and indeed literature does have a unique gift for evoking a vast range of landscapes, both real and invented, but a trip by book and trip by booking are two very different experiences, both rich and meaningful in their own peculiar ways. There exist places on earth which are beyond the breadth of any language to describe, and images and experiences in books unmatched by the wonders of the physical world. I have found that when I see a new place I am overcome by a craving for books that will help me understand that new environment, to introduce me to unique ideas about that place that I mightn’t have had on my own. I’m referring more to fictional literature than non-fiction, but of course guide-books fit the bill as well. The reverse is equally true; when I read about a new place I invariably follow chapter one by a 45 minute booking site marathon searching for an affordable way to get there, and scouring my calendar for a moment when I might be able to see it for myself.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

This is a short list of some books that are dear to me for the meaning they brought to place I once went, or a place I one day hope to see.

• The Shadow of the Wind (La Sombra del Viento)

The Shadow of the Wind had to be the first item on this list. Written by Spanish author Carlos Ruíz Zafón, the language of this novel is not painfully literary, but it is somehow hauntingly beautiful both in Spanish and in English. It’s a story about a young man coming of age in Barcelona during the long and difficult regime of Franco. It was once called “a love letter to books,” and in the Barcelona described by Ruíz Zafón, a little bit of magic isn’t unreasonable. It is followed by two equally beautiful, funny, and thrilling novels called The Angel’s Game (El Juego del Angel), and The Prisoner of Heaven (El Prisionero del Cielo). One of my favorite quotes from The Shadow of the Wind is as follows; “…few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in out memory.” I have it hanging on my desk at work to remind me why I work in a library.  I never made it to Barcelona on my trip to Spain, but I look forward to seeing it someday and remembering the special sort of magic realized by the author, and shared by all of the readers of this Cemetery of Forgotten Books series.

A shot of my very tidy desk.

• The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho brings some of my favorite places in the world to life. It’s the story of a boy who sets out from Andalusía to cross the world in search of a treasure. I feel strongly about this book because it calls to mind the truth that all we travelers are children at heart searching the world for the next great treasure, be it a new friend, an incredible photograph, and irreplicable experience, or simply the best tiramisu you could ever taste (Tip: it’s at the restaurant furthest from the carousel in the Piazza della Repubblica in Florence). Santiago, a young shepherd by trade crosses Morocco and Egypt in his quest, and becomes wise along the way. “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” This quote was meaningful for me, and has a strong relationship with the drive many of us feel to travel, and see the world. 

• Like Water for Chocolate (Como Agua para Chocolate)

Someone who hasn’t been to Mexico might not realize that it is a place where magic really exists. The strong influence of Roman Catholicism which, over the course of history has absorbed aspects of many indigenous customs has resulted in a decidedly open-minded attitude towards the supernatural among Mexicans. When I say "magic" I’m referring more to a sense of possibility that might be less narrow than that of someone living in the United States. The city where I lived in Mexico was called Guanajuato–it was a colonial city built following the conquest of Mexico by Spain for the purpose of mining silver. In Guanajuato there are hundreds of “callejones,” or small alleywas that are all unique, and usually have interesting or unexpected names like “Callejón del Infierno,” or “Callejón del Beso.” Each of these alleyways has its own legend–a story that describes how it got its name, and the legends are well-known to most of the locals. Most of the stories are strongly influenced by religion, and superstition. In many cases figures like witches, or demons even appear. Tourists can tour  the alleyways with the “callejoneada,” a group of minstrals who sing, and re-enact the legends of the various callejones. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel comunicates the unique sense of wonder with which all life is imbued in Mexico. It is the story of Tita, and her personal struggle between love and tradition. I feel that it communicates a lot about Mexican culture. I liked the idea “the simple truth is that truth doesn’t exist. It all depends on one’s point of view.”

• Life of Pi

 

Yann Martel's coming-of-age adventure novel is both fantastic and fantastical and spans decades and continents alike. While most of the book takes place both in Canada and India, the story emphasizes the protagonists spiritual journey over his physical one. The central plot device is the voyage by life-boat of a boy and several zoo animals through the Pacific Ocean from a sinking freight ship having embarked from India to the coast of Mexico. Over the course of the narrative Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel discovers his own personal strength explores his spirituality. Hinduism plays a prominent role, and reading about Pi's childhood in India made me long to visit it--Christianity and Islam are also visited by Pi in his effort to "love God." More than anything Life of Pi explores the narrative of life; an idea expressed eloquently by Pi when he explains “The world isn't just the way it is. It is how we understand it, no? And in understanding something, we bring something to it, no?

Doesn't that make life a story?”

My thought here is basically, that while books have the ability to “transport” a reader anywhere, that they also have an incredible strength as a travel companion, and are likely to enrich your experience tremendously regardless of where on the globe you land. Have you ever read a book that made you want to see a new place, or been somewhere that gave you a thirst for local fiction?

Frugal Fiesta

Everyone who knows me knows I love a party, and what better day to start planning my summer roof-raiser than a warm day in early May? Tomorrow the Frugal Friends will be meeting to clip and exchange coupons as is their monthly tradition. This month the theme is going to be throwing summer parties on the cheap.It's just about Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day is around the corner--to be honest, though, with gorgeous weather like we've had this week, who needs an extra reason to celebrate?

For learn-it-yourselfers we have a few books that have some great insight into planning a memorable and inexpensive summer party. Do It For Less: Parties has tips for frugal parties of up to fifty guests, and Parties, Potlucks and Barbecues offers many creative summer party ideas.

If you're interested in throwing a great summer party for less, though, you couldn't do better than to join our Frugal Friends Club. Staff members Michelle Meyer-Edley and Lynne Rubio are the front-women and they work tirelessly to make sure they have sound and useful advice to disperse at meetings. Here's a sampling of some of the tips Michelle will be discussing tomorrow for inexpensive party planning.

• Kabobs are a great idea to serve at a summer party or barbecue; they're really fun, everyone loves them, they're low-maintenance to cook, and you use a lot less meat and more vegetables, which saves money.
• Buying meat with the bone-in will save you money because these cuts are typically priced lower, and they're actually typically juicier than cuts that have had the bones removed before purchase. 
• If you're going to make hamburgers don't buy pre-formed patties. They're a lot more expensive and they won't taste as good. Buying the ground beef and forming the patties yourself gives you the option to flavor them as you like--also, feel free to buy the cheaper stuff, because even though it usually is fattier when you take it home from the deli, all of the fat drips out in the barbecue, so neither you nor your guests will actually be eating any of it.

The May meeting takes place tomorrow, Saturday, May 4th at 11:00 in the friends Meeting Room C. You can register by calling Readers' Services or stopping by the 3rd floor desk. Drop-Ins are also welcome. If you can't make it, stop by our Frugal Friends pinterest page for ideas to save money in all sorts of creative ways.

The June meeting will include a recipe swap, so if you're planning to come to the May event bring a favorite summer recipe so we can print it up and share it in June.

Summer party season is nearly here, so let's have a hotdog and play some volleyball in the back-yard. You bring the buns and I'll bring the ketchup. See you there!

November Noir

November is National Novel Writing Month. A month in which aspiring writers all over the country flock to NaNoWriMo's website to commit to writing every single day in November to kick-start their creative drives. Our very own Des Plaines Library staff is in on the action this November with a Murder in the Des Plaines Library mystery novel which is available to to read here for any party interested in a little bit of municipal murder. As of today, the novel is complete, so you won't even have to suffer any unnecessary suspense!

That's not the only place to look for a new Mystery, though; we've got a lot of great recently arrived titles and coming attractions by beloved authors like Janet Evanovich and J.D. Robb. Or, pick up a darker read by Swedish author Helene Tursten. For a complete list of new and upcoming Mysteries and availability details, click here.

 

 

Enjoy!

Soñar en Cubano

Tradition is one of the most powerful forces of human nature--the desire to assimilate can be equally powerful under the right circumstances; this is one of many themes set forth by our November Thursday evening book discussion pick. Set in both Cuba and New York, Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García’s debut novel, tells the stories of the lives of three generations of Cuban women. It is a novel full of beautifully evoked images which tells a story of the strength of family and the strong influence of politics and superstition. García capitalizes on the profound internal struggle between where we’ve come from and where we’re going when the traditions of our ancestors come into contrast with the realities of modern life.

Please join us on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30 in the evning as we discuss this acclaimed title; we will have the unprecedented opportunity to Skype with the author during the discussion. Special guest Esther Santana, associate professor of Spanish from Northeastern Illinois University, will be in attendance, and authentic Cuban desserts will be served as we discuss the book, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Cuba.

You can register online, or at the Readers' Services Desk on the third floor of the library. Copies of the book are also available at the third floor desk--hurry, though, they're going fast!

Winter Woeful-Land

Now that Labor Day has come and gone and the days are getting fractionally shorter with each sunset, the promise of a glorious autumn is imminent. Fall, though, like Spring is a fleeting season with very few days of its own, most of them belonging to either a fading summer or an all too eager winter. Indeed it's at about this time of year that I begin to think about the winter season. Holiday promotions begin to appear in magazines and shop windows and the bitter winds, slushy snow, and frosty nights of January seem no more than a blink away. While the twinkling white lights in the trees and enormous holiday meals shared with loved-ones bring some feeling of warmth to the dreary cold, the essence of a Chicago winter is a brutal and unforgiving one. It is a setting of low, blank skies and an overpowering sense of the color gray. It's an empty, forsaken time wherein one passes few people on the street and those who do pass by walk quickly and say nothing. 

Forthcoming from Arnaldur Indridason

While a Chicago winter might have little or no appeal as a vacation destination, its essence shares something special in common with the gritty atmosphere of many mystery novels put forth by several popular Scandinavian authors. Bitter cold and a sense of pervasive personal isolation feature heavily. For fans of murder and mayhem and for those whose sense of wonder is awakened by the chillingly sinister approach of another Chicago winter I've compiled a short list of new and forthcoming Scandinavian mysteries. Enjoy!

All You Can Read Buffet

There library is a veritable smorgasbord of delectable reading. From hard candy to cheesecake to doughnuts, we have more than enough variety to satisfy even the most discerning sweet-tooth. We even have some broccoli in stock if greens are more your pace.

This summer is all about "Taste" at the library--one program we're running is for Super-Readers. It's a contest straight out of Man Vs. Food, but in this case it will be Man vs. Book. Here's the challenge: 20 books in a little more than two months. You have from June 9th to August 19th to get in your twenty books and beat the challenge. Prizes include a library tote-bag, a coupon for a free coffee at a local McDonalds, bookmarks, and other fun goodies. You'll also get your picture up on our Wall of Fame. Come by the Readers' Services Desk on the third floor any time after June 9th to pick up a form to log your books.

Are you ready for the all you can read challenge?

Glory Game

On Thursday morning I awoke with hope shining bright in my eyes and my heart beating fast with the sort of unbridled enthusiasm one feels only in early April. I had dreamt of blooming green vines and the mingled fragrances of hot grease and fresh air. My alarm clock came on drowning the echo of a too-soon silenced organ. A stiff breeze cut through the sunny morning and the crack in my window raising goosebumps on my arms. It was an idyllic spring morning; bright and crisp with a high sky and a blazing sun. It was Opening Day once again and I was newly possessed by the fervent unrealistic optimism which courses unbidden in the blood of old Cub fan families. I didn't think this was the year, but I did feel that it was, just as I do every year.

Baseball is a unique and wonderful unifier of people. It makes friends of strangers from across oceans, and across generations, across continents and castes. It draws out the hope in one's heart, the passion in their souls, and the fire in their bellies. It's really no wonder that so many of us can connect so deeply with the American game, and to that end the library offers a wonderful selection of materials to ignite the spark of a new baseball season.

Major League is a classic comedy to which any baseball fan can relate. Hall-of-fame commentator Bob Ueker is a must-see in this story of misfits and underdogs.

One could say that Chad Harbach's debut novel The Art of Fielding is about everything that matters in life. Love, literature, politics, the human condition and, of course, baseball. It's a deep read, and not short, but it's wonderfully written with a beautiful setting, complex characters, and an unexpected plot.

Calico Joe is best-selling author John Grisham's latest novel. Library Journal describes it as a story of "forgiveness and redemption...a classic story filled with human emotion." It recounts the fall-out of a bean-ball thrown in the seventies which partially paralyzed a star rookie. It's told as a series of flashbacks from the perspective of the son of the pitcher who beaned the eponymous Calico Joe.

If you're interested in learning a little more about America's past-time I cannot speak highly enough of Ken Burns' Baseball. It's a nine disc set that dives into the complete origin and history of baseball from the time of the mythical Abner Doubleday up to 2000 which was when the film was produced. After all, nothing important has happened since then, right Sox fans?

My personal favorite way to celebrate baseball season is with A League of Their Own featuring Geena Davis and Tom Hanks. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to play professional women's baseball for $75 a week. The best part? It's coming soon to your library.

Enjoy your baseball season, and when your team starts losing regularly (and they will, because you're a Chicago fan), channel the words of the immortal and hyper-quotable Yogi Berra: "Slump? I ain't in no slump... I just ain't hitting."

Freegal Rocks

From Apple's iTunes to Amazon's instant downloads, internet tycoons left and right are wedging their feet into the door-jam of downloadable music. With a single content search nearly any recording from Bing Crosby classics to Ke$ha's electronic pop to cult favorites like Steve Goodman can be called instantly to your computer screen, and for about ninety-nine cents you can own  any of them instantly and transfer them to your digital music player of choice without ever changing out of your jammies.

The Des Plaines Library has provided patrons with an extensive selection of music for many years with an extremely well-developed and rounded collection of contemporary and classic music of all sorts on CD. Recently, however, we too have made a foray into instant downloads--as many will already know the Library has offered a great selection of e-books and audiobooks through our virtual branch MyMediaMall for a while now. A More recent addition to our bountiful list of services and products, however, is Freegal. Through the Freegal platform Des Plaines patrons will be able to access the whole catalog of Sony Records and will be entitled to three free downloads a week for keepsies. That's right--no torrent work-around, no fear for the consequences of violating intellectual property laws. Just free, legal music for keepsies in your jammies.

To access Freegal simply head to our homepage at dppl.org and hover over the "Reference" tab. Select "Research databases A-Z" and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. In the column on the right side the very last link will say "Freegal Test." After entering your library card number you will be directed to the Freegal platform where you can browse popular music or search for something that interests you.I personally used my three downloads for the week already on a Train song and two songs by Julieta Venegas, but there are plenty of artists to appeal to any music lover. Just remember, the catalog includes only albums and artists which were produced by Sony Records, so the selection isn't quite as extensive as platforms like iTunes. Still, though...Free...Legal...Jammies...Need I say more?

Animal Instinct

I am a peaceful inhabitant of this world. I bear no ill-will towards any other creature with whom I share our earthly dwelling. One might say of me (and be very nearly correct) that I wouldn't even hurt a fly. As it happens, I have recently been cohabiting with a cricket of somewhat questionable character. Despite having never solicited my orthopteric room-mate, I made a sincere effort to accommodate him; even as he chirped endlessly through six straight nights. Even, in fact, as he mercilessly kept me awake in a week when I was stricken both with illness and with an abundance early morning appointments. I left him in peace, not once seeking him out, but rather allowing him to enjoy the warmth and safety of my home--it is, after all, in my nature to be hospitable to a stranger in need, and also not to kill bugs because I don't want to get their slimy guts on my shoes. I am somewhat ashamed to admit, though, that on one particular night, my tiny house-guest got the better of my patience. He had decided to make a home of the space beneath my dresser (which sits immediately to one side of my bed). Not only had he violated my personal sleeping space, but he also made a shockingly loud job of it with a countdown to less than five hours before I had to be up for work. As soon as the lights were out and sleep was nigh upon me, my insect friend began to whir--it was a whir akin to that of a gas-powered, professional-grade chainsaw. I knew in that moment that he had gone too far, and I was up in an instant (the instant after I waited twenty minutes to see if he would stop). I dashed towards the lights and flipped them on, turning towards the dresser in a blind rage. I began to tear out the drawers in a what can only be called a righteous and justified fury. I stalked my query with the stealth and determination of a jungle cat. As I ripped out the last drawer I paused, tense with anticipation, my ears ringing with the pounding of my heart and the echo of his battle-cry. The air was stagnant and as quiet as a bedroom at three o'clock in the morning where no cricket lives.

For a moment I wondered--could this really be right? He was only a defenseless animal seeking shelter from the cold...and I didn't see him. Perhaps this was a sign that I was meant to leave the poor creature in peace? In the stillness of the moment it had taken me to return to my pacifistic philosophical roots the cricket chirped again and my skin crawled with the indignity of it; the knave was taunting me. He was here. I could sense him--I flung aside an errant sock and came face-to-face with the brutish monster who had so flippantly violated my home and terrorized my sleepless nights, haunting the visions of my half-awake mind. "You!" I croaked, hoarse with the cold from which I had been totally unable to recover thanks to a seven-night-concert-series featuring the illustrious Jiminy. He was so very small. Half the size of the eraser you might find at the end of a number-two pencil. The tiniest little black bug you might ever see. As our eyes met across the field of battle I knew in that moment that I had won my triumph. I raised my arm up with all of the deliberateness of well-earned vindication and rained swift justice down upon him. In other words I smashed him with a tissue box. Such was the blow that neither the bug nor the box survived.

I left his tiny smushed corpse exactly where he had expired; I proposed to myself that it would be a monument to my victory as well as to all peace-loving humans who seek only to protect their own homes against ruthless invaders. I left it also as a warning to any future would-be hostile cricket-colonists. I am optimistic that the very kind Ms. Eleanor J. Greene McBean (master poop-smeller, shoe-chewer, and bug-eater extraordinaire) will dispose of the remains promptly and discreetly as is her usual way.

That being said, isn't it amazing how loud a cricket can be despite it's itty-bitty size? If you're interested in learning the mechanics of that phenomenon, you might look into the numerous books in the library's collection which detail the physiology of insects. The 500's section on the fourth floor includes books on a plethora of different members of the animal kingdom from poop-smellers like Ellie to fiends like Jimminy to natural-born hunters like me (or panthers or mountain lions if you prefer).

The Darkness Within (It's funny, right?)

There is something dark inside every human being--a twisted attraction the macabre. We cannot help but slow down ever so slightly as we pass a gnarled car wreck. We cannot help but congregate in large audiences around a structure which has caught fire and watch with morbid fixation as it burns to the ground. We live in a society of ambulance chasers and so many police-procedural television dramas which chronicle the deeds of the very worst sort of person.

There are a small number of people among us who have taken full possession of this innate human darkness. They are writers like Chuck Palanhiuk and Neil Gaiman. Their writing capitalizes on this gruesome enthusiasm we all (to some extent) secretly share. They cast it out into the open and poke it with a stick. The result is sometimes uncomfortable, and almost always hilarious.

I can personally recommend Jeanette Winterson with a great deal of genuine eagerness. Her writing is whimsical with an ethereal quality I've never before come across, particularly with consideration to the dark subject matter towards which she gravitates. I recently read Lighthousekeeping, which chronicles the life of an orphaned Scottish girl living in a small, antiquated seaside village. It narrates the obstacles facing she and her lopsided terrier Dogjim and their quest for survival (perhaps even happiness) despite the overwhelming odds.

Here are some other staff picks which explore the darker side of funny:

Perv - A Love Story

Jerry Stahl




The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
Brady Udal




Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman

Hometown Superhero

It appears to be simply an innocuous bystander--you see it on your way to work most days and occasionally you stop in for a visit. It is well-known by everyone in town but, sadly, well-used by few. It is a rare individual who knows the true essence of what it is: the purveyor of truth--the muse of childrens' dreams--the superhero on Main Street. If you have a problem, the odds are good that your local library has a solution.

Don't believe me? Here are three instances of the library saving me personally.

1. Last month my car broke down and I took it in to the shop to have it looked at. I brought it to the most honest, reliable mechanic I know. The diagnosis? A leaky radiator that was beyond patching. The price-tag? five-hundred dollars. Not likely on the budget of a college student. I told my mechanic to give me an hour to think about it, and headed straight to the 629's on the Reference Floor at the library. According to the Chilton's fix-it manual for my car, replacing the radiator was an easy operation, and there were diagrams to prove it. After buying an eighty dollar part from Auto-Zone and putting my car up on blocks, it took me an hour and a half to fix it.

Saved: $420.00 (That's nearly one-half the cost of a single class at Northeastern).





2. In March of 2008, I went to Costa Rica for a week. At the time, none of the roads outside of the capital city had been mapped by satellite, and we were staying in a remote mountain village. So, I headed to the library to check out a travel book. Lonely Planet's most recent guide to Costa Rica. It included a detailed map the area we were visiting, including the location of local restaurants, the village police station, the nearest hospital, and hotels organized by price-point. There were also meticulous directions on how to get from the Airport in San Jose to this particular village by rental car, and a note recommending visitors to rent an SUV, because a majority of mountain roads are not paved. Though we did rent an SUV, three-quarters of the way into our drive the rear driver's side wheel nearly fell off on the side of a mountain. This situation was nearly disastrous--who know what would have happened if we'd been driving an ill-equipped compact-car?

Saved: Potentially, my life.

3. A while back I asked my boyfriend to teach my how to play chess. (I wanted to be able to hob-knob with the intellectual aristocracy--in other words, I wanted to get my snob on). Yet, despite my best efforts, he kept winning no matter how many times we played. What self-respecting snob loses at chess? So, I checked out Chess for Dummies and now I'm unbeatable. While bragging rights might not seem like they'd be as valuable as $420.00 or my life, between two highly competitive people, they are essentially priceless.

Saved: My dignity.

Thank you, Library!

Lost in Translation

Language is one of the things we take most for granted in our daily lives. It is entirely essential to every social interaction we have. It is the medium by which we communicate, by which we are entertained, and often, by which we express ourselves creatively. It is also the verbal expression of the culture to which it belongs. For example, no word exists in Latin to describe the female friend of a man. Where "amicus" would describe the male friend of a man, the female form of that word ("amica") describes a mistress. In Spanish, the words for "to wait," "to hope," and "to expect," all go by the same name (esperar). While language and culture are not totally inseparable, they are intrinsically linked on a very basic level.

Given this sort of culture-specific nuance, I often wonder as I read a translated text, just what am I missing here? As I pour over the words, their literal meaning seems to bely an implication which I feel is lingering just beyond the boundaries of my understanding. This feeling is enhanced enormously by the fact that I have, on occasion, read the same text both in its original, and a translation--in these instances I can clearly perceive exactly when the meaning of a phrase or conversation has been altered in its new rendition, or even when the subtext of a given locution has been lost entirely. What a shame that these painstakingly crafted subtleties which might provide otherwise overlooked insight into a character or setting would be so unceremoniously cast off; orphaned by the neat little box into which all of the linguistic contrivances of a single culture fit.

Happily, though, many books are great enough that they are entirely worth reading despite the occasional inkling that some bit of the intended meaning has gone missing, and when a book is well-translated, you might circumvent such an event entirely--or at the very least, mostly.

These are some of my favorites;

Don Quixote (Miguel De Cervantes)

English

Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel García Márquez)

English Spanish

Like Water for Chocolate (Laura Esquivel)

English Spanish

The Magic of History

Each time we open a book, the written word offers us an escape into a previously undiscovered reality--a mystery may plunge us into a world of deceit and intrigue, all the while testing our intuition, and vigilance; a good science fiction story might test the limits of our imaginations by creating a whole new world around us with a reality which calls into question even our most fundamental assumptions, while a historical fiction is another breed entirely.

What is it about historical fiction which so captivates our imaginations? The romance of a bygone era, the scrupulous social axioms by which both love and war were meant to abide, or perhaps the inherent contradiction therein?

Perhaps the allure of the past is our propensity to single out the great figures of lost times--when one has the expanse of history from which to draw inspiration for a great character, and a great story, the potential for excellence is only as limited as the history of the human race.

Of course, it can't be called easy to call up the specters of the past, all the while giving them modern relevance and depth. As Oscar Wilde said, "any fool can make history, but it takes a genius to write it."

Here are some geniuses you might enjoy:

The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Emma Orczy

The Constant Princess, Philippa Gregory

The Paris Wife, Paula McLain